Walks at & from Fortescue Bay

[DonQx]

Don't think there's a thread specifically about the Fortescue Bay area yet ... one of my fav beautiful places ...

Last weekend J & me went for a quick overniter to Bivouac Bay as organised here http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2833

If anyone's interested ...

J & me and maybe 2 other friends will do a short overniter to Bivouac Bay starting from Fortescue Bay this weekend.

~2 hours walking time each way. Watch the sun rise on Sun from the top of speccie cliffs if you're up early enuf.

Parks map sketch here: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6659

Walk 4 in the Tas Short Walks brochure http://www.discovertasmania.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/19025/ShortWalks.pdf (WARNING: Size = 17MB).

Probably leaving from Fortescue Bay day visitor area ~ 2pm on Saturday, back at cars by lunch on Sun.

PM / email me if interested.

a.

Just received a few pics from J, reduced size, thus not top quality, but good enuf to give a bit of an idea ... ta muchly for the pics J ...

At the Canoe Bay bridge

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At Bivouac Bay, watching the evening sun doing its thing on the opposite shore

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Morning tea at Canoe Bay

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[samh]

Just wanted to start a new topic, but as you have started a thread already anyway. I plan to do a trip down to the peninsula, I got three days and would really like to go down to Cape Pillar. My idea was to start at Fortescue Bay and walk the first day to Bare Knoll, via Cape Hauy do a day trip to cape pillar and than return back to fortescue on the next day via the short route. Now, my question is, is it possible or would the first day be to long? the problem is that I got a older guy coming with me who hasn't done any walks for the last few years. Or is it better to walk to Hurricane Heath on day one, Wughalee waterfall on day two and out via CApe Hauy on day three, Any suggestions?

[DonQx]

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=2271 ...

* Waterfall Bay to Bivouac Bay - 6 hours
* Bivouac Bay to Fortescue Bay - 2 hours
* Fortescue Bay to Cape Hauy - 2 hours
* Cape Hauy to Wughalee Falls - 6 hours
* Cape Hauy to Bare Knoll - 8 hours
* Bare Knoll to Cape Pillar - 6 hours return
* Bare Knoll to Fortescue Bay - 6 hours

Good Moaning he says, holding on to the first cupocoffee ...

I reckon the times shown above a pretty realistic for occasional bushwalkers. I've done it with moderately fit parties ... most of them ended up pretty tired by the end of the day ... and some frayed tempers.

"would the first day be to long?" ... just my 2c worth ... could be done, but I doubt that it would be an enjoyable walking experience for anyone who isn't fairly fit and keen on a decent leg stretch

a.

[samh]

Hi Donqx,
what would you see as the more interesting option if we take it a bit more easy? Just do the Cape Hauy circle, or just going down to cape Pillar, returning the same way? btw. any idea how long it takes to Hurricane Heath from Fortescue. 2 hourish?

[alliecat]

Last reports on the Mt Fortescue circuit were that there was a lot of trees down over the track due to high wind. That was a couple of months ago, but it's unlikely to have been cleared since then. Even when I last went that way back in about May there were lots of trees over the track. So the section from Cape Huay to the Cape Pillar track could take longer than expected.

I think 2 hours from Fortescue Bay to Hurricane Heath would be jogging pace I made it from the junction with the Mt Fortescue track back to Fortescue Bay in 1.5 hours moving pretty quickly (I had a ride waiting for me), and that's mostly downhill. More like 3-4 hours to Hurrican Heath I reckon.

My preferred (relaxed) option for Cape Pillar would be to leave Cape Huay out of it and walk to Perdiciotn ponds on the first day. Second day out to the Cape and back, and third day walk back to Fortescue. Unless you want to go flat out.

Cheers,
Alliecat

[Singe]

Just wanted to start a new topic, but as you have started a thread already anyway. I plan to do a trip down to the peninsula, I got three days and would really like to go down to Cape Pillar. My idea was to start at Fortescue Bay and walk the first day to Bare Knoll, via Cape Hauy do a day trip to cape pillar and than return back to fortescue on the next day via the short route. Now, my question is, is it possible or would the first day be to long? the problem is that I got a older guy coming with me who hasn't done any walks for the last few years. Or is it better to walk to Hurricane Heath on day one, Wughalee waterfall on day two and out via CApe Hauy on day three, Any suggestions?

I've done option one as an overnighter with my wife and solo (though in the other direction) - but both times without a side trip to Cape Hauy - that would make for a very long day. The biggest issue at present is that as alliecat said the track on the Northern side of Mt Fortescue is littered with fallen timber which makes it quite a hard scramble in places - other than that, while it is a longish day from Fortescue Bay to Bare Knoll, it's certainly doable. If I were going for three days, I'd either walk on to Perdition Ponds on day one if daylight and energy levels allowed, or pack up and walk down first thing on day two. If you're going to omit one cape, I would go to Cape Pillar and leave Cape Hauy for another day. Alternatively, the walk back via the inland track to Fortescue Bay is quite short and easy - have you considered doing a quick daytrip to Cape Hauy on the third day, after you get back to Fortescue Bay?

[samh]

Sorry alliecat, I was meant to write from Bare Knoll to Hurricane Heath

[samh]

@singe, just to clarify, You think a good option is walking along the Fortescue track down to Cape Pillar and coming back trough the inland track, how long would that take, and where would you stop for the nights? Is there enough space for two tunnel tents at Perdition Ponds?

[ILUVSWTAS]

I did Mt Fortescue about a month ago, 2 days after the hurricane force storm we had.
There were hundreds of trees down and it did make it a bit harder but it certainly wasnt what i'd call difficult.
I informed the rangers back at the camp site and they did say they were going to get onto clearing the track quite soon, so I think it would be cleared by now.

[DonQx]

@singe, just to clarify, You think a good option is walking along the Fortescue track down to Cape Pillar and coming back trough the inland track, how long would that take, and where would you stop for the nights? Is there enough space for two tunnel tents at Perdition Ponds?

1- I'd go inland track to Cape P, and decide which way to go back once you've got a feel for the place ... this also leaves the option of doing Cape H on the last day open

2- plenty of tent spots at any of the common camps, Perdition Ponds should fit a dozen+.

a.

[samh]

Yes, I think that sounds like the most reasonal option, it will also give me some indication what pace the others can walk at. Well thanks all for your help

[Singe]

@singe, just to clarify, You think a good option is walking along the Fortescue track down to Cape Pillar and coming back trough the inland track, how long would that take, and where would you stop for the nights? Is there enough space for two tunnel tents at Perdition Ponds?

You could do either; going clockwise (ie, Fortescue Mt on day one) gets the hilly bit out of the way while you're fresh and means you can't pike out on the way back Can't remember exact times but we have set out quite late (ie, after 10am) and reached Bare Knoll before sunset in autumn (minus the side trip to Cape Hauy) without sprinting... Perdition Ponds would be about another 2 hours IIRC. And yeah, plenty of space at all the official campsites

I wouldn't bank on the track being cleared; I was told the same thing a couple of years ago but as far as I'm aware that never eventuated.

[samh]

Just another quick question on the walk. What kind of map is neccessary for the walk, will I even need a 1:100000 map or will anything do the job? The reason why I ask is that I've bought a few maps for other walks and never really used them, and I don't know anyone who could borrow me one for that walk.

[Singe]

I've always taken the 1:100000... never really needed it, but it's the time you need it and don't have it you have to watch out for

Not sure what other maps are available, or whether they would have all tracks or sufficient detail if you somehow managed to get lost...

[samh]

thanks singe, that gives me some idea at least. I'll try to find a map,and if I can't get one I may go without

[DonQx]

... it's the time you need it and don't have it you have to watch out for ...

+1

[flyfisher]

Singe wrote:
... it's the time you need it and don't have it you have to watch out for ...

+2

ff

[daveintas]

I'm thinking about doing this walk over Easter. I walked to Cape Pillar years ago (as a teenager) as an overnight walk (must have only been a few years after the track was cut), but would now like to do the two cape circuit. Anyway, I have a few questions about the walk.

Firstly, is the following time guidline

* Bare Knoll to Fortescue Bay - 6 hours

accurate..... assuming they are referring to the inland/Cape Pillar Track route, this seems to be a long time given the short distance and easy grade (as a guide to my walking pace, I normally find Chapman's SW Tas times accurate). I vaguely remember it only being a few hours walk from FB to our campsite last time (can't remember where we camped though).

Secondly, is the camping at Wughalee falls OK?

Finally, if starting at Fortescue Bay, walking via Cape Hauy and Mt Fortescue to Cape Pillar, is there anywhere between Fortescue Bay and Wughalee Falls to camp (i.e. can the first day be shortened)?

Dave.

[DonQx]

Firstly, is the following time guidline

* Bare Knoll to Fortescue Bay - 6 hours

accurate..... assuming they are referring to the inland/Cape Pillar Track route, this seems to be a long time given the short distance and easy grade (as a guide to my walking pace, I normally find Chapman's SW Tas times accurate). I vaguely remember it only being a few hours walk from FB to our campsite last time (can't remember where we camped though).

my memory for times isn't always the most accurate, but 3 hours leisurely walking max for the 'inland route' I reckon.

Secondly, is the camping at Wughalee falls OK?

yes.

Finally, if starting at Fortescue Bay, walking via Cape Hauy and Mt Fortescue to Cape Pillar, is there anywhere between Fortescue Bay and Wughalee Falls to camp (i.e. can the first day be shortened)?

AFAIK no established camping spots, also no reliable sources of water (few very small ponds or soaks off the track if you know what you're looking for). For myself I'd be happy tho to take water and camp either shaortly after the turn off towards Mt F or part way up Mt F. 1st option could allow camping close to cliff with most speccie views & photo opportunities especially at sun set/rise. 2nd option gets you further along the track, views less likely, but open forested areas with soft ground.

Let us know how you go.

a.

[Selig97]

Hi,

Did the walk from Fortescue Bay to Mt Fortescue and then back via Cape Hauy Feb 7 with my 15yo. Still a lot of trees down over the track in places.

A good walk though.

[DonQx]

went over Mt Fortescue last weekend

all but ~5 fallen trees cleared