Like all good bushwalk's this story has a beginning and an end but it is without doubt the trials and tribulations during the day that will ensure this remains a memorable walk.
Under foreboding skies I left home around 7.50 to pickup DevonAnnie(DA) at 8. After intoductions(all a bit strange this rendezvous with strangers thing) we headed up the Brooker to pickup Seashell and by Granton PeterJ had jumped in and we had a full car. With Peter's friend Greg pulling out at the last minute, it was to be the four of us who would depart Wombat Moor around 10.30.
The early going across the Moor - which is rather expansive once you get out onto it, was pretty easy with a gentle incline and the recent warm weather drying out much of the mud on the open sections.
This area is quite special in the way the plants fight an impossible battle against the winds that must blast over Mt Mawson.
After a brief morning tea in a pleasant patch of snowgum forest we pushed on up the ridge. As we did so the cloud really began to dissipate and the temperature rose, we were climbing steadily protected from the breeze by the ridge in front of us, as we did so Seashell started to feel the pinch a touch, the track was quite rocky and a challenge for the not so sure of foot.
However emerging onto the saddle with a stiff cool breeze and the South West wilderness laid out in front of us we all felt pretty good about life. The higher peaks of the SW were still under cloud not ready to reveal their grandeur today. The summit of Mt Mawson to the north looked tempting but we focused on the track ahead and kept going.
From this point the descent to the Humboldt River can only be described as delightful. The steadily changing vegetation and grandstand views to the SW WHA and Florentine Valley kept the eyes up while the interesting and recently cleared track kept the eyes coming back down. It has to be said that despite the wonderful views to the west our feelings were tempered by the enormous forestry scars below us - unbridled devastation, quite hurtful to look at and depressing to think about, and this dominated our conversation as we dropped into the valley.
While 3 of us were obviously in our element and getting more exited at the prospects ahead Seashell was having trouble negotiating the tricky track and was exuding far more energy than us. By the time we reached the Humboldt River the temperature had really risen and there was no breeze this deep in the valley. We now had to negotiate some fairly heavy bogs along the river bank before the rise to Lake Belton. I managed to drop into one knee-deep-slop-hole. DA and PeterJ got through with no dramas and headed up the hill. Seashell however hit the wall big time and pulled the pin. The idea of the hot climb up to the lake was all a bit much. Being a 'stroll' the last thing any of us wanted was for another to be feeling poorly.
After a bit of a conference on the hillside PeterJ very generously volunteered to stay with Seashell and start to escort her back to the car.
His reasoning was that he was very familiar with the area and had been into Belton only 6 months earlier.
With that little piece of drama behind us DA and myself pushed up through button grass and scrub, the track became quite indistinct and we lost it a couple of times but with the low scrub navigation was simple to get back on course. With a false ridge prior to the actual ridge top the climb really got the blood pumping and we knew Seashell had made the right choice to have a rest near the river.
Upon reaching a small plateau we found 3 or 4 gorgeous tarns nestled in amongst pencil pines and boulders. Crossing the plateau Belton came into sight and as the lake revealed itself I was surprised at how large it was, A stunning sight with Tyenna Peak, the flanks of Florentine Peak and around to K-Col all visable under a now cloudless sky. Yet another jewel in Tassie's highly decorated crown. Just magnificent.
Taking a little time for a cup of tea and some lunch DA and myself mused on the potential of the campsite, the motivation of fisherman and other issues of importance.
The lake apparently serves up some nice trout. I couldn't see any! We were anxious to not leave Peter and Seashell alone for too long and grudgingly left the lakeshore and headed back from whence we came. The views of the Mawson Plateau coming back down the hill were spectacular. There was evidence of several landslides, some recent looking.
We caught up with Seashell and Peter on their way back up the flanks of the Mawson Plateau. Seashell was struggling but with the now cloudfree views across the SW WHA this gorgeous section of track was a great place to spend time and take in the views from Nevada Peak and the Snowy Range across 180degrees to Florentine Peak. The Anne Range stood majestically in centre frame and I couldn't help but think of what a wonderful day a lucky few were getting up there. The birds were singing and life was pretty good!
DA took off up Mt Mawson to get some peak bagging points(1)
and joined up with us at the saddle where we had a well earned rest and Seashell celebrated the last of the climbing. We then made pretty good pace back over Wombat Moor(obviously named) and made the car at around 6.30. All-in-all the best part of 8 hours was spent in the Mt Field playground with a return visit a high priority.There are a couple of obvious issues that have stemmed from this Southern Stroll. As none of us knew each other we had no idea on each other's walking credentials.
Seashell took on a walk a little beyond her abilities and suffered as a result. As the organiser of this stoll I couldn't help but think I should have given at least a brief walk desciption/grade when organising the walk. Should I have questioned participants before letting them join the walk? We are all best off without surprises, especially the one out of their depth!
This was always going to be a 'stroll' with all participants to start and finish together and I would like to point out that although the slow pace was a touch frustrating it gave us the chance to take in our surroundings like we often don't do as we charge through the bush and there was most certainly no acrimony towards Seashell. In brief I would really like to thank DA and PeterJ for their wonderful temperament and conversation and thanks also to Seashell for sticking it out and putting up with our condescending encouragement.
Ultimately it was a pleasant walk through nice varied country to a gorgeous alpine lake with mountain views on a perfect day......a success???
Me thinks so.
Another Southern Stroll??? We'll see, maybe.....
sbs
P.S. If you can believe it, I dropped my camera 500m into the walk
and picked it up on the way out so I hope my words painted some sort of picture.
