Port Davey track issue

[Binder]

G'day all

Just been informed that one of the fibreglass dingies used to cross from Farrell Point to Joan Point (the narrows) on the Port Davey track has been badly damaged and is currently unuseable. Parks hope to rectify this as soon as possible. Please pass this on to anyone you know that might be thinking of heading down that way, or get them to contact Mt Field or Huonville Parks office. I will post an update when it gets fixed.

Cheers

Binder

[tasadam]

Thanks for the info.
Hopefully Parks will publish info on their News page soon.

General South Coast / Port Davey info is on this page.
Right at the bottom of that page, there is a link to the Parks Office at Huonville, they would be the best people to contact if anyone wants the latest news.

[Michael_Kingston]

There is still nothing on the Parks website about this so I reckon it is unlikely - they are usually pretty good about track issues, particularly one as significant as this.

[Son of a Beach]

Binder work for Parks, so I reckon his info about Parks matters is going to be reliable.

[Michael_Kingston]

Didn't realise that he worked for them - you would think though that they would have something as significant as this on their website. It amounts to a track closure - unless you are lucky enough to front up at the side of the narrows where the one working boat is.

[Binder]

G'day all

Update on the boat situation. A notification will be loaded onto the Parks news website today. As of Tuesday morning, the boat was on the northern side (Farrel Point). A sign has been placed at the boat telling walkers already on the track to take the boat across, then notify the ranger at Melaleuca, who will then tow the boat back with the Parks dinghy. This will only happen for a day or two as a temporary measure to clear walkers already on the track, and should not be relied on.

I have been told that Huonville parks office (who manage that end of the world) is trying to get a new boat in place, but it may not happen till between Christmas and New Year. I will post as soon as I get an update.

So in a nutshell, if you were planning on heading from Scotts Peak to Melaleuca, you will need to change plans as there is no guaruntee of getting across the narrows untill further notice. We apologise for the closure, and will let you know when it's rectified.

Further info call Huonville Parks office on 6264 8473

Cheers

Binder

[tastrax]

Just another piece of advice - unless you are an EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG SWIMMER (preferably wearing a life jacket!) I would strongly advise against trying to swim over to get access to the boat on the southern shore (if the northern one is not there). The flow at the narrows can be quite fierce on the change of tides and in windy conditions. This doesn't even take into account the water temperature!

[tasadam]

Good point Phil... It is indeed a significant swim - see a photo here...

[Steve]

Damn, that's no good. It wasn't set in stone yet but I was contemplating doing the South Coast Track in early January. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

[tasadam]

Damn, that's no good. It wasn't set in stone yet but I was contemplating doing the South Coast Track in early January. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

You can still do the South Coast track, it's different to the Port Davey Track.
Unless you were considering combining the two and either starting or finishing at Scotts Peak.

Melaleuca to Coclke Creek or Cockle Creek to Melaleuca (South Coast track) is not affected by this.

[Steve]

You can still do the South Coast track, it's different to the Port Davey Track.
Unless you were considering combining the two and either starting or finishing at Scotts Peak.

Melaleuca to Coclke Creek or Cockle Creek to Melaleuca (South Coast track) is not affected by this.

Ah, I misread slightly. Although my plan was to go from Scotts Peak to Cockle Creek. But yeah like I said still up in the air.

[msw]

I just did the Port Davey track from south to north between 16 Dec & 21 Dec. When crossing the narrows the condition of the boat wasn't the biggest problem. On Joan Point one side of the wooden boat rails are missing for the last 5 metres, close to the water. As a result people would have been dragging the boat over the rocks to get it into the water. It is no wonder that the boats are damaged. One of the boats was in worse condition than the other and was leaking a bit.
Regards
Matt.

[PeterJ]

........ The flow at the narrows can be quite fierce on the change of tides and in windy conditions......

I am reminded of the day we watched our companion, who drew the short straw, rowing back towards us but the outgoing current etc meant a metre forward and a metre sideways. He disappeared from sight beyond the the point. It looked amusing and I must confess we did have a laugh. He managed to row back to the haulage-way and slept very well that night.

[tasadam]

........ and slept very well that night.

[mikethepike]

Concerning the Part Davey boat crossing, I did this a 4 or 5 years ago and while the the northern landing had a hand winch that made raising and stowing the boat easy, the southern landing didn't. I was just not strong enough to get the boat up the ramp to its shelter and don't know if I would ever have succedded if it wasn't for the commercial sea kayaking party that fortuitously passed by at the same time. With two of us pushing, the boat went up the rails fairly readily but I have to say that my helper who was the party leader, did at least 75% of the work. I later on contacted NP about the idea of putting in a hand winch (as at the northern landing) but they replied that they had no money for such a venture. Installing a winch should ensure that the boat can always be properly sucured even if an 8 stone weakling is the only party member. Or maybe I should just get down to the gym.

[PeterJ]

.....I was just not strong enough to get the boat up the ramp to its shelter ......

Yes I tried to move it with help and found it a struggle even then. There was a woman (Jeanette Collin) who regularly did the walk from Scotts Peak to Melaleuca alone and then out along the South Coast track. I often wondered how she managed to drag the boat up.

[tasadam]

There was a woman (Jeanette Collin) who regularly did the walk from Scotts Peak to Melaleuca alone and then out along the South Coast track. I often wondered how she managed to drag the boat up.

I reckon if it's the same person, I met her when we went into Western Arthurs in September '06. We had a brief chat along the trail not far from Junction Creek, and it struck me that this was a very interesting person. Alas we were heading in opposite directions...
An older woman, well, somewhat older than us, I often think of her. Is she still about, doing this walk as often as she used to? Does anyone else know her? Where is she from?
I'd bet she would have some interesting stories to share on the forum.

[PeterJ]

I reckon if it's the same person, I met her when we went into Western Arthurs in September '06...............An older woman, well, somewhat older than us............ Is she still about, doing this walk as often as she used to? Does anyone else know her? Where is she from?.....

Yes I think it fair to describe her age as you did. My understanding is that her knees are not so good now and so not able to do the big walk through. I have heard some stories about her exploits, but don't think I have met her; not on the track anyway. She was quite a quick walker.

I have emailed a friend who knows Jeanette to find out some more information and will update if anything come of it.

[flyfisher]

There is an interesting story about J.C. in issue 34 (2002) of the Tasmanian tramp.

Sounds like a super fit and capable walker when younger.

ff

[PeterJ]

There is an interesting story about J.C. in issue 34 (2002) of the Tasmanian tramp.

Sounds like a super fit and capable walker when younger.

ff

Thanks for pointing the article out to me. I had forgotten about it and have just reread it. One part that was particularly relevant to this forum was the Lake Geeves - New river episode. So I posted an extract in the Up New River ..... forum.

[Binder]

Quick update on the boat issue.
A replacement boat was organised to be taken to the Narrows on a fishing boat, the good ship 'Ball Breaker' (not kidding), but it has been held up by continual bad weather. Hopefully will be in place asn soon as the weather breaks.

Cheers

Binder

[Drifting]

Quick update on the boat issue.
A replacement boat was organised to be taken to the Narrows on a fishing boat, the good ship 'Ball Breaker' (not kidding), but it has been held up by continual bad weather. Hopefully will be in place asn soon as the weather breaks.

Cheers

Binder

Ahhhh.....the good ship Ball Breaker. She's mighty Yar, that ship!

[Binder]

(Parks hat off...)

Hate to picture the figurehead.

[tasadam]

The expression on the Captain's face would be enough to make you cry!

[Michael_Kingston]

Does anyone know if this has been resolved yet? Parks Website has no update since 23 December.

[Binder]

G'day all

Yes, has been resolved with a new boat in place.

Cheers

Binder