Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

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Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby gonebush » Tue 13 Dec, 2022 11:08 am

Hi all,

I'm planning a full Arthurs traverse from West to East and am looking for information on the possible route between Lake Roseanne and Pass Creek. Chapman has a route marked and some notes on a route across Lucifer Ridge, but the Western Arthur topo doesn't show anything other than down to the plains and back up Eastern Traverse track.

Has anyone been along here recently and can provide any information on whether the route is still possible and how easy or difficult the navigation is?

A second question is dealing with the logistics of getting picked up at the end. It seems difficult to get picked up from Farmhouse creek. TWE seems to be the best bet and a good service, but it will be pricey if no-one else is booked. So I'm thinking there are three alternative options:
1) head to farmhouse creek and hope for a lift.
2) Walk out the Huon / Yo-Yo track and hope for a lift out of Tahune.
3) walk back out McKays to Scotts peak

cheers
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby Last » Tue 13 Dec, 2022 12:16 pm

While it's probably possible to walk the old link between Lake Roseanne and Pass Creek it is not currently good practice as there is phytophthora in the area.
Your second question would depend on when you were doing your traverse. In summer the chances of getting a lift from Farmhouse would be good, other times it could be a bit chancy. You could look at the Federation bookings for around the time you will be completing? If you got to Farmhouse and there was no chance of a lift you could just walk to Tahune where there would be a much better chance. Is that easier/harder than backtracking via either the Yo-yo or returning to Scotts Peak? Probably, it's what I would do. You could do your traverse in the reverse direction. Should be easier to get a lift from Scotts Peak than Farmhouse.
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby north-north-west » Tue 13 Dec, 2022 1:16 pm

Starting from Scotts Peak, I'd head for Tahune and try to get a lift there. It's a good road and the Airwalk means there's lots of traffic. The Farmhouse Ck road is bad and getting worse.
The route from near Roseanne to the EA track at Pass Ck has never been all that clear and after three years of zero use it's going to be even harder to follow plus, yeah, the phytophthora issue. TasPAWS have done a lot of work to try to keep that end of the EA clear of the stuff and walking in that way after a WA traverse - especially without thorough decontamination - will undo all that.
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby gonebush » Tue 13 Dec, 2022 1:24 pm

Last wrote:While it's probably possible to walk the old link between Lake Roseanne and Pass Creek it is not currently good practice as there is phytophthora in the area.
Your second question would depend on when you were doing your traverse. In summer the chances of getting a lift from Farmhouse would be good, other times it could be a bit chancy. You could look at the Federation bookings for around the time you will be completing? If you got to Farmhouse and there was no chance of a lift you could just walk to Tahune where there would be a much better chance. Is that easier/harder than backtracking via either the Yo-yo or returning to Scotts Peak? Probably, it's what I would do. You could do your traverse in the reverse direction. Should be easier to get a lift from Scotts Peak than Farmhouse.



Hi Last,
Thanks for the information.
Good point regarding the Phytophthora. I hadn't considered that.

If all goes to plan we will be at Federation peak around the 8th- 10th January. The eventbrite bookings for the Eastern traverse and Fedders show some days booked out and some availability.
cheers
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby gonebush » Tue 13 Dec, 2022 2:28 pm

north-north-west wrote:Starting from Scotts Peak, I'd head for Tahune and try to get a lift there. It's a good road and the Airwalk means there's lots of traffic. The Farmhouse Ck road is bad and getting worse.
The route from near Roseanne to the EA track at Pass Ck has never been all that clear and after three years of zero use it's going to be even harder to follow plus, yeah, the phytophthora issue. TasPAWS have done a lot of work to try to keep that end of the EA clear of the stuff and walking in that way after a WA traverse - especially without thorough decontamination - will undo all that.


Hi NNW,

We definitely don't want to be responsible for spreading phytophthora so will stick to the main track and we will start to plan for a walk out to Tahune and if we meet anyone around Fedders that can give us a lift, then that is a bonus.

Thanks for the info.
cheers
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby headwerkn » Wed 14 Dec, 2022 7:59 am

We were out there a couple of weeks ago. The "junction" just north of Strike Creek to Lake Rosanne is marked with a cairn off the main track, but there wasn't much of a pad to be seen. Mind you, parts of the main track in that area were pretty vague too until we got to the new boardwalk areas. As NNW said the area wouldn't/shouldn't have seen many boots these past few years. I'm sure that'll all change this summer.

It is all pretty open terrain and perfectly navigable though. We had planned to climb West Portal via Lake Rosanne from the east (camped about 2km south of Strike Creek) and had given serious consideration to going up and over Lucifer Ridge instead as per Chapman's suggestion. From our location it would have been noticeably shorter, avoided damp marsh and likely been a more interesting/visually appealing walk.

My only concern was, as mentioned, phytophthora. PWS have boarded the entire SE end of Lucifer Ridge, which is ultimately where you'd re-enter/leave the EA Traverse Track, assuming therefore it's an affected area. So you probably don't want to be going off-track in that location.

Ultimately we bailed on West Portal due to weather, and will likely come in via Cracroft Plains on our next attempt. Parts on the northern side of the Razorback near the Cracroft Plains have been boarded, however the area around the Rosanne Junction wasn't so maybe phytophthora isn't as problematic there. I'd wager PWS would prefer people stick to the "official track/route" in any case, but maybe it's worth getting in touch directly and finding out what their preference is.

At least, both Strike and Pass Creeks will give your boots a thorough cleaning ;-) I'm assuming this is why PWS hasn't bothered with any kind of footbridge (along with cost, obviously).
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby headwerkn » Wed 14 Dec, 2022 10:54 am

Some photos for reference.
Attachments
IMG_9644 2.jpeg
PWS sign showing the elevated boardwalk sections.
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IMG_9661 2.jpeg
Small cairn at the EA Traverse-Lake Rosanne junction.
IMG_9661 2.jpeg (92.58 KiB) Viewed 2101 times
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Boardwalk around Lucifer Ridge
_1250451.jpeg (62.93 KiB) Viewed 2101 times
_1250463.jpeg
Pass Creek and the SE end of Lucifer Ridge
_1250463.jpeg (75.26 KiB) Viewed 2101 times
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby gonebush » Wed 21 Dec, 2022 9:03 am

Thanks Headwerkn,

That is great info. We have decided to skip Lucifer Ridge and follow the track down to avoid any risk of phytophthora spread, by us or anyone else that may follow the footpad we create. Thanks for the photos.

cheers
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Re: Joining the Western and Eastern Arthurs

Postby headwerkn » Wed 21 Dec, 2022 10:28 am

Just spoke with PWS, their official stance/policy is the Lucifer Ridge route should not be used as the surrounding foothills have lost a considerable depth of peat since the fires and are highly susceptible to both phytophthora and general erosion if used. The marked route from Lake Rosanne to the Eastern Arthurs Traverse Track junction a little north of Strike Creek should be used for travel in this area.
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