by snake » Tue 24 May, 2011 9:42 pm
Hi Guys, just heard about this site , so as one of the "3" ! rescued in the Leven canyon ( 4 th one pulled out at the end of day 2 with a knee injury ) I thought it would be good to give you my account , plus ask some questions regarding the state of the leven section of the track (atrocious !) etc .
First 2 days out of penguin were really good , came across the NWCWC volunteers doing some great work on the penguin end of the track. markers and track could do with some clearing in places , plus camp sites were nearly non-existent. Spent first night beside a road in a pushed up clay pan , did the job no worries , but there were no other options.
Day 2 some good steady walking up and down and then headed into the top of Gunns Plains and down to raod before the 11 km walk to the start of the Leven track , camped just into the walk ( we think it was the camp site ? ) No other sites were found .
Day 3 , started the long , slow and at times very dangerous track along the river bank. We knew it would be tough , but following storms last year ( causing trees down in many locations , sometimes only 10 m apart and advised by the NWCWC volunteers) , plus the wash out over recent storms and floods in April ) it was very slow progress. we covered 7 km in 8 hours walking , and several sections had benn washed out , plus markers were a bit hard to find when they were on fallen trees ?!
We reached Blackwood camp for lunch about 1 pm and saw that the last walker went through on the 5 th April in the log book. Too make Day 4 easier we did another 2 hours to the river Island camp in the arvo, which was very hairy in many patches.
We resolved then we wouldn`t be going back over many of these sections again , as they were dangerous in many situations ! Set up camp and we then received about 4 hours night rain , after having had perfect weather earlier.
Started Day 4 in great spirits , but early on we hit this section of track in narrow decay ( 45 degree angle , half a boot wide , wet with leaves, 80 degree bank above , 30 metre canyon drop below and no other saplings or trees to support any potential slip by hand or foot ! This was all on a section of track which undulated up to 2 m over its lenghth.
It was here that I called a stop , in the interests of "better be safe than sorry !"
We were all well equipped and trained for the walk so fitness was not an issue....and although it is for "experienced " walkers I would say the track is under-estimated in its present condition. I appreciate the volunteer work the NWCWC has done , but govt. really needs to inject some funding $`s into repairing the Leven Canyon / River section of day 3 & 4 , through upgraded markers and clearing the substantial number of fallen trees across the track , and many in difficult positions !
I`m fairly sure the Parks sign at the Lowanna Rd strat to the track states " Loongana 16 hrs return " ...If my memory is correct ?
On our calculations this trip would be at least 26 HRS return , based on current track conditions and hazards !
Based on these facts we therefore took the hard decision to let off the EPIRB , might I say with much regret....I`d love to hear from anyone who has done the full walk from Penguin to Cradle and let me know how they found it ...Who is really responsible for this track`s up-keep and maintenance ? as it is meant to be one of tassie`s 8 Great walks !
Cheers...Snake
