Walls to Overland & Mt Massif traverse advice

[woody]

Hi I am planning on an 8 day trip through the Walls of Jerusalem (Dixon's, Lake Adelaide, Meston, Junction) then via the Never Never to OT and Kia Ora hut.
Bit of a rest then the Mt Massif traverse to Pine Valley.

Any advice on the route from Junction Lake would be appreciated, including the crossing above Harnett Falls ( I have read the description so co ordinates would be good, post privately)
Also the best way up the Massif from the OT track (and similarly co ordinates would be good)
How many days for the traverse?
AND have read about the ANT problem in the Labrinyth area - does that include the Mount Massif side??

Any other tips welcome. we are experienced well equiped walkers, and have done the Overland, been up to the Labrinyth and Acropolis, and walked in the Walls area including Mt Rogoona and Cloisters.
I am keen on a couple of peaks but my buddy may not be keen on the grade of Geryon South. What easier ones would you advise?
BTW this is a fabulous forum, and thanks in advance
Woody (SA)

[norts]

Are you planning on going up to Mt Massif from Kiaora or are you going up to Ducane Gap and then go up Falling Mt and then traverse along to Mt Massif?
When Are you planning to do this, i wouldnt recommend it at this time of the year unless you have gear for snow and ice, I wouldnt like to be up on big Gun pass at the moment.
I didnt notice any ants in the bowl on Massif.

Roger

[Graham51]

I've done the circuit over Massif a few times, each time from Ducane Gap. Fairly easy to find your way there the when you go onto Massif you generally go to the north of cliff faces until you see the obvious route to the top. Camping in the bowl of Massif is recommended. I hate to think what it might be like at this time of year though. When you go from Massif to Big Gun Pass we again started off heading around the north side and then sidled around to the saddle. As long as you have good visibility it's not hard to find your way.

[vagrom]

If you read Chapman before you go, his advice on this route is in the special section at the back of their Cradle/Clair book and he has added/altered advice on this route. See his website Updates, where he invites recent visitors to advise changes should they think it necessary.
You can't be going there at this time of the year...(Please, say it's true).

Graham and everyone correctly say to go around the north side of Massif and up the obvious route (this is Chapman's correction), but that "obvious route", a great defile between the cliffs, appears to offer several options up to an obvious apex. We took quite some time finding the best way because what looks good from down there becomes exposed as you go up. So down we went and wound up taking a third option, pretty much central.
And we had a very scrubby climb from Ducane gap though we must have missed a cleared area, that's said to be visible from the OLT itself. We thought we were on a good pad that disappeared after a short while.

It's one of Tassie's great traverses and it's made so if you're in good weather.

[woody]

Hi there
Its ok the trip is planned for after Xmas!
Thanks for your replies so far....

[tas-man]

<snip>Any advice on the route from Junction Lake would be appreciated, including the crossing above Harnett Falls<snip>

I posted some info on the crossing above Hartnett Falls in this thread, plus there is other useful info about the
Never Never. viewtopic.php?f=42&t=5801

[Nick S]

There is a trip report I submitted on the du cane range traverse if you search the forum. May help with times and route planning.
viewtopic.php?t=5206
Du Cane Range Traverse