Mt Campbell/Cradle Mountain

[biggbird]

Hey all, still on our quest to climb all the Abels. So far, we're up to 7. Maybe just a little way to go...

Managed to get up Mt Campbell and (most of) Cradle this weekend, which was great.

We were lucky enough to be greeted by this on our arrival:



Started the walk heading along the lefthand side of the Dove Lake circuit, before taking the Hanson's peak/Scott Kilvert Hut turnoff. After heading up the hill for 15-20 minutes, we arrived at the start of the (unsigned) ascent of Mt campbell. Multiple tracks wound their way through loose rocks and fagus to the rather disappointing summit. At least the views on the way up/down were worth it!



We then kept on heading around to Hanson's peak, which was scaled without much difficulty, thanks in large part to the handy chain installed on the toughest bit of the climb



The view from the top of Hanson's Peak across Lake Hanson to Mt Campbell was lovely



We then headed along the face track, under Little Horn and along to the base of the Cradle summit track



For someone as scared of heights as I am, particularly given the weather (and the numbness of our hands...) the ascent up Cradle was really quite a challenge! I'd never actually done it before, and nor had my partner, so both of us were a little surprised to realise just how much climbing was required. In wet, cold and windy weather, with about 10m visibility, neither of us were really comfortable to push ourselves too far, and hence stopped at the base of the final ascent, which must have put us about 30m from the summit. Good enough for us! Then it was time to head back down... Not sure which was worse!



All in all, a lovely way to spend 7.5 hours on a Sunday, and nice to finally get a taste of tassie's most famous mountain. I'm sure we'll be back at some stage!

Thanks for reading

[stu]

A fine hobby you have started there bigbird, but a friendly warning, climbing Tasmanian mountains is very addictive.
I think I have climbed 126 of the Abels at last count, or thereabouts, but not even sure how many there are in total? Anyone?
I hope your fear of heights dissipates for a couple of the trickier ones, Federation comes to mind
You have many years of adventure ahead of you, relish it
Nice pics too - thanks for sharing.
Cheers
Stu

[ILUVSWTAS]

I think there's now 158 or 159.
Alot of them are harder to access than the Abels book may make it seem. Just start with all the easy ones first.....

I think im on about 110 if anyone cares....

[stu]

I care buddy
Pity we missed Eldon Crag eh...not sure if I'll be back that way.
Must make sure we get any others on future trips, just in case we feel like baggin em all some day.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thanks Stu.

Yeh had we known it was so far out.... And had we decent weather... and had we a faster group, we MIGHT have bothered.... From our camp on a wet day though, it was never gonna happen huh!! Probably should be on the PBList as it was a fine looking crag!!

The 2 that arent on the list and on provate property might also be a bit of a hassle... and the ones near Gell we missed.... And I still gotta get up Fedder someday.

[stu]

Yep, yep and yep.
Which 2 are on private property?
Happy with chasing just 1 or 2 lists for the moment.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yeh ones enough for me....

Patrick and Penny west. Near the Arthurs lake road... you can access the property quite easily according to book1. Just need a donation, and to write a letter to the landowners asking permission.

[stepbystep]

Nice pics

Mt Campbell has the best views of Cradle Mtn I've experienced, and I've been up all the major peaks in the area. Although I suspect Artillery Knob might compete?
The plateau is well worth exploring and has 2 high points of identicle elevation, so the peakbaggers that went to the closest high point can't claim the point IMHO

Check the view from the plateau...

Only 64 Abels for me, just checked it....

[ILUVSWTAS]

Nice pics

Mt Campbell has the best views of Cradle Mtn I've experienced, and I've been up all the major peaks in the area. Although I suspect Artillery Knob might compete?
The plateau is well worth exploring and has 2 high points of identicle elevation, so the peakbaggers that went to the closest high point can't claim the point IMHO

Check the view from the plateau...

P1050149.jpg

Only 64 Abels for me, just checked it....

113 for me... just had to check after you did.

So where does the grid ref on the PB list for Campbell say the points are?? On the further summit? Or the closer one??

[stepbystep]

So where does the grid ref on the PB list for Campbell say the points are?? On the further summit? Or the closer one??

Don't know matey, the furthest definitely looked higher, and I built the cairn up a bit, so the list needs updating for sure

[ILUVSWTAS]

LOL, well im glad I did it before you so it wasnt higher then....

[biggbird]

Haha thanks for all the replies guys! I know what you mean though stu, I'm pretty sure it already has become an addiction... We're already planning which ones we can climb in every bit of spare time we have! Will be heading up Roland in a couple of weekends' time, and hopefully spend 3 or 4 days doing trips up some of those in the NE in a month or so. Add that to a (somewhat) planned trip to the Western Arthurs this summer, and we're hoping to have knocked out 20 or so by summer's end.

We've definitely been making a point of doing the easier ones first, as this is really our first real exposure to bushwalking at all!

Something tells me that fedder may well be among the last we do, and I doubt either of us will be terribly thrilled about it while we're doing it... But I'm sure the post-climb euphoria will be amazing! (as long as we survive to have it )

Haha stepbystep, I wish we had had views like that... Weindorfer's Tower didn't poke its head out at all all day! Ah well, that's tassie for you eh. Cheers for the pic

[tigercat]

Great photos. Campbell looks increasingly attractive.

[naturelover]

I love the photos too. I had decided a while ago to camp out on top of it this weekend, so thought I'd see what people had written. I'll climb to the top with tent etc first and then go back down to fill up my container with multiple litres of water - I presume there's none up there. My memory is just of a huge expanse of broken rock. Hoping for a good sunset nonetheless The photos have strengthened my resolve (although the clouds out the window as I type this do not. No point in climbing for no views. I already have my "Campbell points").

[biggbird]

I certainly don't remember seeing any water up there, but then SBS's picture would suggest that at least occasionally there is something up there! Hope you got some good views and a decent sunrise