Lake Judd and Mount Sarah Jane

[doogs]

Finishing work at 3pm I sped home and threw all my carefully sorted gear into the boot of my car. I said my goodbyes and raced off down the midlands highway set for Lake Pedder only stopping near Maydena to pick up a "tree hugging hippy" on his way to the Florentine. I arrived at the start of the Red Tape Creek track at 6.15 and hastily packed my rucksack, threw it on my back and I was off under clear blue skies. This was to be my first trip into the great South West. The views behind me as I marched in to Lake Judd where spectacular, but I couldn't linger as I wanted to be at Lake Judd before the sun set. Ploughing through the mud I Arrived at 9.00 just as the sun was dipping below the horizon I got the stove on and pitched the tent. After euphanasing all the mosquitoes in my tent I retired with the alarm set for 4.30.
The alarm went off, I stared blankly at the tent roof for half an hour as I convinced myself it wasn't yet light enough outside to get up. Finally surfaced at 5am to more mosquitoes and an absolutely awesome view of Mount Eliza over Lake Judd. Had cups of tea and some breakfast, packed my gear and I was off to do some more bog snorkelling to the base of Mount Sarah Jane. By the time I started to go up hill I was covered from mid thigh to toe in mud, and now faced my next struggle, through the rucksack grabbing trees. (I should add at this point that I am stupid and was carrying a full pack, I know any sane human being with the slightest bit of common sense would have stashed their unneeded gear for retrieval on their return trip.)
Early morning at Lake Judd

The scrub began thin out as I got higher on the mountain and the unfolding panorama of Lake Pedder, Mount Anne, The Arthurs etc was fantastic.

Reaching the ridge at 9.30 I was greeted with a big bank of cloud coming in from the east. I took off my pack and headed up to the summit of Mount Sarah Jane. With misty clouds blowing over there was nothing to see to the north and east, but to the south and west there was plenty. I headed back to the pack and made the executive decision not to head to the lonely tarns for lunch, as I had thought I might.
Going downhill through the scrub was much easier than going up, and the mud didn't seem to be as deep! It still took me 4 hours to get back to the car from where I had left my pack near the summit of Mount Sarah Jane. And with a 3 hour drive ahead of me I was quite glad that I hadn't gone any further.

Muddy, tired, bruised, scrarched and mosquito bitten? Love this place!
Doogs

[stu]

Nice report & photos, thanks very much for sharing doogs.
The Anne circuit is one of the best 2-3 day walks around IMHO, you should head back to explore further afield next time.
Lake Picone / Judds Charm are great places to camp, see other thread.
Schnells Ridge area is also very much worth a visit, either as a day trip or as an overnighter.
I'm sure there will be plenty more SW missions ahead for you after that little taster, it is an addictive place
Cheers.
Stu.

[stepbystep]

Very nice doogs, Lake Judd was my second walk in the magnificent SW, with the first being an attempt on Mt Anne(I only got as far as the Eliza plateau on that attempt).
I also finished my Lake Judd mission bruised and *&%$#!, but addicted for life, the SW is now the No.1 place I like to spend my spare time, bet it'll do it for you too!

Oh and like Stu said, give Schnells a go, very special!

Cheers,sbs

[doogs]

I am already mulling over the idea of heading down again. Early stages of planning ; leaving the car at red tape creek, cycling to gelignite creek (after stashing rucksack there earlier) and walking the Anne circuit with the alternative start of the NE ridge. Pandani shelf looks like an absolutely awesome place to camp and the sinkhole, as well, must be included in a future trip to the Anne area.

[ILUVSWTAS]

The sinkhole is cool!! Here's me sitting on the edge of it... Thanks to MJD for the stunning pic!

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