Eldon Range

[ILUVSWTAS]

BTW, only *&^%$#@! slap.

Lol. Looks like I missed out on some sexual tension. Inappropriate rant Dave, *&%$#! poor form and badly done.

In my defence I didn't have an anxiety attack, I just flat out said that I wasn't going. And I didn't refuse to get off the boat, I refused to get on it. I only ended up on the boat to humour Stu. As it was it was a sensible decision, as a) the conditions were *&%$#!, and b) I was not in good enough shape and I *&%$#! knew it.

Might be right, He and another did spend alot of time in each others tents.... Maybe it didnt pan out as he'd hoped.

Seriously though, yeh i agree. Could have been settled between the 2 of us, as friends or as mutual walking accomplices, either way it might have been a better way to go about it than ranting on here, but having said that i do respect someone who's willing to say what they think, and now i know.

Yeh I know now Oll, it was just a bad start on our behalf to walk up the lake one short. You would have been fine though, Erin got through it and you are probably more used to walking with a heavy pack than he.

[mjdalessa]

Thanks for the great report, sounds like an epic! Dave's spiel really topped it off, don't know what really happened but a very entertaining and quality piece of expressive writing I don't know Mark personally but the impression I get is he is not as selfish as you make out; he has generously provided detailed info to me (and probably other members) many a time. Still, thanks for two minutes of entertainment, next time I have a disagreement I will make sure to remember blunt and derogatory remarks to publicly knock people off their horse are a good way of settling disagreements.

How is ILUVSWTAS an experienced peakbagger but not bushwalker? Isn't there at least a little cross over? No matter how bad his actions were I don't think they need to be pubically displayed. A few witty and tactful comments would have given us the picture with out the jousting stick performance.

Climbing high dome may have had some impact on the group for the next few days, perhaps a poor descision, but isnt summit fever a little understandable?

Still looks like you had an amazing trip, more photos please!!

BTW, how did the MSR Hubba hold up to the poor weather in high camps?

[ollster]

Yeh I know now Oll, it was just a bad start on our behalf to walk up the lake one short. You would have been fine though, Erin got through it and you are probably more used to walking with a heavy pack than he.

I know. Withe respect to Erin, I probably "knew too much". I've become quite attuned to my ageing body after the sciatic nerve problems, and I could feel that funny little pulling sensation down the left side of my back, and that's never a good sign. All in all, it was a decision I made for you guys as much as myself. Sad not to be there, but there will be other times.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thanks for the great report, sounds like an epic! Dave's spiel really topped it off, don't know what really happened but a very entertaining and quality piece of expressive writing I don't know Mark personally but the impression I get is he is not as selfish as you make out; he has generously provided detailed info to me (and probably other members) many a time. Still, thanks for two minutes of entertainment, next time I have a disagreement I will make sure to remember blunt and derogatory remarks to publicly knock people off their horse are a good way of settling disagreements.

How is ILUVSWTAS an experienced peakbagger but not bushwalker? Isn't there at least a little cross over? No matter how bad his actions were I don't think they need to be pubically displayed. A few witty and tactful comments would have given us the picture with out the jousting stick performance.

Climbing high dome may have had some impact on the group for the next few days, perhaps a poor descision, but isnt summit fever a little understandable?

Still looks like you had an amazing trip, more photos please!!

BTW, how did the MSR Hubba hold up to the poor weather in high camps?

Cheers mate.

I must confess im overwhelmed by the amount of support from the people on here, even some i have been less than kind to in the past.
It's very heartwarming. My gratitude to you all, well most of you, well some of you... well maybe.

[ILUVSWTAS]

I've become quite attuned to my ageing body after the sciatic nerve problems, and I could feel that funny little pulling sensation down the left side of my back, and that's never a good sign. All in all, it was a decision I made for you guys as much as myself. Sad not to be there, but there will be other times.

I had similar fears myself, but in total honesty to this day my back hasnt felt better in 18months!!

[richierich]

sounds like an absolutely brilliant mission peoples, well done!!

[Greenie]

As i touched upon, alot of gear was destroyed on this trip. 3 or 4 packs (BRAND NEW packs) came out with large holes, one brand new goretex jacket got 2 holes, over pants were shredded and torn.. yes good gear is essential for such a trip.

Do you want to name and shame some of these?

Thanks!

[ILUVSWTAS]

As i touched upon, alot of gear was destroyed on this trip. 3 or 4 packs (BRAND NEW packs) came out with large holes, one brand new goretex jacket got 2 holes, over pants were shredded and torn.. yes good gear is essential for such a trip.

Do you want to name and shame some of these?

Thanks!

It was all quality gear, a brand new marmont jacket ruined, a macpac prophet had considerable wear around the sleeves, 3 or 4 OP packs sporting large holes, MONT overpants with holes, and one pair of cheap overpants shredded into confetti. The usual STS gaiters (brand new) destroyed..... and all but one or 2 pairs of gloves had several holes.

[Greenie]

Was there any that brands that did well out there?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Was there any that brands that did well out there?

With a bit of care, all of my gear came back intact. The Tents all went quite well, some seemed to suffer more condensation than others, My Akto seemed to perform very well. I had an UL sleeping bag (550grams, UL in my book) and was worried about it getting wet. It stayed bone dry the whole trp though thankfully.

[corvus]

ILSWT are you the one guest viewing this post ??
corvus

[ILUVSWTAS]

No, im ILUVSWTAS.

The guest is likely a bot, or funnily enough, a guest

[corvus]

Sorry ILUVSWTAS
I guess you are just hiding your on line status
corvus

[ILUVSWTAS]

Sorry ILUVSWTAS
I guess you are just hiding your on line status
corvus

Excellent work of deduction.

[MJD]

...I've become quite attuned to my ageing body...

WT *$&#, give me a break! Oh that's right I've already got a break

[corvus]

Sorry ILUVSWTAS
I guess you are just hiding your on line status
corvus

Excellent work of deduction.

WHY hide
corvus

[ILUVSWTAS]

WHY not?

Im far from the only one who does, why pick on me?

[corvus]

Not picking just curious
corvus

[corvus]

And why do the others do so
corvus

[ILUVSWTAS]

Haha ok fair enough, maybe I just like surprises.


And you'll have to ask the others their reasons....

[ollster]

...I've become quite attuned to my ageing body...

WT *$&#, give me a break! Oh that's right I've already got a break

Maybe a "freak accident" may lead to another one?

It is ageing... 35 years and around the last 15 spent carrying around 100kgs of me! Family history of arthritic knees, and dodgy backs... more twisted ankles that I care to think about.

[stu]

As i touched upon, alot of gear was destroyed on this trip. 3 or 4 packs (BRAND NEW packs) came out with large holes, one brand new goretex jacket got 2 holes, over pants were shredded and torn.. yes good gear is essential for such a trip.

Do you want to name and shame some of these?

Thanks!

I'll own up, but not in a shameful manner!
Yes, my brand new Marmot Alpinist jacket (http://marmot.com/products/alpinist_jacket?p=216,303) looked far from new by the end of this trip, but not that bad considering. One small (1cm x 1cm) 90 degree style tear near an elbow (from 2 days of boulder hopping in wet, windy conditions, hence requiring more grovelling than one would like) and a couple of localised abrasions through the outer material...this sort of trip is brutal on gear and I think the jacket otherwise performed admirably...comfortable, fully featured & I was dry the whole trip...well...almost

I may do a write up in the equipment section, or not, but some other stand out items for me were:

- Jetboil SOL (http://shop.jetboil.com/index.php/sol-cooking-system.html) - so, so very fast & so, so very efficient (1.5 Jetboil style (small) canisters in 10 days & that included some bleak lay days spent having numerous cups of tea / hot lunch etc. Boil time for a cup or so of water is under a minute.

- MONT overpants (http://www.mont.com.au/index/catalog/product/009- yes, they may not see another trip, but they also weren't new at the start of this trip thats for sure; these things are so tough, I have had 3 pairs now & they have taken some serious abuse in the mountains & scrub...they don't stay waterproof for long after being new but what does in Tasmania?

- My unbelievably comfortable Mountain Designs Bonfire jacket (http://www.mountaindesigns.com/online-store/products/Bonfire-Jacket.aspx?prodID=19308). This was indespensible on the cold tent bound days & extended the rating of my sleeping bag considerably on a couple of occassions as required.

- a simple polarfleece neck gaiter; having had ear surgery only 3 weeks prior this trip it, along with a merino beannie, were my total head protection against the sub zero winds, mostly worn head band / David Lee Roth style over my thin beannie & so, so warm, even when wet...I always take this with me!!

- Mountain Hardwear Windstopper vest (http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Men's-Windstopper%C2%AE-Tech%E2%84%A2-Vest/OM3781,default,pd.html)- the ever versatile & core warming vest, an essential layering piece IMHO. I also wore it to bed a couple of times, fast drying & fairly light for the job it does.

I won't comment further on the group dynamics / incidents / personalities etc. etc. It was generally a really, really great trip, even with the average conditions that started the trip & stole our views from the Eldon Peak area. Walking in large groups is always going to bring with it personality clashes of one type or another. I stood & stand, in a more "post-trip" censored degree, with Mr 80%'s comments, but I have resolved that with ILUV out of forum. He is well aware of the why's of annoyances now & I hope we can now move on from all of this. ILUV - maybe your comments about / to Oll in your report were also a little too candid for a publuc forum; sure, his timing was bad but essentially didn't change the trip plan once we got going & he was still missed. Maybe some of these frank & impetuous comments that fly around these public forums should be saved for the private forum? I know i'm sometimes guilty of this so i'm apologising to anyone now......or in advance

A few photos to end on a lighter note...

Eldon Crag (Abel).

Along the Eldon Range.

Eldon Bluff summit plateau.

[stu]

...and a few more...

Scoping out a route to Lake Ewart.

Castle Mtn & Eldon Bluff from en route to Dome Hill.

High Dome mists.

[Son of a Beach]

MODERATION

Mr 80%, ILUV, Corvus, et al: Please keep personal attacks off this forum. I understand there may be some real issues at play, but the public forum is not the place to discuss them in this way. Any further such posts will be removed (it's too difficult to remove the existing ones for now, and they are also a commentary on some of the downsides of some bushwalking trips - just a shame they weren't written within forum rules).

ILUV et al: Please note that swearing in the public forum is against the rules whether the word censor catches it or not. If the word censor catches it, we tend to let it be the moderator, if it does not, then we need to deal with it, either my editing your post(s) or by adding more words to the filter.

[Son of a Beach]

(Moderation hat off)

Thanks for the additional photos, guys. Especially those ones from the tent bound and miserable weather periods. Although they're not as pretty, they do help to balance the report nicely and to add some perspective.

Sounds like a very eventful trip and hopefully a good learning experience for everyone involved.

[Mr 80%]

I won't comment further on the group dynamics / incidents / personalities etc. etc. It was generally a really, really great trip, even with the average conditions that started the trip & stole our views from the Eldon Peak area. Walking in large groups is always going to bring with it personality clashes of one type or another. I stood & stand, in a more "post-trip" censored degree, with Mr 80%'s comments, but I have resolved that with ILUV out of forum. He is well aware of the why's of annoyances now & I hope we can now move on from all of this. ILUV - maybe your comments about / to Oll in your report were also a little too candid for a publuc forum; sure, his timing was bad but essentially didn't change the trip plan once we got going & he was still missed. Maybe some of these frank & impetuous comments that fly around these public forums should be saved for the private forum? I know i'm sometimes guilty of this so i'm apologising to anyone now......or in advance

Just thought I should say that I agree with Stu, I had a fantastic time on the trip and I didn't really express that in my last post. Stu I'm glad you where able to sort it out with ILOV you obviously had more luck with that than I did when I tried.

[Mr 80%]

How is ILUVSWTAS an experienced peakbagger but not bushwalker? Isn't there at least a little cross over? No matter how bad his actions were I don't think they need to be pubically displayed. A few witty and tactful comments would have given us the picture with out the jousting stick performance.

Yes, obviously there is a lot of cross over in those skill, I guess my comment was about those skills that are not common to both disciplines.

I'm not so sure 'a few witty comments' would be such a good idea. It's these types of comments that inflame some users, unfortunately I'm not as good a person as they are and was not able to keep it to myself.

[Nuts]

Thanks stu, photos say 000 words!

[tasadam]

I'm not so sure 'a few witty comments' would be such a good idea. It's these types of comments that inflame some users

If something is said on the forum that inflames anyone, then anyone can use the "report post" feature to bring it to the attention of the moderation team.

"Witty comments" can be used with the [jj] tags or with emotion smileys (to make the intention clear), however please remember that insults and abuse cannot be hidden in such a way. And, again, if it offends, report it. Or if you notice something directed at someone else that is likely to offend, you can report that too. The moderator team cannot read every post - so we rely on members to use this feature to bring it to our attention, to help prevent problems arising or escalating.
Thanks.

[Bodysurfer]

It's interesting to hear about all the scrub. When I was there 35 years ago, there was very little scrub. We didn't have (or need) any overpants, gloves and gaiters. I also recall it as pretty much trackless, although you could follow the poles of the Ewart track for some sections. Are any of the poles still standing?

(I should note that the poles more likely marked the NP boundary, but would also be the Ewart track as both follow the watershed).