Frenchmans Cap

[Phil]

Hey!

It's been a VERY long time since I've posted on this forum but thought I'd share a few pics from a trip I did last Saturday 18 Oct.

A mate and I left Launceston at 4am and started on the Frenchmans Cap track at 7am, we both enjoy a bit of trail running so the intention was to summit Frenchmans and then out that day.

Weather was favourable, slightly cloudy. The new track that bypasses the Loddons flows really nicely and we made good time. The forested climb up to Vera was slow, as was the section from Vera hut all the way to Barron Pass and that was with light packs on in the order of only 3kg or so! Although slow and hard going, it is all very beautiful nonetheless.

For anyone who's been there, upon reaching Barron Pass the landscape opens up DRAMATICALLY! Wowzers! Barron Pass all the way to Tahune and then to the summit is just absolutely exquisite, it was a real joy to be moving through the mountains in the manner we were, a trail runners heaven!

Although we had not been aware of any wind that day, it was quite cold and blowy on top, even some snow still sitting around. We sat down at 12:30 for some food and enjoyed the vista. After 30mins we were starting to feel cold very quickly so made a start back. Again the trail all the way through to Barron Pass is just breathtaking, we were pinching ourselves and really didn't want to leave!

Back to the car by 6:30pm after a quick and very fresh wash in the Franklin River, 5.5hrs each way. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday!

Here's a few pics, nothing fancy, combination of compressed iPhone and GoPro photos. For anyone who's interested, here's a link to the Garmin/Strava file from the day: http://app.strava.com/activities/208653717

Cheers

Phil

Attachments

Early trails.......

Barron Pass

Flowing trail

Summit views

More summit views

Trying not to get blown off

Compulsory selfie

Weary legs

Dropping off the cap.......

Descending to Tahune

Last edited by Phil on Wed 22 Oct, 2014 3:28 pm, edited 4 times in total.

[Phil]

last couple of pics...........

Attachments

Heading back to Barron Pass

A couple of stoked dudes.......

King of the world!

Last edited by Phil on Thu 23 Oct, 2014 7:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

[eggs]

Excellent report

[FootTrack]

Great shots and trip report Phil, this is wicked! Those photos are making me itch to get out there myself - what a place eh!!

[klaashartmann]

Great stuff! I've been planning to do it this Summer. How much of it were you able to run?

[Phil]

Great stuff! I've been planning to do it this Summer. How much of it were you able to run?

Hey mate. Have a look at the strava link, that'll give you an idea of our pace and the bits that were runnable. Could basically run all the way through to the Vera (other than the forested climb just prior to reaching Vera). Pretty much walked from Vera to Barron Pass. Could then run maybe 50% of Barron pass to tahune. Then hike up to the Cap. Obviously our hike is much quicker than a walker with an overnight pack on their back.

By comparison, I've run the full OL track from Waldheim to Cynthia Bay (so down the lake) in sub 12hrs.

Also, would love to revisit your Fedders in 24hrs trip from a few years back, one that's on my bucket list!

[klaashartmann]

Thanks for that Phil. That's pretty darn impressive! What pack/vest did you guys use? I've been thinking of getting the UD Adventure Vest for the next long trip.

Looking at your Strava profile I reckon you could just about do Fedders as a daytime only trip. The muddy and scrubby sections would be difficult to try and get through too much faster, but there are reasonably long sections you could run (and I hardly ran on my trip).

[Phil]

What pack/vest did you guys use? I've been thinking of getting the UD Adventure Vest for the next long trip.

I used an Osprey Talon 11, Andy wore a Salomon S-Lab 12-Set. The Osprey is a great day pack with plenty of storage, the Salomon is more lightweight with limited storage but ideal for something like this.

[Mechanic-AL]

I have a great respect for your level of fitness and commitment to the task so I don't want to sound too much like a misery guts here but I'm just wondering if there is any sort of contingency plan for a sprained ankle etc. on an outing like this? With only 3kgs of fodder and clothing in the pack I would imagine any sort of incapacitating injury over Barron Pass or half way down the OLT late in the day is going to have some fairly serious consequences.

Glad it all went well though.

AL

[Phil]

I'm just wondering if there is any sort of contingency plan for a sprained ankle etc. on an outing like this? With only 3kgs of fodder and clothing in the pack I would imagine any sort of incapacitating injury over Barron Pass or half way down the OLT late in the day is going to have some fairly serious consequences.

That's a fair comment Al, and I have had ankle injuries in the past, hence the heavy strapping on both legs!

I can't speak for others, but when I do something like this I typically adhere to the compulsory gear list that is required for the Cradle Mountain Run as a basic guide: http://www.cradlemtnrun.asn.au/images/cradledocs/2015/2015%20Cradle%20Run%20Information.pdf So I do run with spare thermal leggings, long sleave top, beanie, gloves, some first aid, emergency/survival bag (not blanket), emergency food ration.

I guess with anything there is a level of risk and based on my experience and level of fitness, I am comfortable with the steps that I take. Also running with a partner is a wise move - although I have done things link this before on my own: http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7814&hilit=acropolis

I would think that the risk of injury is no greater than someone walking the track (with a large amount of weight on their back that effects balance etc), however the point your making I guess is in regards to the amount of gear that we have on ourselves in the instance of injury. Again, I guess it comes back to a safety and risk analysis and then making appropriate decisions around our ability and gear.

Thoughts?

ps As a side note, I know of a trail runner who has done a few full WAs straight through (which obviously includes running during darkness), and this past winter he did a 2-day trip: Birches Inlet - Low Rocky Point - Port Davey - Meleleuca Again, I guess it comes back to physical ability, experience, skills, planning, and the use of appropriate gear/equipment. We are more and more becoming a society that is wrapped in cotton wool, personally I do like to see people 'venture into the unknown' and give something a go just like the generations before us used to do!

[Mechanic-AL]

Hey Phil

If nobody ever felt like accepting a bit of a challenge and the risks that come with it then we'd all probably still be mooching around the Northern Hemisphere somewhere wondering if the world really is flat!!

My first thoughts when I read your trip report were respect for the level of commitment it takes to do something like this. It was only when I got to the '3kgs in the pack' bit that I began to think about the risk levels and what happens when things go pear shaped?
I agree entirely with being confident in your own ability to have a crack at it in the first place but history is littered with clowns who have been light years off the mark in judging their own ability!!
It sounds like you guys have ticked as many boxes as possible to avoid disaster so good luck to you on future missions!

Fedders in a day.........?

My mind boggles!!

AL