Mt Shakespeare
Posted: Fri 21 Jan, 2011 7:37 amStepbystep and myself did a very long daytrip to this rarely visited peak yesterday in fine weather.
The route goes up to Wylds Craig using the new track which cuts about 3k's walking and 300mtrs elevation off the old track. Wylds can now be done in a comfortable 4hr return walk from here (old way was nearly 7hrs)
From Goodwins Moor, we followed the West side of the ridge (the top of the ridge is a bit rough) towards Darkes peak. The going was very easy with light pads followed in some places. Once above Lake Laurel, we descended into the scrub which isnt anywhere near as bad as it may look at first glimpse. After about 15minutes we arrived at the lakes.
For those who dont like daywalks of 11-12hrs, there is a nice campsite in the forest near the outlet creek at Lake Laurel. Following along the lakes, we headed up to high ground to follow a "bridge" through to the ridge line of Mt Shakespeare. It got a little rough up near the top, but again it wasnt really all that bad, only taking around 45minutes to get to the top from the Bridge.
We got to the summit at around 12pm, some 5.5hrs after leaving the car.
Sitting on the summit admiring the rarely seen views of the Prince of Wales and Spires, along with many peaks in the Southern reserve, Frenchmans, West Coast peaks as well as the usual loved peaks in the Southwest, it was after about 40minutes we retraced our steps back to lake Laurel where a dip in the lake was WELL in order!
Feeling somewhat refreshed, we headed back up the mildly scrubby hill towards the ridge near Cunninghams Knoll. The feeling of rejuvenation only lasted about 30minutes however and the 3k slog back towards Wylds Craig was quite slow and tedious. I had already been up Wylds, but as SBS had come out to Shakespeare with me, I dragged my tired body up to the summit for the amazing views of all the above mentioned peaks as well as the Denison range which was very close, and the Eastern and Western Arthurs were clearly in view.
Knowing it was all down hill back to the car some 3.4k's away, we soon started off. Fatigue had really set in by now and we both stumbled along like a pair of drunks, soon arriving at the car exactly 12hrs after setting off. This was the second 10+hr, 20+k walk I had done in 5 days, and my body was really punishing me for being so mean to it.
A short walk back through a disgustingly ugly forestry coup with all kinds of ooze and crap seeping out of the ground to run into the nearby Florentine River (oh yeh out rivers are REALLY nice and pristine in Tas, thanks Forestry Tasmania for that!!) we headed off for the 2 hr drive back to Hobart. Stoppig at Gretna for a couple of soothing ales (and a chat to the very colourful locals) we got back to Hobart around 830pm.
The route goes up to Wylds Craig using the new track which cuts about 3k's walking and 300mtrs elevation off the old track. Wylds can now be done in a comfortable 4hr return walk from here (old way was nearly 7hrs)
From Goodwins Moor, we followed the West side of the ridge (the top of the ridge is a bit rough) towards Darkes peak. The going was very easy with light pads followed in some places. Once above Lake Laurel, we descended into the scrub which isnt anywhere near as bad as it may look at first glimpse. After about 15minutes we arrived at the lakes.
For those who dont like daywalks of 11-12hrs, there is a nice campsite in the forest near the outlet creek at Lake Laurel. Following along the lakes, we headed up to high ground to follow a "bridge" through to the ridge line of Mt Shakespeare. It got a little rough up near the top, but again it wasnt really all that bad, only taking around 45minutes to get to the top from the Bridge.
We got to the summit at around 12pm, some 5.5hrs after leaving the car.
Sitting on the summit admiring the rarely seen views of the Prince of Wales and Spires, along with many peaks in the Southern reserve, Frenchmans, West Coast peaks as well as the usual loved peaks in the Southwest, it was after about 40minutes we retraced our steps back to lake Laurel where a dip in the lake was WELL in order!
Feeling somewhat refreshed, we headed back up the mildly scrubby hill towards the ridge near Cunninghams Knoll. The feeling of rejuvenation only lasted about 30minutes however and the 3k slog back towards Wylds Craig was quite slow and tedious. I had already been up Wylds, but as SBS had come out to Shakespeare with me, I dragged my tired body up to the summit for the amazing views of all the above mentioned peaks as well as the Denison range which was very close, and the Eastern and Western Arthurs were clearly in view.
Knowing it was all down hill back to the car some 3.4k's away, we soon started off. Fatigue had really set in by now and we both stumbled along like a pair of drunks, soon arriving at the car exactly 12hrs after setting off. This was the second 10+hr, 20+k walk I had done in 5 days, and my body was really punishing me for being so mean to it.
A short walk back through a disgustingly ugly forestry coup with all kinds of ooze and crap seeping out of the ground to run into the nearby Florentine River (oh yeh out rivers are REALLY nice and pristine in Tas, thanks Forestry Tasmania for that!!) we headed off for the 2 hr drive back to Hobart. Stoppig at Gretna for a couple of soothing ales (and a chat to the very colourful locals) we got back to Hobart around 830pm.
