A long way around Dove Lake and up Cradle
Posted: Sat 05 Apr, 2014 12:55 amThis was my third day in the Cradle Mountain area but my first attempt to climb the summit.
On 14 February 2014, I was up before sunrise. I drove from our accommodation situated in the shadows of Mount Roland to Dove Lake arriving just after the sun rose at 6:20am.
I registered my intentions in the log book. I planned to head to the summit by the lake Rodway track, twisted lakes and the face track, with a possible attempt at Barn Bluff if timing, weather and fitness was all going well.
Near the beginning of the Lake Rodway Track I had a quick walk onto Glacier Rock before heading towards Hansons Peak. I decided to walk around Hansons Peak to save energy and also to view Lake Hanson and Twisted Lakes. I am sure Hansons Peak would have been the harder option. However, the track was longer and involved a descent to the level of Lake Hanson meaning that additional climbing was still required. However, my choice was rewarded with some stunning morning light and reflections in lakes underneath Hansons Peak and Twisted Lakes. Just past Twisted Lakes I saw the first people I had seen on the Mountain. I interrupted a couple having a romantic moment. They asked me to take their photo which I happily did, before I continued and soon joined the face track underneath Little Horn. I think I spotted a track which may have led to the summit of Little Horn but it was unmarked. From the face track there were views back across Dove Lake and Lake Wilks.
At 8:00am, after about an hour and 40 minutes of walking I reached the beginning of the track to the summit. I was carrying 3.75 litres of water so I left one of my bottles next to the sign along the track and commenced the walk up. At the beginning it was not too steep. However, it soon turned to a boulder field which went for much longer than I had anticipated. The track was marked with metal poles stuck into the rock every 20 metres or so and was relatively easy to follow. Near the top the track heads descends before the steep final climb to the summit.
I reached the summit at 8:40 (2 hours and 20 minutes from Dove Lake). Having seen no one else I thought I was going to be the first person to reach the summit … that day. I was wrong. I was the first man to reach the summit. As I approached the the summit I spotted a lady who I had seen at Dove Lake carpark. She had beaten me up. She later told me that she had travelled by Marions Lookout which I think is a more direct route.
I explored the top of the mountain for about an hour. The views were brilliant particularly of Barn Bluff. I had expected to be able to see Dove Lake but the view was obscured by the mountain itself.
At about 9:40am I started heading back down the mountain. Soon after I passed a few walkers from Europe. About 10 minutes later I saw a family walking, the man carrying a child on his back which I thought was a good effort. Then there was a steady string of people including one tourist carrying his gear, food etc in a shopping bag (now that is lightweight).
I collected my water bottle, and arrived back at the intersection with the Overland Track a few minutes after 10:15am. As I was walking alone I decided I would leave Barn Bluff for another day. Having been to Marions Lookout on a previous occasion I thought it would be good to try a different route back to Dove Lake so I walked via the Horse Track.
The Horse Track provided great panoramic views of little horn, the cradle summit and barn bluff. There were also good views from Crater Peak, however, it was not as scenic as the first part of the walk and was very exposed to the sun. I saw no other creature on the Horse Track other than a small (presumably tiger) snake near the Scout Lodge. It slithered away a couple of metres in front of me. That raised my heart beat.
After passing the Scout Lodge, the Horse Track went downhill for some time before meeting the Boardwalk of the Overland Track. I turned right onto the Overland Track and headed back uphill towards Crater Lake past Crater Falls which were really quite pretty, although there was little water flowing. I travelled past Wombats peak and Wombats Pool, and Lake Lilia and arrived at Dove Lake just after 1:10pm.
All up I think it was a very enjoyable place to walk for roughly 12-13 kilometres. I would recommend the walk past Hanson Lake and Twisted Lakes in the early morning. I will have to leave Barn Bluff for hopefully another day.
As I returned to Dove Lake a number of people were paddling out in canoes, but for me it was time to head back to Mount Rolland, where that evening we saw a platypus in a pond and we were treated to some superb light on Mount Rolland which from what I am told is not unusual. Tasmania really is a beautiful part of creation.
I will post a few of the photos shortly.
On 14 February 2014, I was up before sunrise. I drove from our accommodation situated in the shadows of Mount Roland to Dove Lake arriving just after the sun rose at 6:20am.
I registered my intentions in the log book. I planned to head to the summit by the lake Rodway track, twisted lakes and the face track, with a possible attempt at Barn Bluff if timing, weather and fitness was all going well.
Near the beginning of the Lake Rodway Track I had a quick walk onto Glacier Rock before heading towards Hansons Peak. I decided to walk around Hansons Peak to save energy and also to view Lake Hanson and Twisted Lakes. I am sure Hansons Peak would have been the harder option. However, the track was longer and involved a descent to the level of Lake Hanson meaning that additional climbing was still required. However, my choice was rewarded with some stunning morning light and reflections in lakes underneath Hansons Peak and Twisted Lakes. Just past Twisted Lakes I saw the first people I had seen on the Mountain. I interrupted a couple having a romantic moment. They asked me to take their photo which I happily did, before I continued and soon joined the face track underneath Little Horn. I think I spotted a track which may have led to the summit of Little Horn but it was unmarked. From the face track there were views back across Dove Lake and Lake Wilks.
At 8:00am, after about an hour and 40 minutes of walking I reached the beginning of the track to the summit. I was carrying 3.75 litres of water so I left one of my bottles next to the sign along the track and commenced the walk up. At the beginning it was not too steep. However, it soon turned to a boulder field which went for much longer than I had anticipated. The track was marked with metal poles stuck into the rock every 20 metres or so and was relatively easy to follow. Near the top the track heads descends before the steep final climb to the summit.
I reached the summit at 8:40 (2 hours and 20 minutes from Dove Lake). Having seen no one else I thought I was going to be the first person to reach the summit … that day. I was wrong. I was the first man to reach the summit. As I approached the the summit I spotted a lady who I had seen at Dove Lake carpark. She had beaten me up. She later told me that she had travelled by Marions Lookout which I think is a more direct route.
I explored the top of the mountain for about an hour. The views were brilliant particularly of Barn Bluff. I had expected to be able to see Dove Lake but the view was obscured by the mountain itself.
At about 9:40am I started heading back down the mountain. Soon after I passed a few walkers from Europe. About 10 minutes later I saw a family walking, the man carrying a child on his back which I thought was a good effort. Then there was a steady string of people including one tourist carrying his gear, food etc in a shopping bag (now that is lightweight).
I collected my water bottle, and arrived back at the intersection with the Overland Track a few minutes after 10:15am. As I was walking alone I decided I would leave Barn Bluff for another day. Having been to Marions Lookout on a previous occasion I thought it would be good to try a different route back to Dove Lake so I walked via the Horse Track.
The Horse Track provided great panoramic views of little horn, the cradle summit and barn bluff. There were also good views from Crater Peak, however, it was not as scenic as the first part of the walk and was very exposed to the sun. I saw no other creature on the Horse Track other than a small (presumably tiger) snake near the Scout Lodge. It slithered away a couple of metres in front of me. That raised my heart beat.
After passing the Scout Lodge, the Horse Track went downhill for some time before meeting the Boardwalk of the Overland Track. I turned right onto the Overland Track and headed back uphill towards Crater Lake past Crater Falls which were really quite pretty, although there was little water flowing. I travelled past Wombats peak and Wombats Pool, and Lake Lilia and arrived at Dove Lake just after 1:10pm.
All up I think it was a very enjoyable place to walk for roughly 12-13 kilometres. I would recommend the walk past Hanson Lake and Twisted Lakes in the early morning. I will have to leave Barn Bluff for hopefully another day.
As I returned to Dove Lake a number of people were paddling out in canoes, but for me it was time to head back to Mount Rolland, where that evening we saw a platypus in a pond and we were treated to some superb light on Mount Rolland which from what I am told is not unusual. Tasmania really is a beautiful part of creation.
I will post a few of the photos shortly.
