Southwest cape or window pane bay?

[ignavus davus]

I'm going with a group to walk the southwest cape circuit in early Feb. We have 8 days/7 nights to walk it in, and have worked out that we need 6 days of actual walking (we are all quite fit and experienced). This leaves 2 days for rest or day walks/exploring. We are keen to spend a second night at Murgab Creek/Noyhener Beach (2 of us want to head up to Stephens Beach and Spain bay, 2 want a rest day; this can also be canned if we are behind schedule for any reason). My question then, for those who have previously walked the circuit, is for opinions on whether the other day would be better spent on a daywalk to south-west cape (i.e. an extra night at Wilsons Bight) or an extra day exploring Windowpane Bay. It seems almost a given that southwest cape is included as part of the walk, but I don't want to waste a day on it just for the sake of getting there if it is not worth the effort.

Cheers,
Dave.

South West Cape itself is apparently VERY scrubby and technically difficult to attain the cape, so I would not waste the effort, this is alluded to in Chapman's book.

The big day is Wilson's to Window Pane, you are best to be prepared for this day as many get turned back if conditions are foul and there is no clear track in places.

[wander]

We skipped South West Cape due to pretty much no viz and it was at the end of a long day. We went anticlockwise. And it looked very scrubby for little return. Confirmed only yesterday by a chat with a couple of mates who had a go at getting out to South West Cape and came away without getting to the end much scratched up.

Spending more time at Murgab and Window Pane or even adding maybe a high camp on the Range would be more rewarding.

Some pics of our SWT wander are here https://picasaweb.google.com/1056221382 ... ckTasmania

[ILUVSWTAS]

The circuit isnt scrubby at all. But the cape itself is. and not overly interesting. It's an amazing walk. Pads in alot of places. Good tracks in others. Really the only untracked section is the southwest cape range, and then the section to Horsehoe inlet and up to the PD track which is very easy to navigate.

Windowpane bay is amazingly beautiful and much much more worthy of a decent visit than the SW cape itself IMO.

[whynotwalk]

I'd have to agree with Mark. Unless you have rope you can't get down the final cliff to SW Cape itself. And when we were there the water at the campsite was slightly brackish after little rain but plenty of salt spray had got into the creek. We were so thirsty that we left after lunch and got into Window Pane Bay very very late and utterly exhausted. But as Mark says it is so worth it - an exceptionally lovely campsite and surroundings,

cheers

Petr

[tasadam]

Have you seen my take on it here? viewtopic.php?f=42&t=3208
An extract -

Locate and commence journey on SW Cape track, weather is turning. Light shower starts, japara and waterproof pants on. Continue on down as increasingly heavily overgrown track. Approaching cape, scrub is so thick in places it was necessary to resort to climbing on hands and knees to get through a number of sections. The cape is right in front of us, one last hill to climb it seems, but the rain is now heavier and the scrub is some of the most difficult we have encountered. So we stop, took a few quick photos in the rain, then retreated. As we were approaching the cape we could see a few fishing boats sheltering in the bays. Having turned around, within 15 minutes the cape had been consumed by thick fog / mist / cloud, so no regrets in turning back, somewhat satisfied in our achievements at getting to see as much as we did.

Perhaps some of my comments from other parts of my journey (or the photo links) will assist you in your decision. Good luck and enjoy!

[ignavus davus]

Thanks for the replies. I think we'll leave the cape and have a rest day at windowpane bay.

Have you seen my take on it here?

Yes, I have read your notes, they were part of what prompted me to ask the question. Prior to that, I had always just assumed that a visit out to the cape was one of the highlights of the circuit. Since reading your notes, I read what others had written and I guess it is what is not said that speaks the loudest - noone says it was beautiful, stunning or worthwhile and I haven't seen any photos taken from the cape itself, there are only comments about how easy or hard it is to get out there (all varying levels of scrubby).

Unless you have rope you can't get down the final cliff to SW Cape itself.

Wouldn't be looking to get to the very end of the cape, just the last knoll as described by Chapman. But as above I think I'll give it a miss.

Dave.

[tasadam]

If peaks are your thing, you could always devote a day to Mt Melaleuca and do it comfortably. Just a thought.

[Ndevr]

We camped at SW Cape and it was fantastic,but it is very weather dependent. It was 20c with light breeze and enough fresh water. Its one of those unforgettable spots if you get good weather, we had twilight past 10pm in mid December, and a full moon.

I'm not sure what direction you're walking and what time you're leaving Melaleuca, but if you're walking clockwise then you can get out to the Cape campsite by early afternoon on Day 2, giving you a couple of hours to explore out towards the cliff edge before the Cape's final knoll. It's a fair drag out of Wilson Bight, so personally if the weather's OK I wouldn't suggest a return walk, that's quite a lot of back-tracking.

Now if the weather is poor, it's not necessairly a place to go just to say you did it, it would probably be best to push on; and if you're heading the other direction, anti-clockwise, spend the final day going over New Harbour range, again it's specatcular in good weather.

Ndevr

[stepbystep]

If peaks are your thing, you could always devote a day to Mt Melaleuca and do it comfortably. Just a thought.

Not a bad one either but I'd be thinking a night on the New Harbour Range or Mt Rallinga, they are both spectacular summits with easy off track walking in good conditions.