Eastern Arthurs Traverse - January 2012

[Nick S]

Five of us including fellow forum member/photographer nickthetasmaniac set out from Farmhouse Creek at 10am after a long drive from Launceston. Due to reports of good weather the following day we pushed for a long 9 hours to reach Cutting camp, giving us the best chance of getting up Feder the next day.

Day 2 began with a 5 hour climb up Moss Ridge to Béchervaise plateau. A unique track in that it is incredibly obstructed by the surrounding trees and pandanis, requiring the flexibility of a gymnast to weave through, including the strenuous motion of completely bending over and then arching your back up to allow those with tall packs to pass. We called this move the 'Cobra' after it's similarity to the yoga exercise.. Although slow going and steep at times, our group didn't require any pack hauling, with handholds available where needed, even the occasional plank!

We left our packs at the plateau and continued up the Southern Traverse to the Federation peak junction. This is a surprisingly steep track both up and down, especially with packs on as we did the following day. Slowly making our way along the dangerous path we had words of encouragement from 4 guys who had already made the summit that day. In short; DOWN a steep gully, UP a steep gully, directly up the southern side of Federation peak, take a left at a red rock, sidle around a corner, scale 2 incredibly exposed but not too difficult sections of rock, and then a final scramble to the top...

Feder gully.jpg (359.16 KiB) Viewed 23344 times

Will Feder.jpg (545.86 KiB) Viewed 23344 times

The Vibram 5 fingers

Eastern Arthurs 030.jpg (397.83 KiB) Viewed 23335 times

What an incredible feeling to finally reach the top! None of us were really expecting to reach the summit with the rainy start to the day and it was quite special to then leave a note in the holy pages of the summit logbook.

Eastern Arthurs 041.jpg (218 KiB) Viewed 23341 times

Feder from the Southern Traverse

Eastern Arthurs 077.jpg (284.76 KiB) Viewed 23341 times

Last edited by Nick S on Wed 11 Jan, 2012 10:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[Nick S]

Day 3 was overcast but in a good way, with clouds that kept above the mountain range. With a lingering euphoria from the previous day, we made our way along the Southern Traverse again, this time with packs. Reaching Hanging Lake (and it's incredible toilet with a view) for lunch we then decided to continue along the exposed ridges of Thwaites Plateau and Four Peak to Goon Moor just in case bad weather came in the following day, (which it did).

Eastern Arthurs 082-2.jpg (260 KiB) Viewed 23335 times

Eastern Arthurs 088.jpg (239.43 KiB) Viewed 23343 times

Eastern Arthurs 092-2.jpg (192.4 KiB) Viewed 23343 times

Day 4 was our rest day, only walking for 2 hours to Stuart Saddle to reset camp and enjoy an afternoon nap. The predicted weather came in that evening bringing gusty winds and cold rain, but not before a dash up the Dial to catch the final rays of light.

The Boiler Plates from Stuart Saddle

Eastern Arthurs 125.jpg (184.02 KiB) Viewed 23343 times

Although we had planned for a tent day in case of bad weather, the rain on Day 5 felt to be settling in, so when it stopped for a moment our group made the decision to make a getaway off the range, and in true south-west weather we made our way across the Boiler Plates and down Luckmans Lead. Feeling bad along the way for the group of 3 men from NSW we met who had now aborted their long planned trip to Federation. Stopping briefly at Pass camp we continued onto Cracroft camp, which on arriving appeared to be overgrown with regrowth from the recent fire. We crossed the river over logs, but had to explore around for some time before we rediscovered the start of the Huon track further north on the other side.

We were glad to have crossed the Cracroft river the previous night as it had risen a foot and was much stronger by the morning. Our final day was a long walk out the Yo Yo track with 25 km and over 800m of combined elevation in total to cross. I reckon the fitter you are the less you would hate it. We passed a group of 5 coming in who planned to finish at Farmhouse, so I'm hoping they were also able to reach Federation summit in good weather.

Lunch along the Huon track

Eastern Arthurs 150.jpg (501.71 KiB) Viewed 23343 times

Amazing trip. I would say it's harder than the Western Arthurs in that it is more exposed around the Southern traverse, and there are more steep/scrubby parts such as around the Four Peaks. And lets just say Moss ridge is unique..

Last edited by Nick S on Wed 11 Jan, 2012 10:51 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[HitchHiking]

Looks like an amazing trip! Thanks for the read. Made my evening. Looks like some good exposed scrambling there. Nice shot again! Kudos to the photographer if they are using a hand that should be on the rock to work a camera

[nickthetasmaniac]

Nice write-up - I don't think I've got much intelligent to add

I'll post some of my photos in the Gallery forum tomorrow

(That pic of Pete on Feder - 'Vibram 5 Fingers' - is epic!)

[stepbystep]

Ah nice Nick, glad you got the views and a nice report, I do believe we have a plan hatching

[Peter C]

Very nice Nick, Its nice to be able re-live memories via photo. It certainly was a very enjoyable experience for me, well perhaps aside from a 1st day baptism of 'cold', a warning for people coming from a Queensland summer to Tasmania's SW!

[nickthetasmaniac]

I've chucked up a gallery of my shots here viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8665

[Nick S]

Ah nice Nick, glad you got the views and a nice report, I do believe we have a plan hatching

A plan for the EA's? good one!

[ILUVSWTAS]

Ah nice Nick, glad you got the views and a nice report, I do believe we have a plan hatching

A plan for the EA's? good one!

done the ea's, just a plan to nail the big guy!!

[ollster]

done the ea's, just a plan to nail the big guy!!

Well if that's your plan I'm definitely not going. Oh wait...

[kanangra]

Great shots. Gee that route looks exposed. I don't have a great head for heights. Is that the easiest way up?

K.

Is that the easiest way up?

K.

yes

[corvus]

Nick,
Awesome just wish I was 35 years younger and still had my bottle to give it a go
corvus

[nickthetasmaniac]

Great shots. Gee that route looks exposed. I don't have a great head for heights. Is that the easiest way up?

K.

'Easiest' is probably the wrong word... I was wetting myself the whole way up It's the least difficult route...

[kanangra]

Crumbs, If that case I don't know if I have what it takes to attempt it? It looks very airy to me and very exposed. If I was looking down from there I think I'd freeze? A woose bag I know? I'd love to take a closer look though. One day.

K.

[durks]

Crumbs, If that case I don't know if I have what it takes to attempt it? It looks very airy to me and very exposed.

Don't be put off by that: the climb can be protected by a short rope provided someone in your party knows how to be belay.

[ak83]

Hi Nick!
I was one of the four guys you ran into! Thanks for posting a great little report and love your pics! It was greatly having a busy little campsite on the plateau that night after conquering fedder! Especially the cricket update you guys provided!

See you round the traps!
Aleem

[Nick S]

Hey that's good to hear Aleem! Yeah it was a good night. We ended up walking out over the range as you can see. Ended up being quite a good trip although the last 2 days weather was quite cold. Heh we got a more recent cricket update from a group we passed on the way out of the Huon track. Funny what news becomes improtant after a week away..

[weetbix456]

looks like a great trip nick! thanks heaps for sharing. i was up on the western arthurs around the same time i'm guessing, planned on making it across the eastern as well but was going a little cookoo not seeing anyone, and the weather was turning for the worst. i walked out yo yo track on sunday 8th, couldnt have missed you guys by too much

[Nick S]

Thanks weetbix, na I love putting a few pics up and reading other peoples reports as well. Solo WA's trip hey? Hmm it's totally different with a group of 5.. Bring a book? I was all ready for a day in the tent with a kindle + mp3 player but i hardly used it! Yeah we walked out the huon on the tuesday 10th, so not by much.. you left just before that cold weather came in..

[weetbix456]

yea i was sitting there munchin on the best chicken schnitzel burger i've ever had watching it start to crack up, monday and tues only got worse so i'm glad i came out when i did! solo trips just come out of necessity really..i'd never do anything if i relied on others haha yea thank god i packed a book and mp3! summer nights are sooo long! sleep in, walk for 8-10 hours, set up, cook dinner and still have 3 or 4 hours till the sun goes down! glad to see you guys made it up to feders!

[mjdalessa]

Are the Five Fingers the KSO Trek Model? I'm thinking of getting that version.