Frecnhmans

[bushwalker zane]

Hello all!

I am about to go up Frenchmans Cap for the first time, I'm going with my father and he hasn't done it in a long time (20 years). We were just wondering what the track conditions are like now days?

Thanks!

[myrtlegirl]

I went to Frenchmans from 1st - 3rd Jan this year, when the temperature was in the 30s.

The Loddens have barely any mud, and some places have dust on them! The only hassle we had with mud was when we stepped on what appeared to be a firm crust and broke through to thick, boot-sucking mud.

Lake Vera was really warm, at least 24C, even 2m below the surface. It's the warmest lake in Tas I've ever experienced, it was delightful! Lake Tahune wasn't as warm, but still good.

The water tank at the Lake Vera Hut was "undergoing maintenance" and didn't have water. Take water purification pills as you will need to refill at Lake Vera from water that people have been swimming in, and we heard about a gastro case when we were there.

We originally planned a night at Vera, then a night at Tahune, then a night at Vera, then out. Some people we met on the track on our way in said they stayed 2 nights at Vera and went to the summit and back in a very long day walk. As they were similar to us - not young adults, not wildly fit, and had teenage kids in tow - we took their advice, and we're glad we did. It was a 13hr day on the track from Vera to the summit return, but as we didn't have to break or make camp and the daylight hours are long in Jan, it worked for us, and saved a hard climb with full packs to Tahune.

Some clambering is involved, not hard.

Carry a fair bit of water (1-2L) if the weather is warm, as the plains get really warm and it's a while between creeks. We all drank over 2L each each day (not including morning and evening cuppas), and barely peed.

[pazzar]

I was there Monday-Wednesday last week. I walked in with no gaiters, and arrived at Vera clean. The track is almost completely hardened up to the first creek/campsite in the loddons. The next section between creeks had a little mud, but I went no further than ankle deep, and its only a 20 minute section. Philps Lead had a bit of water laying in the channels, but on a hot day that was quite refreshing.

[ollster]

We all drank over 2L each each day (not including morning and evening cuppas), and barely peed.

Geeze, I normally drink more than 2L before lunch time on hot days.

[bushwalker zane]

Cheers guys, that gives me a good idea of what to expect. Looking forward to a swim now!

[myrtlegirl]

We all drank over 2L each each day (not including morning and evening cuppas), and barely peed.

Geeze, I normally drink more than 2L before lunch time on hot days.

Shouldn't you save this sort of confession for the AlAnon forum?

[ollster]

Shouldn't you save this sort of confession for the AlAnon forum?

Probably explains why I keep falling over during walks... and why my memory is so vague about the routes.