WOJ to Lake St Claire advice

[philm]

We are planning a walk through the WOJ via the Never Never to Lake St Claire in March 2013 and we have the following plan:

Day 1 - WOJ car park via Trappers Hut to dixons hut then to Lake Ball hut - may stop at Dixons depending on time (11km) estimated 6-7 hours
Day 2 Camp and walk to Mt Jerusalem and return - easy day with no packs
Day 3 Dixon or Lake Ball Hut to Meston Hut (11km) - estimated 6 hours
Day 4 Meston Hut to Junction Hut (4km) estimated 2 hours
Day 5 Junction Hut to windy ridge hut via never never (11km) estimated 7 hours
Day 6 Windy Ridge toi Lake St Claire.

I'm interested in feedback about the plan and the estimated times.
I have hearnd that the never never is tough going? any advice will be great.

I have navgation experience and have a gps route.

I heard the best camping is at the north end of meston lake? Also is it worth while camping at junction Lake or trying to walk from Meston Hut to windy ridge in one day?
I understand the never never is not a good place to camp overnight?

[norts]

On Thursday we we walked Meston to Ducane, took us all day left at approx 8 am until 5pm. it was a slow walk, and stopped for morning tea, lunch and when one of the party fell in a creek.
We camped at Meston Hut, that was 3 tents , so there is room at the hut, cant comment on camping anywhere else as we came in from Myrtle
There would be numerous areas to camp when walking in the open forest beside the Mersey. Could be a bit damp.
Roger

[sthughes]

Never Never isn't hard going, the track is a bit vague in places and there is a little bid of scrub, mud and spagnum bog but nothing drastic. Just follow the river to Hartnett Falls if all else fails.

The camping at the north end of Lake Meston is brilliant, one of the best spots around with a fine sandy beach and all.

Meston to Bert Nicholls would be a very big day - but possible in March if fitness is good enough.

There is good camping at about 429500 5358650 in the Never Never, but you will be outnumbered 4 Trillion to one by leeches. That and the fact most of the Never Never is very wet are the only real reasons to avoid camping there that I can think of.

Sounds like a grand plan

[Peaksnik]

I don't see the point of returning from Ball Hut to climb Mt Jerusalem on the second day. Camp at Dixon's on Day 1 instead. Then do Mt J in the morning and Solomon's Throne and/or the Temple in the afternoon. With a full pack and a decent altitude gain, you might find that aiming only for Dixon's is enough of a first day. I don't like to rush through the Walls area - it's a very special place.

[tas-man]

Check out his old thread for some relevant discussion - viewtopic.php?f=42&t=5801

[nickthetasmaniac]

Sounds like a fine itinerary but as above - I wouldn't rush it... Possibly spend a bit more time in the Walls area (Soloman's Throne is great and you could have a go at Mt Ragoona next to Lake Meston). Likewise, Junction to Windy Burt it a *&%$#! big day - the Never Never section can take a fair bit longer than you expect.

If I were you I'd spend a whole day in the Never Never (with a side-trip to the base of Feather Falls and swims at Clarke Falls and McCoy Falls) - check out Fergusson and D'Alton Falls the next morning, then head on to Windy Burt in the arvo...

And there's a great camping site at the Eastern end of Junction Lake:

[philm]

Thanks for the advice. Nic are you suggesting camping at Junction lake (east side) then going through the never never and spending a night there and then to BN Hut the next day? If so were is a good spot in the never never or would you camp to the north a little to get out of leech land?

[Maaxxx]

Agree with sthughes. Northern end of Lake Meston is a magic place to camp and heaps of space.