Lots Wife

[pkbgr]

Planning to go to Lot's Wife soon. Can anyone give me an indicatin of the degree of difficulty involved in climbing it? I have heard that there is a somewhat tricky traverse at the front of the peak. Is a safety line necessary or even possible?

[pazzar]

There is a small climb up a gully at the start, but it is quite sheltered. Maybe 5 metres high. I remember having to do an airy shuffle around a ledge, could be dangerous in bad conditions. It was windy when I did it and was a bit touch and go. If in doubt, take a safety line.

[frenchy_84]

The key is to take the right path (revolutionary i know!). Once you get to the base of Lots Wife go around the left had side, the track kind of disappears once you get to the base, but head around the left hand side and keep going until you find a suitable gully, its alot further around then I expected. But once you see it you will know, there is a short climb up the gully with a sketchy part or 2. IMO I think that lots wife is more difficult/dangerous than any other part of the Anne circuit, however I personally didnt find any part of the circuit particularly sketchy, but keep that in mind if you dont like the accent of Anne or the notch.

[JamesMc]

The climbing route is not obvious. It starts off as just a subtle recess in the cliff that doesn't lead anywhere, then gets you to a ramp heading back right. If you can get up the start you'll be fine.

JamesMc

[tastrekker]

Ditto what frenchy_84 said. I did it in strong wind and heavy rain March LWE last year and found it similar to The Notch. ...and yes, the climbing gully is well along the left (north side).

[Orion]

I also agree with Frenchy.

When I did it my friend didn't go up. She was just fine on Mt. Anne and only needed her pack taken up at the Notch. But she didn't climb Lots wife because she thought the start looked sketchy. Here's a photo of the starting gully:



What really struck me about Lots Wife is how the photo in Chapman (where two women in t-shirts are casually walking across an open area) is so uncharactaristic of the track from Judds Charm. That's about the only place you're standing up tall and not pressing against branches or brush.

[ollster]

the photo in Chapman (where two women in t-shirts are casually walking across an open area)

That's my favourite page of any of Chapman's books.

[pkbgr]

I really appreciate the information that folks are posting. I will definately take in a safety line. It's very interesting to know about the scrub too. I also had been fooled by the Chapman pic. Sad to think that it is not all such easy going.

[Orion]

Sad to think that it is not all such easy going.

It's part of the charm. At least it's one of the big reasons I keep going back half way 'round the world for visits.

Some of the way looks like this:



But near the peak itself it looks just like that wonderful photo in Chapman:



And if you like that as much as I did you'll love the "mud-free" walking near Lake Judd even more.

Viva Tasmania!