Two Questions

[Orion]

1. Is the Farmhouse Creek route littered with huge downed trees? This is something that I'd been told, but only by one person.

2. Did the bushfires last summer blacken or otherwise mar the approach to the Western Arthurs?


Thanks in advance, from one of those visiting foreigners ruining your island paradise.

[stepbystep]

1. Is the Farmhouse Creek route littered with huge downed trees? This is something that I'd been told, but only by one person.

2. Did the bushfires last summer blacken or otherwise mar the approach to the Western Arthurs?


Thanks in advance, from one of those visiting foreigners ruining your island paradise.

1. After the wind this week, yes for sure. I'm not certain how often if at all maintenance is done,

2. Junction Creek is burnt out and sections of the Arthur Plains, not the range itself.

[tibboh]

2. Did the bushfires last summer blacken or otherwise mar the approach to the Western Arthurs?

Yes there is a section of the track burnt out around Junction Ck which extends east a way along the Plains and north towards Scotts Peak. Doesn't mar the experience much as you are soon past it (unless you camp at Junction Ck).
The fire did make it to fairly high on the range at the western end near Hesperus with blackened sections quite close to the track. These are soon passed.
When on the higher central peaks the extent of fire damage south of the WA's is quite obvious with damage extending well to the east of Lake Oberon.

Junction Creek

DSC_6696.JPG (138.95 KiB) Viewed 3068 times

Lake Fortuna

DSC_6731.JPG (164.84 KiB) Viewed 3068 times

[stepbystep]

Geeze I knew it started going up the range near Heperus but didn't think it got that far! So close to total disaster.

[Son of a Beach]

My memory of the track from Farmhouse Creek was that it was a constant battle of climbing under, over, and between trees (downed or otherwise) and that there didn't seem to be any attempt to clear downed trees from at least part of that track, such as the ascent up Moss Ridge. In addition to all of that, Moss Ridge is quite steep, making the climbing over, under, between trees that much more frustrating. It was necessary to use hands a lot to hold onto tree branches in some sections, meaning cold wet hands much of the time, and because walking is slower, it was hard to get warmed up again.

However, it was nearly 10 years ago the last time I went through there. I don't know if things have changed since then.

[Nuts]

DSC_6731.JPG

Yeah, wow, pretty intense!! ran out of fuel.

[tibboh]

Fire damage was worse down south along Port Davey track.

Pt Davey track from Hesperus

The fire made it right to the track near Hesperus. I don't think it ran out of fuel, just changing weather and good luck.

Fire damage near track at Hesperus

[pazzar]

Camping at Junction Creek was alright about 6 weeks ago. Was pretty burnt, but was beginning to grow back. A new lease of life some would say. No residue on the tent after 2 nights there.

[Mowser]

Quite often there's trees down on Farmhouse track. Maintenance is fairly irregular these days (I think to make the route more uninviting). Moss Ridge muddy cliff sections are almost completely eroded now and definately more challenging than they used to be. Certainly not as bad between Farmhouse and Cracroft last year though as what it used to be 15 years ago. Do expect to do some clambering over and under and around trees though. Every time I go into or out of Farmhouse, I say 'That's it, that'll be the last time I ever do that section of track'. I always end up back there within a year or 2 though. Glutton for punishment I guess and it certainly saves a bit of time to the alternative!
Plains look pretty crazy burnt out!

[Orion]

Thank you kindly for the responses.