Frenchmans Cap New Track

[north-north-west]

Great Photos! I love the pipes, imagine sitting at Tahune and hearing a bloke on bagpipes!!!! I would have freaked out!!!! haha great work!!

Cheers, Daz! I gave them a run on Ossa and East Pelion a couple of weekends back and, for a change of scene, on top of the Gordon Dam over Easter. Had a look at the lumps south of Scotts Peak Dam and my eyes hurt just thinking about it. Got to go there, though....

Trying to think of a smart-arsed reply, but just speechless. Honestly. Is nothing sacred?

[dazfromtaz]

Fantastic!!!

[kalium]

Used the new track over the weekend.

How long did it take you from the Hwy to Lake Vera via the new track? Is it much quicker?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Used the new track over the weekend.

How long did it take you from the Hwy to Lake Vera via the new track? Is it much quicker?

I didnt find it much faster, but then the loddon bogdodgers probably will.

[greyim]

Frenchmans Cap walking track closed for fire management burns

That should have cleared the it nicely... a campfire?

[sainterone]

Here is a link to a recent merc article.....

.......
Mr Smith says he plans to return to Frenchman's Cap when the project is complete, around the 50th anniversary of his first walk to the peak.

"We've only spent about half the money. I think we're now going to look at spending the balance of the money on putting some tent platforms in and improving the huts and things like that in other areas," he said.

He said he didn't foresee a rush of people to the area, which will continue to draw the keenest walkers.



http://www.themercury.com.au/article/20 ... ories.html

[stepbystep]

I walked this track a week ago. My thoughts.

It is a better route that provides some different views. It makes the walking far easier than the old route and makes it perhaps half an hour quicker for a normal paced walker.

The track construction quality however is poor in my opinion. I'm not sure who has been doing the work but compared to the high standard of construction of the work being done on the Tasman Peninsular this track doesn't stack up at all. That said, it's obviously not finished in places and there is still plenty to be done, time will tell.

What I observed was sections of the track susceptible to erosion are very narrow and will deteriorate over time. It was hard to tell what was finished and what was not in some areas, perhaps a 'settling in' period is needed. There was a huge amount of treefall across the track also. At a guestimate 50-60 trees across the track. When the crews return they will have their hands full just clearing the track let alone doing any new work. There were a number of places where the trackwork itself had obviously destabilised the trees and caused the destruction. Perhaps normal for a new track?

Given the funding will continue to flow over time perhaps it's to early to make a call. Hopefully DS is getting value for his money.

[GPSGuided]

Who has a GPS track for this? Would be nice to log it in OSM.

[stepbystep]

Who has a GPS track for this? Would be nice to log it in OSM.

I have one. Not sure why, it's impossible to lose. An exercise in connecting dots? It's on the new Tasmap.

[GPSGuided]

I have one. Not sure why, it's impossible to lose. An exercise in connecting dots? It's on the new Tasmap.

Excellent! Interesting that the old and the new tracks are tagged differently.

[dazintaz]

Very Interesting stepbystep!

What I observed was sections of the track susceptible to erosion are very narrow and will deteriorate over time. It was hard to tell what was finished and what was not in some areas, perhaps a 'settling in' period is needed. There was a huge amount of treefall across the track also. At a guestimate 50-60 trees across the track. When the crews return they will have their hands full just clearing the track let alone doing any new work. There were a number of places where the trackwork itself had obviously destabilised the trees and caused the destruction. Perhaps normal for a new track?

[Tas Tom]

Just back from the weekend up at Frenchmans. The only thing I can add to SBS's comments is that PWS have obviously had the chainsaws out as all the trees have now been cleared from the track

[Dolerite Walker]

Walked the new track last week. Impressive but less character building than the Loddon track. Takes ~1hr off the Lyell Hwy - Lake Vera leg. Some parts v muddy but it still has another 5 years of funding to be completed. Including local gravel to re-surface sections - waiting for drier weather to do this. Track workers do 6 or 8 day shifts for 6 months of the year. Apparently funding has also been approved to upgrade the creek section before Vera Hut.

[icefest]

Now I just need to get there before it joins the OT as sacrificial anode :S

(Just Joking)

[Lizzy]

Icefest- while it may become more popular with the track upgrade- it is still MUCH harder than the OLT so you should be ok . A wonderful walk- would have been even better with views from the top
Cheers
Lizzy

[vagrom]

It's really on the way back out that you notice the great work done