Current SNOW levels in the Cradle Mountain area

[sthughes]

Just thought I'd open a thread to keep people (mainly me) up to date with the amount of snow up in the Cradle area. Will be heading up in a couple of weeks and would be handy to know. Pictures would be brilliant!

[norts]

Not actually Cradle but close. Taken on Friday
This is the platforms at Wild Dog Creek (Walls).

Solomons Jewels

Roger

[the_camera_poser]

My deck has a view up to the Tiers, which are a similar environmen, so if you want a up-to-the-minute report, just PM me.

[Steve]

I wouldn't have thought there would be that much snow up there at the moment. Gonna have to make some plans for a photo trip up that way when there's a good dump.

[Taurë-rana]

There was heaps of snow at the Great Lake over the weekend, enough for there to be snow still on the road at 4pm on Monday. I don't know how much has melted in the mountains but given the low daytime temps I reckon there might still be a bit. You could always ring the ranger at Cradle.

[Penguin]

Sthuhes

Wandered around Dove lake today. Lots of snow on the peaks - could not tell how deep.

The waterfalls were speculator; heaps of water coming down.

I enjoyed the track and the scenery. It just goes to show that you do not need to go deep in the wilderness to have great views, good forests to walk through and charming streams to cross.

P

[sthughes]

Yes the dove Lake Circut is quite hyped up, but for good reason IMO, it's a fantastic easy day walk. Was there much snow at lake level?

[Penguin]

Yes the dove Lake Circut is quite hyped up, but for good reason IMO, it's a fantastic easy day walk. Was there much snow at lake level?

none

[Nuts]

hmmm, sorry I tend to keep my head down once I reach the Dove Lake circuit or I might have met more BWT'ers today...
Left around 11 for a quicky up to Kitchen Hut. Was through there last Tuesday- walked in the second story entrance on snow (snowshoes from Marions to Windermere)... today the rain has done its job and the snow's patchy. Id imagine there will only be a few of the bigger drifts left over the next few days..

[north-north-west]

Unless it snows again . . .

[Nuts]

Unless it snows again . . .

Possible though not forecast

[Son of a Beach]

yep, no significant snow forecast according to: http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/tasmania

[Nuts]

Cool I didnt have that one...

[duffy]

This was Dixons Hut (Walls of Jerusalem) on the 5th July 2008. Plenty of snow here... view was spectacular, Just wish we had snow shoes, some of the snow was waist deep...

[ashlee]

Hi all!
Not sure if this is the place I should be posting this question but oh well here goes...
First of all I was wondering about the snow situation at the Walls of Jerusalem, but I was also wondering if anyone had just done a bit of a daywalk into the national park there? I've been reading a bit about the place and the parks website says there are only multi-day walks there. But on a map I've got of the park it's pretty clear you could walk to a certain point and then back..? Like Wild Dog Creek or something?

[sthughes]

I've got a day walks book written by Tyrone Thomas (I think) that lists Mt. Jerusalem as a day walk. Very long (8 hrs from memory) but still doable. Of course that's definitely not a winter day walk, especially in snow.

[ashlee]

I was just thinking of having a potter around and taking some shots of pencil pines and snow etc...
Do you know how long it is from the car park into the place?

[johnw]

I've got a day walks book written by Tyrone Thomas (I think) that lists Mt. Jerusalem as a day walk. Very long (8 hrs from memory) but still doable. Of course that's definitely not a winter day walk, especially in snow.

Hi Ashlee, I agree with sthughes. Apart from spending a week walking through the Walls area, we've also walked to Dixons Kingdom out and back as a day trip, though not in winter. Mt Jerusalem is also listed in the Chapman Daywalks book and, from memory, also stated as about 7 or 8 hours. You need to allow quite a bit of time if going much beyond Wild Dog Creek. In my experience/opinion, in reasonable weather (not snow/winter) you would have a number logical destination points as day trips, depending on available daylight, weather conditions and experience. In ascending order of distance from the main carpark:

1. Trappers Hut
2. Solomons Jewels
3. Wild Dog Creek (although really it's only the camping area - nice spot, but better views elsewhere)
4. Pool Of Bethesda
5. Solomons Throne
6. Dixons Kingdom Hut
7. Mt Jerusalem
8. Maybe the eastern end of Lake Ball via Jaffa Vale (Route only, no marked track, so navigation skill required. Similar distance as Mt Jerusalem, flatter, but may take longer.)

It's a steep walk up to just beyond Trappers Hut then eases quite a bit. Doing 1, 2 and maybe 3 wouldn't be too taxing in good weather in my opinion. It's a stunning location, but possiblities all relative to experience.

[Ent]

Contents removed by poster

[Chris]

Hi all!
Not sure if this is the place I should be posting this question but oh well here goes...
First of all I was wondering about the snow situation at the Walls of Jerusalem, but I was also wondering if anyone had just done a bit of a daywalk into the national park there? I've been reading a bit about the place and the parks website says there are only multi-day walks there. But on a map I've got of the park it's pretty clear you could walk to a certain point and then back..? Like Wild Dog Creek or something?

I was just thinking of having a potter around and taking some shots of pencil pines and snow etc...
Do you know how long it is from the car park into the place?

Hi Ashlee,
You can always start a new topic if you wish, but this is fine... Nik can always split it off to another spot if he thinks he should

First I must echo the other comments suggesting "not in winter" for long day walks in the Walls; there's just not enough daylight!

Chapman's book suggests 4.5 hours for the 11.8 Km from the carpark to Dixon's Kingdom. WDC is 6 Km from the carpark.
Having been up there just after Easter this year, I think we probably took about 3.5 hours to WDC. We weren't travelling quickly which I suspect you wouldn't want to either, as even before getting up onto the plateau there's lots of great photographic material. I think you would find this a very rewarding day walk once the days get a bit longer; plenty of pines, water and mountains to see even from there (weather permitting of course), though as others have said there's wonderful country further in for a longer day walk or when you feel like some overnighting. (We were planning 4 nights in Walls that trip, going as far as Lake Meston, but that's another story).

[wanderer]

Solomons Jewels on the way in is a great photo opportunity for Pencil Pines
and frozen tarns, allow about 2 hrs each way.

[Son of a Beach]

Solomons Jewels on the way in is a great photo opportunity for Pencil Pines
and frozen tarns, allow about 2 hrs each way.

It was a lot prettier before they moved the track, I reckon.

[flyfisher]

You're right there S O B 'twas softer underfoot but I think the walk was easier too, a bit flatter.

ff

[rabbit]

Went for a walk up to Hansons peak and the Twisted Lakes today. Not much snow about just ice.

[Ent]

Contents removed by poster

[sthughes]

I'm heading to Waterfall Valley this weekend so now would be a great time for an up to date report! Nuts?? Anybody??

[Nuts]

I was supposed to be heading up today but looks like next week (so you'll be able to tell me) I doubt that they would be getting much (laying)outa this weather but i'll ask on Friday and let you guys know

[Taurë-rana]

Thursday's looking not too bad weather wise, so it might be worth a wander up to Cradle for a walk in the snow.

[tasadam]

I've been watching the weather pretty closely for the last couple of days in prep for a walk this Thurs to Sun.
I have my doubts... There is some snow about today / tomorrow, but it looks like it is going to fine up Thurs and Fri due to a high pressure system.
This will have the consequence of likely making the nights very cold if the skies are clear.
If you check the 4 day forecast chart http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDG00074.shtml
you can get a feeling that this weekend is looking ominous to say the least, with two fronts bearing down on us.
Then you check the colour enhanced infrared satellite loop http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDE00902.loop.shtml and see how active the system is.

Interestingly, though, the forecast is suggesting not much -

Outlook for Saturday :
Scattered showers in the west and north. Mainly fine elsewhere. Cool to cold with moderate to fresh northwest winds.

A couple of tools for slightly longer range stuff is
Southern hemisphere 2 day loop http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/nmoc/late ... 3&number=4

and the 7 day numerical model http://wxmaps.org/pix/aus.slp.html - once you understand this one you get a good feel for what's coming. Takes practice to learn what it all means though.

[Ent]

Contents removed by poster