Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion.
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Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion. Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks.
Tue 02 Sep, 2014 9:20 pm
Long time viewer, first time poster!
Hi all,
I've stalked these pages quite a lot over the years, doing my internet reconnaisance for various adventures. Finally signed up!
I was wondering if anyone has any photos of the Pine River at its headwaters up in the Walls of Jerusalem? In particular, where it comes out of Lake Ball, but anywhere from up on top of the plateau.
Planning an adventure, but it's a long way to go up a big hill without doing some prior preparation!
Thanks in advance
Harry
Wed 03 Sep, 2014 7:05 am
I have walked down the Pine River Valley from Lake Ball to Lake Antimony and back to Lake Ada probably half a dozen times. It's pretty easy going although what used to be a easy to follow track has become a bit unclear in places. Having said that it's still pretty easy walking' with camping places at all of the lakes - and fishing if you're interested in that. I have photos of some of the lakes on another computer which I can post but that will have to be later. If you want any more information just let me know.
Wed 03 Sep, 2014 9:21 am
I too have pics elsewhere. The walking is fairly easy and open in most places. The crossing of PR where it comes out of Lake Ball is about thigh deep. I've crossed PR lower but cannot recall the details; I'll check my notes and pictures. I'm fairly certain that nobody drowned that trip.
Wed 03 Sep, 2014 6:25 pm
Gday guys
Thanks for your replies.
To be honest, I'm contemplating carrying whitewater kayaks in and paddling from Lake Ball all the way down!
They're not the nicest things to paddle so would preferably be paddling once we hit the water. Any indications on how wide the river is when it leaves Lake Ball? If it's thigh deep and flowing that's heap, or if it's at least 4 metres wide those would be good indications!
cheers
Harry
Wed 03 Sep, 2014 9:54 pm
From memory there's not a lot of water coming out of Lake Ball in the summer, especially if it's been dry, but then I wouldn't have been looking at it from that point of view.
Wed 03 Sep, 2014 10:37 pm
Sorry Harry - can't comment on the upper upper Pine River but can say that I have seen the nearby Powena Creek immediately below Lake Fanny after significant rain. Certainly the immediate section I could see was paddle-able. Good luck with the Pine. I suspect once you get to Solvieg it will be fine if you have lots of rain.
Wed 03 Sep, 2014 11:19 pm
Yep, it's a trip for when there's lots of rain, that's for sure. Definitely a big mission!
Thu 04 Sep, 2014 11:00 am
DrHarry wrote:To be honest, I'm contemplating carrying whitewater kayaks in and paddling from Lake Ball all the way down!
They're not the nicest things to paddle so would preferably be paddling once we hit the water. Any indications on how wide the river is when it leaves Lake Ball? If it's thigh deep and flowing that's heap, or if it's at least 4 metres wide those would be good indications!
The width and depth are as stated, but there are trees fallen in the water, bushes and overhanging branches. Until Pine River is a bit wider and deeper the word most used may well be "portage".
Fri 05 Sep, 2014 9:38 am
Hi Harry
Not likely to have enough water there,
late summer can be just a trickle.
John
Fri 05 Sep, 2014 5:10 pm
Thanks for all the feedback guys. It would definitely be a trip to do after lots of rain, so all the lakes are flowing well. A pity that no-one has a photo, I might have to actually go up there myself and check it out (without a kayak!)
cheers
Fri 05 Sep, 2014 6:44 pm
Do it! If you're keen you could get to Lake Ball and back in a [long] day...
Tue 09 Sep, 2014 8:09 pm
Finally some pics of Lake Ball area. I was not entirely thinking of kayaking down Pine River, so the detail is missing. Sorry.
Pine River is in the foreground, not very wide at all.

- From the south of Pine River at Lake Ball to the Walls
- Attachments
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- Solomons Throne from Lake Ball
Thu 11 Sep, 2014 11:42 am
I haven't walked the full length of the river, but have
walked from Silver Lake to Lake Solveig and back again. From what I remember of it, the river didn't have a lot of water and was quite shallow in places. There would be a lot of portaging involved, particularly where there river exited some of the lakes through rocks. I'm not sure how navigable it would be at all.
However, the only photo I've got of it actually makes it look pretty good...

- Colin Fishing Pine River.jpg (45.31 KiB) Viewed 5268 times
I do remember that the Lake Ada end of that walk (about half hour?) was exceptionally dull and uninteresting compared to most of the walking I do.
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