Advice - Little Hugel, Mt Hugel, Mount Rufus

[Phil]

Hi crew

I'm starting to plan my next day walk and it's starting to look like me and the boys will hit the road nice and early, head past the Great Lake, and arrive on the other side at Lake St Clair at about 8am........and that's about as much as we've planned so far

At this stage, we're thinking of walking up to Little Hugel and maybe onto Hugel itself which then beckoned the question is it realistic to keep going on to Mount Rufus and then back down to the car park as a day walk?

I personally have never walked in this area of our state and would appreciate some advice from those who have. 2 of the other guys have done the Overland Track in the past but again have not climbed any of these peaks.

We're a pretty fit bunch and comfortably did Barns Bluff as a day walk on Good Friday last year and also walked up to Mount Rogoona along the Lake Bill track in June of this year (and arrived back to the car at dusk at about 5pm

Let me know your thoughts and advice!

Phil

[Son of a Beach]

After camping at Shadow lake, it took me all day to walk these three peaks (carrying a full pack), arriving back at the car park just as it was getting dark (mid-winter, so about 5pm?). So including the 1.5-2 hours to Shadow Lake, the night before, the whole thing would have taken me about 9.5-10 hours with a full pack and very little in the way of rest stops. I think this would be too long for many people as a day walk, although somewhat more feasible with only a day pack. It sounds like you guys are fairly experienced, but I wouldn't recommend this to inexperienced people. There's some significant off-track rock scrambling, a little scrub-bashing, and a very substantial boulder field which is quite challenging to negotiate (huge boulders, deep holes).

Of course, good navigation skills are required and if the weather turned nasty there's nowhere to hide up there, so be prepared.

I won't add much more detail on the public forum, as some of the off-track section is a little sensitive.

[tasadam]

If you got over Little Hugel and Hugel then decided to bail, turn left when you hit the Rufus track and go back past Shadow Lake. Will save a bit of time and less effort - not having to go right up over Rufus. But do take notice of Nik's boulder field comments. I think I posted a photo of it from Hugul summit somewhere - we returned via the ascent route.
If you did go down that saddle then turned left, as an alternative if you had time and wanted a different look at things, when you start to get close to Shadow Lake on that alternate return, there is a track that turns right and cuts through nice bush (and rainforest from memory) and meets up on the southern loop side of the Rufus circuit track. Still quicker than doing Rufus proper but still interesting - a nice walk.
On that subject for the benefit of anyone reading, if a Rufus circuit is beyond you, head up to Shadow Lake and just beyond, turn left to meet up with the track that returns from the Rufus circuit, turn left again and return to Cynthia Bay. Beautiful!

[stu]

I'm sure you'd all be fine, Ive been throughout that area several times & all pretty easy going;
(yes, a few large boulders around southern end of Hugel, but not as big & bad as they get, eg. Thetis, Pelion West, Massif etc.).

I know a husband & wife who did Rufus - Hugel - hugel plateau - return to Cynthia Bay via Forgotten / Shadow lakes in 8 hours & they are in their late 50's!(absolutely no disrespect intended here), tho they are very fit so credit where credit is due. I think they by-passed Little Hugel, tho that's only half an hour or so return from the track.
Hope that doesn't make you have to run any section to beat the oldies

I'd probably recommend going from Little Hugel end to start the day as it leaves the easiest section until last (ie. Rufus),
this also gives you an alternative route out as described by adam if you wanted to by that stage of the day.

Probably a lot harder if there was snow about & maybe not recommended as a full day circuit unless clear conditions on the ground & the sky.

Being familiar with very long day walks I'd make a few suggestions:
- always pack a headtorch - each! Invaluable when needed.
- a light weight tarp is a good idea if emergency shelter is required, either to escape the weather or cover injured parties.
- always pack for 4 seasons, obviously!!!
- all the other usual necessities, first aid, extra food, power bars etc. etc.

let us know how you go - good luck!

Stu.

Last edited by stu on Wed 19 Aug, 2009 9:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

[GerryDuke]

I did the Rufus circut as a day walk from the visitors centre a few years ago. Took 7 hours to do the circuit and I am also in my late 50's. A great walk on a very well made track.

Gerry

[Son of a Beach]

I did the Rufus circut as a day walk from the visitors centre a few years ago. Took 7 hours to do the circuit and I am also in my late 50's. A great walk on a very well made track.

Gerry

Was that just the Rufus circuit, or did that include Little Hugel and Hugel as well? The Rufus circuit itself is a decent walk, and would take many people most of a day.

I admit that I'm not a terribly fast walker, and don't like to spend the entire day on the track, and therefore tend to avoid day walks that take all day, or break them up into a couple of days, walk a little slower, and camp somewhere (I enjoy camping as much as I enjoy walking - I love to relax at a campsite for a few hours, as much as to spend a few hours on a mountain top). I had originally planned to camp in the saddle between Hugel and Rufus, and have a very relaxing walk the next day, but I got to my camp site too early, and it was rather cold, so I just kept going.

[GerryDuke]

Just the circuit Nick.

A great walk.

Gerry

[Phil]

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I will have a chat with the crew tonight and we'll make some decisions........weather pending of course

Hopefully we can get out there in a couple of weeks time and catch some nice spring weather!

[Phil]

So we're heading down to Lake St Clair very early tomorrow morning, looking to be on the track by 8:30, weather forecast is fantastic: frost then sunny, 18 degrees

We're planning to head up to Shadow and Forgotten Lake and then onto Little Hugel; from there we will do a slight back-track and then continue on the Rufus circuit and climb Rufus itself before heading back to the car.

Should be a nice day out, hopefully I will have some photos to post next week (I apologise in advance for my photographic skills - or lack thereof)

Cheers

Phil

[walkinTas]

weather forecast is fantastic: frost then sunny, 18 degrees

18° is a bit ambitious. Derwent Bridge: Frost then sunny, min=-1°C max=12°C. Still, should be a great day. You should leave earlier and get up to Shadow Lake around 7:30. With the frost and still conditions you would get some wonderful photos early in the morning. Good luck with your walk.

[Phil]

Ah, thanks for the weather correction walkinTas. It seems that when I typed in Lake St Clair it actually directed me to the weather for Ouse! Yes, Derwent Bridge forecast still looks fantastic but max of 12, not 18!

I'm keen to head off earlier, it somewhat depends on the others though. I'll talk to them this arvo and see how I go, thanks for the advice

[johnw]

Derwent Bridge forecast still looks fantastic but max of 12, not 18!

We walked the Shadow Lake circuit and a partial ascent of Little Hugel several weeks ago. Really nice up there. Might be obvious, but it's likely to be significantly cooler than 12 when you get up to Shadow Lake and beyond. Have fun .