Frenchmans Cap - Lyell Hwy to Lake Vera?

[ScorpioBoyRising]

Just wanting to know how long most people take to do the first leg of Lyell Hwy to Lake Vera? In the SW Tassie book it estimates 4.5-6hrs...I am hoping 4.5hrs is achievable for fit people? We just have to start our hike very late in the day due to constraints. Want to ensure its doable before sunset.

[Strider]

The track has been rerouted since that book was written. Try a search of these forums as it has surely been discussed in one of the threads about the new track.

[north-north-west]

Four to six hours, depending on fitness and number of rest stops. There are still a lot of ups and downs, but only one long steep bit. The new track is marvellous and getting better by the day.

Four and a half would be well doable if you're fit.

[stepbystep]

There's fit and there's pack-fit. I've walked with people who are far 'fitter, younger, stronger' than me and they've struggled over rough ground with a full pack. If you're pack-fit 4.5 is do-able.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

I am one of three reasonably fit guys who did this last weekend.

Trip in with stops and gear wash down etc was 5.5 hours.

Trip out with lighter bags and less stops was 4.5 hours.

It's a pretty easy walk. I could do it under 4 fairly easily. You'd have to be fairly slow walkers or frequent stoppers to take greater than six hours.

Sure beats the 10 hours it took via the Loddons.

[whynotwalk]

If you find you're running too late, bear in mind there are a couple of good camping spots on the way in. The first (and best) is on the highway side of the Loddon River crossing. That's maybe 1 and a half to 2 hours from the start. Then there's a much smaller spot that would fit a couple of tents. It's mid-way along the new "Sodden Loddons" bypass section, near a bridged creek that runs off Pickaxe Ridge.

Happy trails!

Peter

[sthughes]

Couple of weeks ago it took us 4hrs 45min in and 4hrs 10min out. Apart from Mt Anne 2 days earlier it was our first real walk in over 6 months so we weren't fit and the legs were hurting on the steep stuff! Most of the walkers in there at the time took about the 5hr mark, but most weren't regular walkers.

It's improved, but don't go wearing thongs. Lots of work still needs doing (and is under way)

[north-north-west]

If you find you're running too late, bear in mind there are a couple of good camping spots on the way in. The first (and best) is on the highway side of the Loddon River crossing. That's maybe 1 and a half to 2 hours from the start. Then there's a much smaller spot that would fit a couple of tents. It's mid-way along the new "Sodden Loddons" bypass section, near a bridged creek that runs off Pickaxe Ridge.

Ummm, the main Lodden River campsite is on the southern bank. Room for ten tents or more. Highway side I saw only two rather rough and damp spots.

There's also what looks likes a disused helipad (timber platform) on the Laughton's Lead section, or you could plead for mercy from the track crew and wangle a night in their shed.

[icefest]

you could plead for mercy from the track crew and wangle a night in their shed.

Pretty shed:

[north-north-west]

You'd think they'd have gone for a camo shade cloth.

[GPSGuided]

What happened? Collapsed?

[north-north-west]

Naahhh, it's fine. Just the photo makes it look a bit odd. It's a fairly substantial set-up.

[proskub]

As of last week, the campsites at Loddon River were pretty overgrown on the highway side, not as many as there used to be on the far side either. Because it is so much faster, not that many people camp there anymore!

[ScorpioBoyRising]

Appreciate all of the info, we will prob be starting hiking around 3:30pm so I reckon we should be fine for time given what everyone has said.

[Azza]

Appreciate all of the info, we will prob be starting hiking around 3:30pm so I reckon we should be fine for time given what everyone has said.

That should be fine.. even if you walk the last half hour / hour in the dark by head torch.

[whynotwalk]

Ummm, the main Lodden River campsite is on the southern bank. Room for ten tents or more. Highway side I saw only two rather rough and damp spots.

Yeah ... funny that! I was just speaking to someone else who knows the track well, and he said "lots of people turn straight left after the Loddon bridge, and miss the best campsite, which is on the right hand side after the bridge." Obviously, as nnw has pointed out, I was one of those mistaken walkers.

cheers

Peter

[north-north-west]

It's easy enough to do, especially with the big sign pointing the way to the Cap.
I wouldn't mind hauling the tripod in there and spending a night, just to photograph the river. It's a good spot to camp.