Forum rules
Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion. Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks.South Coast Track July 09
Mon 24 Aug, 2009 6:45 pm
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to post a little about our adventures on the south coast track in July. My cousin and i walked the Port Davey and south coast in the summer of 2008 and we enjoyed it so much we thought we should challenge ourselves a little more and do it in winter, this time only the South coast leg. We had the track completely to ourselves the whole time and we were the first people on it for over 6 weeks (according to the log books).
After the disappointment of our flight being canceled due to some bad weather we managed to arrange another flight in and arrived at Melaleuca at about 2pm. We set off in rain and flooded track, and that continued for the next week. Long story short the creeks and rivulets which we had crossed in summer a year earlier had grown and surpassed both our imaginations! The smaller creeks/rivulets were chest height wades and the bigger ones were swims, ending in a very cold and 'fun' swim across the south cape rivulet. For us the big difference between walking this track in summer and winter was obviously the weather conditions (and the fact that we were completely alone). The rain, wind, water, creeks and boat crossing had a much bigger effect on our trip. Also crossing the ironbounds was significantly more of a challenge.
The trip was a great experience and we even had fun in some parts! You do get used to the rain and hail but you also get over a week of everything being soaked!
Enjoy the pics!
Just wanted to post a little about our adventures on the south coast track in July. My cousin and i walked the Port Davey and south coast in the summer of 2008 and we enjoyed it so much we thought we should challenge ourselves a little more and do it in winter, this time only the South coast leg. We had the track completely to ourselves the whole time and we were the first people on it for over 6 weeks (according to the log books).
After the disappointment of our flight being canceled due to some bad weather we managed to arrange another flight in and arrived at Melaleuca at about 2pm. We set off in rain and flooded track, and that continued for the next week. Long story short the creeks and rivulets which we had crossed in summer a year earlier had grown and surpassed both our imaginations! The smaller creeks/rivulets were chest height wades and the bigger ones were swims, ending in a very cold and 'fun' swim across the south cape rivulet. For us the big difference between walking this track in summer and winter was obviously the weather conditions (and the fact that we were completely alone). The rain, wind, water, creeks and boat crossing had a much bigger effect on our trip. Also crossing the ironbounds was significantly more of a challenge.
The trip was a great experience and we even had fun in some parts! You do get used to the rain and hail but you also get over a week of everything being soaked!
Enjoy the pics!
- View of Flooded Melaleuca
- n793730326_7890748_5278956.jpg (23.43 KiB) Viewed 7232 times
- n793730326_7890974_5459148.jpg (31.79 KiB) Viewed 7232 times
- Creek Crossing
- 5650_234806745326_793730326_7891040_1152380_n.jpg (52.7 KiB) Viewed 7232 times
Last edited by LetsGo on Mon 24 Aug, 2009 7:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: South Coast Track June-July 09
Mon 24 Aug, 2009 6:50 pm
More pics
- Creek Crossing
- 5650_234807330326_793730326_7891048_4723610_n.jpg (110.81 KiB) Viewed 7231 times
- Surprise Bay Rivulet
- 5650_234842320326_793730326_7892159_5535150_n.jpg (55.7 KiB) Viewed 7231 times
- South Cape Rivulet
- 5650_234847695326_793730326_7892362_136843_n.jpg (39.31 KiB) Viewed 7231 times
Re: South Coast Track June-July 09
Mon 24 Aug, 2009 6:55 pm
- 5650_234809740326_793730326_7891104_2148407_n.jpg (38.41 KiB) Viewed 7231 times
- 5650_234808945326_793730326_7891085_5923008_n.jpg (52.39 KiB) Viewed 7231 times
- 5650_234804075326_793730326_7890967_4641926_n.jpg (23.41 KiB) Viewed 7231 times
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Mon 24 Aug, 2009 7:47 pm
Hello... I'm Harry's (LetsGo) cousin.
Photos, photos, photos... videos...
I've uploaded the entire photo and video set from my camera to Flickr. Feel free to check it out
South Coast Track '09 - a set on Flickr
Note: I have not uploaded Harry's photos as yet. I'll post to this thread when I get around to that.
Thoughts
This was by far the toughest trek we have so far attempted. It didn't leave us the most "ruined" per se, but the sheer volume of water made this trek a significant challenge. I think it is fair to say that the "swim" (aka random splash) across South Cape Rivulet was downright scary for both of us, but on the positive side the whole ordeal has left us better prepared for future challenges. The South Coast Track in winter gives you a completely different perspective of bushwalking than walking the same distance in summer.
Photos, photos, photos... videos...
I've uploaded the entire photo and video set from my camera to Flickr. Feel free to check it out
South Coast Track '09 - a set on Flickr
Note: I have not uploaded Harry's photos as yet. I'll post to this thread when I get around to that.
Thoughts
This was by far the toughest trek we have so far attempted. It didn't leave us the most "ruined" per se, but the sheer volume of water made this trek a significant challenge. I think it is fair to say that the "swim" (aka random splash) across South Cape Rivulet was downright scary for both of us, but on the positive side the whole ordeal has left us better prepared for future challenges. The South Coast Track in winter gives you a completely different perspective of bushwalking than walking the same distance in summer.
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Tue 25 Aug, 2009 9:13 am
Thanks for the photos and story. I reckon you guys are brave doing this one in winter with the creeks and rivers up! 
I don't think I'd be trying it in Winter after all the rain we've had the last few weeks.
I don't think I'd be trying it in Winter after all the rain we've had the last few weeks.
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Wed 26 Aug, 2009 7:08 am
Thanks for the memories guys - the sound on the video's especially 
. . . . . and the fact that there are no photos from Louisa Creek campsite to Little Deadmans Bay for the day over the Ironbounds says heaps about the conditions you encountered.
I was interested to see the join in the rope at the creek crossing after Deadmans Bay. This creek stopped us for a day on our trip with the water up to the top of the steps after a heavy rain the night before, so your comments about the trip being memorable for the winter wet conditions are worth underlining for anyone considering a similar experience.
. . . . . and the fact that there are no photos from Louisa Creek campsite to Little Deadmans Bay for the day over the Ironbounds says heaps about the conditions you encountered. I was interested to see the join in the rope at the creek crossing after Deadmans Bay. This creek stopped us for a day on our trip with the water up to the top of the steps after a heavy rain the night before, so your comments about the trip being memorable for the winter wet conditions are worth underlining for anyone considering a similar experience.
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Wed 26 Aug, 2009 11:01 am
tas-man wrote:Thanks for the memories guys - the sound on the video's especially
Cheers
It wasn't the best day over the Ironbounds - definitely not the worst it could possibly be - but bad enough to not feel inclined to be prolific with the camera as I typically am.
tas-man wrote:I was interested to see the join in the rope at the creek crossing after Deadmans Bay. This creek stopped us for a day on our trip with the water up to the top of the steps after a heavy rain the night before, so your comments about the trip being memorable for the winter wet conditions are worth underlining for anyone considering a similar experience.
The scariest creek/rivulet crossings were...
1. South Cape Rivulet. It was too deep to wade - we had to swim. If we could wait for low tide (by which time it would have been dark) then maybe we could have waded it but I doubt it - it was pretty deep. A very wet winter this year.
2. Surprise Bay. This was the second time I nearly lost my camera. The first time was at the other end of the same beach when the waves happened to come in just as I was going around the headland. I walked merrily forth while Harry probably looked at me in disbelief. Before I knew it I was having trouble staying upright, especially with my expensive SLR in one hand. Harry found a way forward/out and miraculously I got to the other side without slipping and destroying my camera in the process. Lucky it wasn't as deep as South Cape Rivulet - the water was pretty rough.
3. Milford Creek. We tried for a while to find a way across but directly across from the track really is the shallowest - slightly above our waists (178cm FYI).
4. Louisa River, Louisa Creek... seemed scary at the time but perfectly doable with the ropes. Just below waist deep.
Prion Boat Crossing
The boats were submerged. We had to empty them of water, which wasn't so comfortable given the temperature of the water. Thanks to Harry's rowing skills the crossing wasn't too bad, but we were pretty cold by the end of it. Yay for cup-a-soup.
On a related note, has anyone ever attempted the Bathurst Narrows crossing in winter? Now that could be scary...
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Wed 26 Aug, 2009 2:01 pm
dan wrote:slightly above our waists (178cm FYI).
Wow, you guys are really tall!
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Thu 03 Sep, 2009 8:02 pm
kramster wrote:dan wrote:slightly above our waists (178cm FYI).
Wow, you guys are really tall!
Lol, whoops. I meant to say that I am 178cm tall/short/whatever.
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Thu 03 Sep, 2009 10:19 pm
Time for a poll... How many of us are 178CM? I'm another.
Great walk - certainly brave doing that in winter.
All the rain we've been having lately, certainly I was thinking a couple of weeks ago that if anyone was on the SCT I hope they've got plenty of food...
Thanks for the photos.
Great walk - certainly brave doing that in winter.
All the rain we've been having lately, certainly I was thinking a couple of weeks ago that if anyone was on the SCT I hope they've got plenty of food...
Thanks for the photos.
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Fri 04 Sep, 2009 5:33 pm
For Real? Yup 178cm here!!
And that photo of surpirse bay blew me away! cant imagine it being like that! Ive been over that creek about 4 times and its never more than ankle deep...
Let alone the boats, last time i was there the water would have been at leat 10-15meters away!
And that photo of surpirse bay blew me away! cant imagine it being like that! Ive been over that creek about 4 times and its never more than ankle deep...
Let alone the boats, last time i was there the water would have been at leat 10-15meters away!
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Sat 05 Sep, 2009 7:48 pm
tasadam wrote:Time for a poll... How many of us are 178CM? I'm another.
Great walk - certainly brave doing that in winter.
All the rain we've been having lately, certainly I was thinking a couple of weeks ago that if anyone was on the SCT I hope they've got plenty of food...
Thanks for the photos.
Yep, we certainly did take plenty of food. Our schedule did more or less go as planned, despite having to switch airlines at the last minute - TasAir was very helpful and did their best to get us in there safely during a break in the weather.
ILUVSWTAS wrote:For Real? Yup 178cm here!!
And that photo of surpirse bay blew me away! cant imagine it being like that! Ive been over that creek about 4 times and its never more than ankle deep...
Let alone the boats, last time i was there the water would have been at leat 10-15meters away!
I hardly remember Surprise Bay from our first trip in January '08, but I'll never forget this last time, especially considering that I nearly lost my beloved camera in the process of wading it...
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Wed 09 Sep, 2009 9:40 pm
EPIC!!
Cant wait till i get on the track late november.. im just curious as to what the weather is like over this time? Is it always predictibly unpredictable?
also
I am looking at taking my SLR too, did you have much trouble trying to keep it clean.. seems as though you get it back safely.
Cant wait till i get on the track late november.. im just curious as to what the weather is like over this time? Is it always predictibly unpredictable?
also
Before I knew it I was having trouble staying upright, especially with my expensive SLR in one hand. Harry found a way forward/out and miraculously I got to the other side without slipping and destroying my camera in the process.
I am looking at taking my SLR too, did you have much trouble trying to keep it clean.. seems as though you get it back safely.
Re: South Coast Track July 09
Fri 11 Sep, 2009 6:04 pm
The weather in November is normally ok. The water level of the creeks/rivulets would have dropped significantly and are normally not much more than shin or so deep. Dan did manage to keep his camera clean and safe after several close calls, you just need to be very conscious of it when crossing water ect
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