Winter walk Cradle Mt area advice

[Lizzy]

Hi all,
I am thinking of coming to Tassie in a couple of weks time and doing a bit of a walk. Am really interested in WOJ but transport is a bit of an issue. I see Tassielink still run out to Cradle Mt so was thinking of the following;
Day 1: Dove lake to Scott Kilvert Hut
Day 2: Scott Kilvert to Waterfall Valley Hut via Barn Bluff (up it if the conditions are ok)
Day 3: Barn Bluff if not done previous day or wander down to Windermere or Lake Will. Overnight Waterfall Valley Hut
Day 4: return to Cradle Valley

Any suggestions/comments?? Could also camp elsewhere if conditions are not too bad....
I could also add a few days & do the OT- which I have done years ago (but not in winter) but thought this might be a nice option.
Cheer
Lizzy

[Son of a Beach]

Sounds like a good plan to me. The only long day would be the one in which you included the optional walk up Barn Bluff.

Be cautious about Barn Bluff if it's icy - there's some very steep bits near the top that covered in sheet ice. I aborted my first climb of Barn Bluff when the sun came out and great stalactites of ice started falling from the rocks above, and plunging into the snow around us.

[Lizzy]

Thanks Nik,
Don't worry I won't attempt anything that is too dicey... although I like summiting I am more than content to just go up as far as I am comfortable with (as occured on Cradle Mt a couple of years ago)- especially as I will be solo. About how long does it take to walk from Scott Kilvert to Waterfall Valley Hut?
Thanks
Lizzy

[bluewombat]

Hi Lizzy
I would not underestimate the walk out of Scott Kilvert to the Barn Bluff turn off, its some while since I walked that way but last time I was there the track was not good, some of the step ups were so big I had just about had to use my hands to get up them, and it is quite steep for quite a while. Trying to get out to Barn bluff and then down to Waterfall would be a long day, if the weather is not good it would be most unadvisable at this time of year.
bw

[Lizzy]

Thanks for the tip BW- good to know... I might just go out to Barn Bluff as a daytrip from Waterfall Valley hut then... or could skip Barn Bluff.... will look at some maps and have a think but a lot will probably be very weather dependant.
Thanks
Lizzy

[Bap]

Chapmans book says Barn Bluff takes 2.5hours Return.

I was up at Cradle and and Mt Murchison last weekend (22nd May) and there was next to no snow on the ground, and it's been quite mild in Tassie this week. So I like your chances of getting up Barn Bluff.

Here's a photo just to tempt you anyway.

[Lizzy]

Ohhhh Bap- you shouldn't tempt me like that! I am supposed to be studying but all I can do is think about walking
I am actually wondering if I can fit in before my exams and hopefully before the conditions get too rough (although I realise they can change at any time and will be prepared with gear + too change plans).
thanks for the recent conditions too- very helpful!
Cheers
Lizzy

[LetsGo]

I walked Scott Kilvert way in winter 2008 and bluewombat is right, the track was pretty dodgy. Although we had a lot of snow cover and a few of the track markers 'disappeared' so finding and cutting the track in so much snow was our main concern. Scott Kilvert is definitely worth it though, beautiful hut. If there is little snow on Cradle Plateau then i think you would have plenty of time.

have fun!

[TouchWood]

Hey Lizzy,
Just did Barn Bluff last weekend (22nd May), and returned via Scott Kilvert Hut. Took about an hour from the Overland Track to SK Hut, but that was all 'downhill'! Probably add another half an hour for the uphill climb, as there are some steep muddy sections along the way! Good test for the quad muscles! When you come out onto the overland track, I think it is about half an hour walk to Waterfall Valley hut. Hope you can make it up Barn Bluff. Great views, as you can see from Baps' photo. Have a great trip!

TW

[mikethepike]

bluewombat wrote:

I would not underestimate the walk out of Scott Kilvert to the Barn Bluff turn off, its some while since I walked that way but last time I was there the track was not good, some of the step ups were so big I had just about had to use my hands to get up them, and it is quite steep for quite a while.

I can only agree with this. Two of us walked last summer from Cradle Cirque to Dove Lake via Lake Rodway and I was surprised to see how steep and rocky a couple of sections of the track were within a km or so of the Scott Kilvert Hut. I could hardly believe that we once did this with packs in very heavy snow in winter and that our homemade snowshoes, and ourselves for that matter, survived. I could only surmise that deep snow made the rocky parts easier. Even so, at the time, it gave me a greater respect for the person I used to be!

[Steven]

I walked from Lake Dove to Windermere Hut a couple of years ago in August after some heavy snowfalls the week before. Snow shoes are advisable (particularly around Cradle Cirque) and crampons are a MUST - coming off the Cirque below the snowline was VERY ICY and slippery - falling over with a 15kg+ pack was not only not much fun but dangerous !

[Lizzy]

Thanks for all your advise. Unfortunately OR fortunately depending on your perspective it looks like I may be going to an island instead
I definitely still hope to do this winter walk (maybe next year) and am intrigued by snowshoeing and the possibilities...
Thanks again
Lizzy