Lake Meston, May 2008

[Son of a Beach]

I walked in to Lake Meston via the old Jackson Creek track on Friday and back out again yesterday (Sunday). Much thanks to Tastrekker for his Jackson Creek Track notes which were spot on. Here's a few photos from the trip, mostly taken by 'Delphin' who came along to go fly fishing (he caught a couple of rainbows, for which I was grateful at dinner time).

Pork Pie in the Rain for Lunch:

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Lake Myrtle Outflow Creek:

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Michael Working on Dinner at the North End of Lake Meston (with Gunnii leaves on the lake bed):

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Looking North from Between Lakes Meston and Myrtle:

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Lake Myrtle Outflow Creek Crossing Again:

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Most of the Area Was Completely Burnt Out Years Ago:

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A Worm I Spotted on the Track (and had to carry to Michael who had the camera):

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Log Jam Waterfall:

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[RiverFly]

Awesome spot hey!

I found those same yellow worms littered across the track on the way out last year. Just another piece of the complex and amazing eco-system. I forget what they are called, I'm thinking nematodes but that is also wrong. It might come to me.

[Son of a Beach]

Awesome spot hey!

I found those same yellow worms littered across the track on the way out last year. Just another piece of the complex and amazing eco-system. I forget what they are called, I'm thinking nematodes but that is also wrong. It might come to me.

It depends on if they are a round worm (Nematoda) or a segmented worm (Annelida). I should have been able to remember that from zoology classes, but had to look it up on Google.

What I have wondered is: What is the significance of the ultra-bright colour? Usually such colours are a warning of some sort. So are they deadly poisonous (not that I'm planning to eat any)? If not, I think they'd be easy prey to any birds and I'd bet they'd make great trout-bait. Have you tried this?

It was a great spot. I really like the original old huts that are largely unmodified, including the split-slab beds. Wonderful atmosphere in the location too, with the small area of open mossy forest around the hut. The only drawback of the hut itself, is that the windows are very small, and even in midday the interior is quite dark.

While Michael was fishing Meston on Saturday, I climbed over the ridge to the east of the lake, and then south and explored a few of the small lakes and tarns up on the plateau. I had lunch on little island in the middle of a small complicated-shaped lake. I had hoped to get all the way down to Triangle lake, but my fitness (and health - I had a cold) was not up to it.

[Mickeymoo]

Looks like a really nice area Nik, the trout would have been a great bonus to eat for tea

[Son of a Beach]

Looks like a really nice area Nik, the trout would have been a great bonus to eat for tea

Yeah, I'm not particularly in to catching them, but I'm happy to help eat them (along with the venison scotch fillet Michael brought with him in case he didn't catch anything).

[RiverFly]

Unfortunately I don't know anything more abuut the yellow dudes, except that they are pretty awesome to see slithering around, and I have never seen any others apart from around Jacksons Creek. All things fungusy and slimy certainly do like that area.

[corvus]

G'day sob.
I guess the Mersey Forest Road to the start of Moses /Jacksons Creek track is not closed just past Pine Hut track as mentioned in someones previous post.

[Son of a Beach]

G'day sob.
I guess the Mersey Forest Road to the start of Moses /Jacksons Creek track is not closed just past Pine Hut track as mentioned in someones previous post.

No, I followed up in the other topic too, but it was open right through. Just a sign warning of possible delays, although we had no delays.

[Drifting]

Not to dredge up an ancient post- but the yellow worm is a Canary Worm, Geoplanaria sugdoni.

We saw 4 at Leven Canyon today.

Here's some info on them (on page 44)

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter-nsf/At ... /Kit10.pdf

[Son of a Beach]

Thanks Drifting. The name makes sense.

[deirdre]

I saw these same worms last weekend when walking near Federal Falls on Mt Canobolas, which is in Central Tablelands of NSW. Makes me think they could actually be fairly widespread, though I don't remember ever seeing them before. The worms were on the track in damp leaf litter, after fairly damp cool weather. I wonder whether they are unique to Australia, or to cool climates within Australia....can anyone tell me more?

[gayet]

I saw one up in the Tarkine - in a rotting log/leaf litter area. Suggests they like damp areas with plenty of rotting vegetation