Hardest section of Western Arthur's ?

[Blister]

Hi, hoping a few people could give me an indication as to what they think is the hardest section of the WA traverse. And how would you rate the hardest section (In Physical terms) out of 10 against Scotts Peak to Lake Cygnus section(out of 10). I am hopeless at packing light (and maybe unfit ) and i'm interested to find out peoples views as i found Scott's Peak to Lake Cygnus pretty Hard. Hoping to do the Traverse in 2011.


Thanks, Blister

[Son of a Beach]

Morrain A up to lake Cygnus is very hard just in terms of just how much up hill it is. However that is the easiest part of the Arthurs in terms of technical difficulty. Going down into lake Oberon is much steeper and more difficult except that it's not as aerobically strenuous, and the next two days after that get even more difficult again in terms of steepness and exposure.

[Blister]

Sorry i should have mentioned hardest physically and not technically. How would you rate them physically Nik , with in reference to Scott's Peak to Cygnus?

[ILUVSWTAS]

As Nick said the slog up the Morraine is hard work because it's so uphill.
A good way to judge how much up and down required for the full traverse is in Chapmans guide. Look at the green ascent/descent graph. It's more jagged than any other walk. And the times per distance gives a good indication of the up and down involved. Every kilometer travelled you rise and fall a considerable amount. From Oberon on it only gets more intense.
I'd say you would have to be very fit and able to do this walk, although instead of the 5-6 days suggested, you could allow 7 or 8 and take it a bit easier. Every day is a challenge and i'd rate the first day as one of the easiest days on the range.

[Son of a Beach]

I agree with ILUVSWTAS on that one. Although Morraine A is very difficult aerobially (ie, gets the heart beat and breathing rate going hard, and may require a LOT of stops/rests for most people), the other sections are both technically difficult, and also require a lot more muscle strength in some parts. The ups and downs are not as long as Morraine A, but there is almost no flat ground anywhere, and it is mostly very steep.

Ie, some parts are so steep and exposed that you need to use your arms as well as you legs, to pull yourself up or lower yourself down. Once up off the Arthur plains, there is almost no flat walking on the entire range. You are always going either up or down, and for some of that you need to be climbing, not walking. There are some parts where there is a steep cliff of dirt with foot/hand holes dug into it, and you have to climb it like a ladder and hope the dirt doesn't fall apart while you've got all your body/pack weight on it.

[davids]

Crikey - I'm heading to the WArthurs next Sunday - having second thoughts now!
I found the Frenchmans Cap walk pretty challenging 'aerobically' a few weeks back, so imagine I may well struggle a bit. But that's the point of it all isn't - challenge yourself? I've learnt that I walk at the maximum Chapman time plus about about 20% plus (many) rest stops, so figure I can just plod along as the days are long this time of year. We have Sunday morning to Sunday night from Victoria via Hobart with hire car, so that gives us at least one extra day for weather. Its more the fitness and the aged knees than technical issues as two of us have a fair bit of climbing experience (though its different in boots compared to climbing shoes!).
We plan to bail out at L.Oberon or earlier if the weather is nasty.
I know there is a link to a weather site - could someone remind me of that? I suspect though that it might be a little meaningless a week out.
David

[Lizzy]

Hi there,
Weather can be found at;
http://www.bom.gov.au
I walked Scotts peak to lake Cygnus a couple of weeks ago & the track along the plains was very boggy- I wore gaiters & overpants the entire time. I also copped hail, rain & strong winds up the top, so be prepared! and have fun!
Cheers
Lizzy

[tasadam]

I just have all my weather links saved to my own page tasadam.com/weather
It does need an update.

[davids]

yes Lizzy, I got a little practice in boggy conditions across the Loddens a few weeks back! And thanks for that Tasadam. On the 28 forecast it looks good for that week, but I guess the 7 day forecast before I go will be more likely to be accurate.
Cheers
David

[Son of a Beach]

I've learnt that I walk at the maximum Chapman time plus about about 20% plus (many) rest stops

I normally walk around the middle of Chapman's times, but I found that when doing a 12-14 day walk in the Arthurs, with a very heavy pack for the first few days, we were walking about 30% slower than his slowest times for the first few days. But by the time we'd been on the track for about 7 days, we'd gotten fitter, and our packs had gotten lighter, we were doing about 30% faster than his fastest times.

[PeterJ]

..............the hardest section of the WA traverse. And how would you rate the hardest section (In Physical terms) out of 10 .......

A lot depends on age and fitness and all that, so difficulty levels can vary over the years.

When I first did the range in my younger days, the section from Oberon to High Moor seemed the hardest, but the last time (2009) I most definitely found the ascent of Moraine A the hardest.
We did not start early and when I got to the base of Moraine A I was keen to continue up to Cygnus; but we decided to camp at the base and do it next day. Well I felt I got up the moraine OK and of course we arrived at Cygnus quite early; however by that stage I was quite content to call it a day as the energy used up in the climb was starting to be felt. So in hindsight I was very pleased to have run out of time on the first day and not to have attempted to continue to Cygnus.
In contrast to that on the earlier trips we went to Cygnus in a day and probably felt less tired.

So here is my rough assessment (1-10 as you suggest).
Section ------------------------ Physical---Technical
Scotts to base Moraine A---------3-------3
Moraine A - Cygnus---------------9-------4
Cygnus - Oberon------------------5-------6
Oberon - High Moor -------------6--------7
High Moor - Haven----------------7------ 8
Haven - Promontory-------------5-------- 6
Promontory - Roseanne ---------5--------4
Roseanne - Scotts-----------------6 *--------3

* less if spread over 2 days

[tasadam]

Sad to say I still haven't been back here, only visited once, in September 2006 for a 3 day walk. We camped in the car at Scotts Peak to allow a reasonably early start. Took our time going in and spent all day with fairly heavy packs, I set up the tent with the last of the daylight at L.Cygnus. Even as we were about two thirds up Moraine A, I was contemplating and discussing the thought of turning back. Might have been a bit unfit too.
2nd day there were a couple of inches of snow, it was cold and fairly windy, in the morning we explored the track another KM or two perhaps, sheltered from a blizzard under a bush & made a cuppa & ginger nut snaps, then returned to campsite for lunch. We decided due to the weather that it would be prudent to get off, since we were going to head out the next day anyhow, so we packed up camp and spent the afternoon heading down to the bottom of Moraine A where we camped in that little bit of flat muddy ground there that anyone going up would know. BTW, at this point, off the track to the left there is a creek that had good water.
3rd day we returned to the car, taking our time and some photos. Should have got going earlier, because by the time I was passing Sassafras on the Bass Highway, I was VERY tired and using all the techniques to stay awake, not very clever.

I know I'm not as fit right now as I'd like to be to do WA's, so I haven't decided where my next multi-day walk will be.

When you get to the top of Moraine A, there has been a lot of track work done, people have spent considerable effort moving and positioning large stepping stone rocks to make the track. TOP JOB!

There's a cool photo HERE of Lake Cygnus that I took on our second day.

[davids]

Thanks SOB, TA,PJ
We are only planning the half traverse. I'm now resigned to a hard slog up Moraine A.
Yes, I'm not one for rushing along these days! Early starts, late finishes, long breaks, the more sitting around looking at the views the better. A younger me would have hated hiking with the older me! But my kids don't seem to mind.
And I agree about the trackwork being done in Tasmania - in the Walls and on FC, these paths/steps that are made by positioning and setting rocks with no cement are very very clever and aesthetic.
David

[Blister]

Thanks Peter J, that gives me a good indication as your first 3 sections to Oberon is roughly how i would rate it as well.

[Blister]

When you get to the top of Moraine A, there has been a lot of track work done, people have spent considerable effort moving and positioning large stepping stone rocks to make the track. TOP JOB!

There's a cool photo HERE of Lake Cygnus that I took on our second day.

Totally agree Tasadam, the track work is amazing, i have only done a couple of walks but it reminded me of the good track work on the Frenchman's Cap Walk. Its a real credit to P&W and the volunteers that help out as well.

[north-north-west]

I agree with ILUVSWTAS on that one. Although Morraine A is very difficult aerobially (ie, gets the heart beat and breathing rate going hard, and may require a LOT of stops/rests for most people), the other sections are both technically difficult, and also require a lot more muscle strength in some parts. The ups and downs are not as long as Morraine A, but there is almost no flat ground anywhere, and it is mostly very steep.

Ie, some parts are so steep and exposed that you need to use your arms as well as you legs, to pull yourself up or lower yourself down. Once up off the Arthur plains, there is almost no flat walking on the entire range. You are always going either up or down, and for some of that you need to be climbing, not walking. There are some parts where there is a steep cliff of dirt with foot/hand holes dug into it, and you have to climb it like a ladder and hope the dirt doesn't fall apart while you've got all your body/pack weight on it.

I'm starting to get second thoughts about this . . .