Frenchmans Cap Track

[Phil]

Hi guys

Just wondering if anyone has wandered through to Frenchmans Cap recently??

Firstly, I was wondering how muddy/wet the Loddens are at the moment (especially over the past couple of weeks if anyone knows as I'm considering heading in there in a couple of weeks time).

And secondly, does anyone know what track work is being done or has been done this past 6-12 months with Dick Smith's money?? I read the update from Parks after last year's work.........I suppose I could give them a call and enquire myself

Any other input would also be greatly appreciated in regards to this walk and the track conditions - ie appropriate gear to wear/use/carry

Cheers

Phil

[Phil]

......maybe I should have asked this question in a week's time considering the weather forecast for the next few days

[donktec]

Hi Phil,
Pretty sure that last July doesn't count as 'recently', so not sure how helpful this will be. But since no one else has posted a reply yet, i'll kick off. New track work is in evidence after crossing the Loddon river. This extended in bits and pieces for less than a km, but may have progressed since then.


After that, if it's been raining, it will be... err, damp. The new track work finishes and you plunge off the end of boardwalk into the bogs. Your feet will get wet, possibly, shins, knees and thighs too. Take spare socks, but expect to have soggy boots all the time when walking.


At the 'right turn' off the Loddons onto Phils Lead, the track can be hard to follow. There are many criss-crossing water courses - just head roughly in the right direction and eventually you'll hit the trees. There was some track damage from storms with trees down over the track and a diversion marked with tape around some trees. The track is easy to follow once you cross the bridge just after this spot. There were also trees down over the track on the climb up from the bridge over Philps creek but enough markers to follow the well trodden path.

Vera hut is most welcome, if it's cold enough to run the heating you might even dry the boots a bit. Whether or not they stay dry depends on the amount of rain you're getting. It will almost certainly rain at some stage, take good wet weather gear. Awesome walk, you'll love it!

Can happily bore you with more details and pics if requested. Be interested to hear if there is more track work in progress.
cheers,
Andy

[Flyboy]

Well, as much as the east coast right down to Vic has had some fairly massive rains, they have been more subdued in Tasmania.
There are heavy rains and flash flooding forecast in northern Tasmania over the next day or so, but further south around Frenchman's should receive less.
The strong winds and moisture are actually coming from the north east, not the west where they normally come from.

The rain over the last two weeks in Strahan has actually been very little.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJD ... test.shtml

The last fall of 10mm or more being way back on December 9.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20101 ... 1012.shtml

The rain over the last two weeks in Lake St Clair has also been very little.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/IDCJD ... test.shtml

Although they did have more consistent rain right through December.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20101 ... 1012.shtml

Over December it was below average rainfall at Strahan (80mm compared to average 100mm).
Over December it was slightly over average at Lake St Clair (143mm total compared to an average of 138mm).

I'd say, that based on all that, with only very light rains (hopefully) from the current system, the next week or so the bogs on the Loddon's could be expected to be light to possibly moderate in places. If the drier La Nina conditions return in the next few days, then after about a week or so it could be fairly reasonable.

If a lot of tropical moisture continues to feed in from the north, or the wind swings north westerley and starts arriving at Frenchman's Cap off the sea around Macquarie Harbour, you could be in for a fair bit of mud.

[donktec]

Forecast for FC; "light to moderate bogs"

[Phil]

Thanks for your input donktek and flyboy. Although not a 'recent' trip donktek, your info is appreciated nontheless

Also thanks for doing that research flyboy, I was thinking similarly.....we haven't had much rainfall over the past 6 weeks or so in Tas and I know from hearing a couple of stories in the past 12 months from walkers that the Loddens were actually fairly hard when they had gone through. It will be intersting to see what rainfall the Strahan/Lake St Clair area has had this past week; it has been pretty crazy in the north and on the east coast the last few days but as you said, this weather has come from north east.

I might give it a week or so and again look up some data, and then also contact the Lake St Clair and Queenstown ranger/offices for some localised advice.

Cheers

Phil

[donktec]

Hi,
Putting on my bureau hat: With the tropical system now moving away, we will probably see a return to the more usual Westerly airstreams and fronts.

Putting on bushwalkers hat: Sounds like now might be a good time to go, not much rain recently, track should be ok... you'll enjoy it regardless

[Phil]

BOM shows some rainfall last week, was hoping to go in on Australia Day actually - next Wednesday the 26th.......we'll see what the forecast says (and if I can obtain a leave pass from the wife )

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hi,
not much rain recently,

Surely you jest?? The entire state (and country) had downfalls recently. I'd imagine it would be pretty boggy on the Loddons myself!!

[Phil]

Surely you jest?? The entire state (and country) had downfalls recently. I'd imagine it would be pretty boggy on the Loddons myself!!

Yes the rain did fall extraordinarily in certain areas of the state last week Mark - north-west coast, north, east coast......but not as much so on the west coast. In fact, the recorded rainfall for Derwent Bridge from Saturday the 8th of Jan through to today so far looks like this (in mm): 2.6, 0.8, 0, 3.0, 2.2, 13.8, 2.0, 4.0, 0 and 0.4.......and with only 0.2mm recorded precipitation from the 29th of Dec through to the 7th of Jan this means a total of 30mm has been recorded for this past 3 weeks (data for Derwent Bridge).

Would be interesting to hear some first hand knowledge of what it looks like atm.

Phil

[woodstar]

Going to walk frenchmans cap in 2 weeks time, can anyone tell me if i can walk or use a boat?

[north-north-west]

Packraft!

[tasadam]

Packraft!

Aw C'mon... He's a new member, 1st post.

Frenchmans is always doable, just that with lots of rain you might be a bit deeper in the mud. And if it's flowing water, you'll probably know before you get there, based on what the weather's been doing.

The Parks office in Queenstown manages this area, they might know more - particularly if they are still building Dick's new track.

[HitchHiking]

Just back from the track two days ago. It rain every night (2) and was sleeting when I went for the top. Loddons mud was up to my knees mostly but a few places up to my mid thighs. Fun walk!

[ILUVSWTAS]

In fact, the recorded rainfall for Derwent Bridge from Saturday the 8th of Jan through to today so far looks like this (in mm): 2.6, 0.8, 0, 3.0, 2.2, 13.8, 2.0, 4.0, 0 and 0.4.......and with only 0.2mm recorded precipitation from the 29th of Dec through to the 7th of Jan this means a total of 30mm has been recorded for this past 3 weeks (data for Derwent Bridge).

Would be interesting to hear some first hand knowledge of what it looks like atm.

Phil

I would suggest that MANY a time the sun would be shining at Derwent bridge but it would be pouring or even snowing at Frenchmans. They may as well be worlds apart!

[HitchHiking]

Heading through Barron pass there was a total shift from no wind rain and patches of sun off and on to driven rain, massive wind gust and a black as night sky. It was great fun!

[abowen]

Hi Phil,
Will probably see you in there. I am heading in on Wednesday (Aus Day) as well. There will be a group of five of us (I am the only male). We are going regardless of weather. I have been in before and prepared to experience a lot of mud.
Cheers
Andrew

[Phil]

Hi Phil,
Will probably see you in there. I am heading in on Wednesday (Aus Day) as well. There will be a group of five of us (I am the only male). We are going regardless of weather. I have been in before and prepared to experience a lot of mud.
Cheers
Andrew

I'll keep a look out for you if I go abowen; again, I'll prob only be doing it if there is a favourable forecast. Where will you be spending the first night, Lake Vera I guess??

The only male with 4 females........and I thought the muddy Loddens might be a challenge, goodluck!!

Phil

[abowen]

Hi Phil,
Our base will be Vera. I'll be using a tent though. Can't stand the interupted sleep I get when walkers come in late to huts - like midnight or after dark for that matter - and then start cooking a midnight feast. Makes me a grumpy boy in the morning if I plan an early start. It's a Club walk and I don't know why we get more women than men. The walk must be either too hard or not hard enough.
Cheers
Andrwew

[Phil]

It's a Club walk and I don't know why we get more women than men. The walk must be either too hard or not hard enough.

Funny you say that, I'm currently reading Jack Thwaites biography which is an absolutely facinating and inspirational read to say the least. In the book, it describes that the proportion of women to men in the HWC was always very high, usually more women than men in fact as members and on walks!!

[Genesis]

Phil, I would be interested in the improvements made to the "Sodden Loddens" section of the track, however this section might keep numbers down which is not always a bad thing.
If you could post some pics on your return from your Aussie day adventure please.

Cheers

Genesis

[Phil]

Phil, I would be interested in the improvements made to the "Sodden Loddens" section of the track, however this section might keep numbers down which is not always a bad thing.
If you could post some pics on your return from your Aussie day adventure please.

Cheers

Genesis

Decided not to go yesterday. I'll look for a better 'window' of weather to make a trip in there; after speaking to a very helpful bloke at BOM (who had been in to Frenchmans three times himself), took his advice and will postpone to another date where there is a liklier chance of views and better weather.

Phil

[Flyboy]

Walked into the Cap on the 22/01/11 and out on the 26/01/11.

Walk in 22/01/11 was hot, mud was very minimal until the Loddons. Once there, it was generally around ankle depth (top of the hiking boot), a few bogs were approaching mid-calf - so was generally very, very good.

The 24th & 25th had some really solid rain, so the walk out on the 26th was different. The stony creek bed track up Philp's Lead was flowing well and water depth was generally around the top of the hiking boot again. The Loddon's were generally up to mid-shin, occasionally knee depth - but nothing worse than that.
Interestingly from the Loddon's to the carpark also had a lot of mud - a combination of the rain on the 24th & 25th, and the very high traffic. We passed about 25 people walking in on the 26th as we walked out, so Vera would have been packed.

Was pretty much what I'd estimated - light to moderate bogs. Even after the heavy rain and traffic, nothing more than bottom of the knee.

Trip report with pics to follow when I get back to somewhere with a decent internet connection.

[abowen]

Walked in on the 26/01/2011 and out on the 29/01/2011.
Must have passed you flyboy on your way out. Yes, there were a lot of people on the track and staying at the Lake Vera Hut - I didn't count at Lake Vera, but when we stopped overnight at Lake Tahune there were about 15 - some of these stayed in tents though.
There were three walkers who flew past us on the way in. I don't know where they went, as we did not see them anywhere on the track later or at any of the huts. I am assuming they must have walked straight up to Lake Tahune and on from there or else they went off track somewhere.
Weather was pretty good. Only a very slight drizzle when we started and then it disappeared. Mid afternoon on Thursday it began to rain and did not let up until way into the early hours of Friday morning. However, it did clear enough for us to climb Frenchmans on Friday morning. Summit was misty though and just started to clear on the way down. By midday it would have been superb on top. Blue skies everywhere.
Track conditons was pretty much as everyone has described. With the heavy rain on Thursday night, things were very sloshy for us on the way out. A couple of holes were at least thigh deep. I too was surprised about the amount of mud from the Loddens to the car park. Not deep but sticky and slippery.
By the time we got back to the Franklin River, it was warm enough for a refreshing dip. Body rafting in the swift current under the suspension bridge was great fun and a good way to clean off the days grime and sweat.
Cheers
Andrew