Mt Solitary, SW Tasmania

[stepbystep]

OK, many of us have seen it but has anybody been there?

I am in the process of planning a kayak/walk to this summit. Can anyone give me some info on paddling times/best route to island and summit/walking time/anything????
I have heard it's a little snakey, and have read this account http://www.wildtigertasmania.com/2006/0 ... -trip.html interesting to see wildtiger format has changed, I thought this site was no longer being updated?
Any help much appreciated....

[doogs]

i also read the story on wildtiger a couple of years ago and it sounds like a great little adventure. Can't help, but hope you have a great trip. One day I will get there too (I hope).

[ILUVSWTAS]

Oll's been up it Dan. Said it was very easy. He went over by boat though.

[wander]

Mt Solitary would be an ideal trip for the Packraft.

[ILUVSWTAS]

What an awesome picture!
Is that Mt Rugby??


Packrafts are cool, but they are fairly expensive.

[wander]

Correct call ILUVSWTAS. From my raft with my partners raft in foreground. Taken from Horseshoe Inlet way. I think it maybe Balmoral Hill on the right foreground. Maybe I should start a separate Packraft trip Ideas thread. Mt Solitary has got me thinking and thunking.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thanks for sharing!! Rugby has been no.1 on my dream peak since I saw it from Horseshoe inlet!!

Yeh im considering taking my 3 man raft for an overnighter if nothing else comes up by next summer...

[ollster]

Yep, ILUV is correct. I did it with a mate a couple of years ago. See pic. It was pretty straight forward. (just to clarify, that's not a GPS track, that's me with a paint program!)

The ridge we went up was pretty good, but the trick we found on descent was don't stick to the ridgeline. Stay to the western side of the ridgeline on the way up and you stay clear of some crud.There is also a bit of scunge in the plains area.

IIRC it took about 3.5 hours, and I was not fit at the time. I recall 2:02 up, and less down.

[stepbystep]

Nice, cheers Oll, was looking at going up the ridge 2 to the right from your paintjob starting at the obvious bay below that ridge - much of a muchness I suppose.....
Times equate to other beta.

Nice pic of Rugby Wander - mid to late Feb for me

[Beeper]

Mt Solitary has plenty of clear ridges to choose from, navigate to the first one that looks reasonable and go for it. When we did it, I think it took 2-3 hours.

[stepbystep]

Excellent stuff, thanks all.
All I really want to know now is where people have launched their kayaks from and their approximate paddling times.
I'm assuming Scotts Peak Dam would be the logical spot, many thanks.

[abowen]

Hi Dan,
I measure the water leg to be about 8 km's from the Scotts Peak Dam boat ramp to the southern side of Solitary (roughly one of the bays you highlighted). From my experience at Lake St Clair it would take me about 2 hours to paddle. All predicated of course on conditions on the water being reasonable - minimal to no wind.
Cheers
Andrew

[ILUVSWTAS]

All predicated of course on conditions on the water being reasonable - minimal to no wind.

Andrew

We are talking about Pedder here..... Still it does happen, just not often, or all day. At least if/when the wind does pick up later in the day it'll be a tailwind....

[stepbystep]

Hi Dan,
I measure the water leg to be about 8 km's from the Scotts Peak Dam boat ramp to the southern side of Solitary (roughly one of the bays you highlighted). From my experience at Lake St Clair it would take me about 2 hours to paddle. All predicated of course on conditions on the water being reasonable - minimal to no wind.
Cheers
Andrew

Those times equate closely to what I have heard, about 7-8 hrs round trip with lunch up top and some breaks there may just be time to duck up Scotts Peak on the way back

[Liamy77]

its turnin into a fashionable venue it seems !
i'm plannin a trip that way too.... seen this?: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5739&p=68551&hilit=kayak#p68551

have fun... be good to hear how ya go!

[Amanda]

Hi Dan,
We just got back from there, nothing really to add. Scotts Peak best place to launch, more sheltered than Edgar. We looked to see if there was an old 4WD track opposite Anne to launch from but could not find it. A couple of hours paddling over there into the wind.We went up on the ridge to the right of Oli's pic but back down the ridge Oli went up on, its better, clearer, more direct. Only saw 2 whip snakes, although I did nearly tread on one! 7-8 hours for the day sounds about right. We camped there so all was done at an easy pace.
Enjoy!
Amanda

[stepbystep]

Awesome, thanks Amanda!
Last piece to the puzzle....had heard conflicting stories about paddling times and we have a small flotilla organised, so assume we will have a slowish pace, will be happy if we can all do it within 10hrs.
Heard you and Jez got a kayak, new adventures hey?
Thanks again!

[Amanda]

10 hours should be fine at a slowish pace, so long as it is not too windy paddling over. Kayak is great, went from Solitary and camped at the end of the Franklands then went up Terminal and Lloyd Jones. We couldn't get across the lake to Cawthorn and Helder though, 60kph winds are almost impossible to paddle into! I'll put some photos up at some stage. Have fun!

[stepbystep]

Should update this, we were set to make this trip last Saturday, total flop, torrential rain
Will attempt again as a 'flashwalk' sometime. I'm afraid it won't be until next season though.....

[Liamy77]

damn.... better luck then i hope

[stepbystep]

damn.... better luck then i hope

Yup thought booking a date in mid-Feb would give us some hope, but alas it was not meant to be!

[Liamy77]

if gravity is a harsh mistress .... then the weather must be ones' Ex!?

[tas-man]

<Snip>I'll put some photos up at some stage.

Look forward to seeing your photos from Solitary, Amanda

[stepbystep]

Finally got there yesterday, an adventure to say the least

[tas-man]

LUV that 180 degree panorama! - did you take any photos in the other 180 )

[stepbystep]

Here ya go Ian, complete with ILUV and Stu(and the top of Azza's head).... it's a dodgy stitch and the first pic was actually closer to 270 degrees

[tas-man]

Thanks stepbystep - magnificent!
The profiles of the Arthurs and Franklands are well captured in both panoramas from this viewpoint on Mt Solitary - a worthwhile destination.
How long did your water crossing take each way?

[frenchy_84]

Mt Solitary would be an ideal trip for the Packraft.

Nope

[ILUVSWTAS]

Mt Solitary would be an ideal trip for the Packraft.

Nope

Hahaha speaking from experience there!! Even made my poor boat look fast!!

[stepbystep]

Thanks stepbystep - magnificent!
The profiles of the Arthurs and Franklands are well captured in both panoramas from this viewpoint on Mt Solitary - a worthwhile destination.
How long did your water crossing take each way?

Good question....thinking....

We paddled into a strong NE headwind on the East side of Scotts Peak, with a break on Scotts Peak (maybe 2.5hrs) and then with a strong NW tailwind we flew hom on the Western side in between an hour and an hour and a half... In mild conditions I'd say 2 hours each way.

We were a bit preoccupied by the Derwent Valley fire, you can see in the other panorama