Along the track there are many opportunities for side trips. A popular one is Mt Ossa (VK7/CH001), a 1,617m peak, a mere 4 day walk from the start of the track at Cradle Mountain. In fact, in SOTA terms the general area around the several National Parks of the Central Highlands area contain 105 peaks. It may surprise you to learn however, that only 12 of these have every been activated. Of course when you understand that none of them have vehicle access and most if not all are several days walk from a road head, you may begin to understand the situation.
Geryon viewed from Ducane Range (VK7/CH005)
Ducane Range Expedition
Our trip with a party of 6, was planned as an 8 day walk carrying all food, equipment and shelter around a loop starting from the south end of the Overland track at Narcissus hut, up onto Mt Gould, around to the Labyrinth, across to Mt Massif and Falling Mountain and back down the Overland track to complete the loop. In this part of the world a one week trip can expect at least one day of adverse weather so six to seven days of walking were planned to achieve the main goals. As a stretch goal, several side mountains could be visited to enjoy the time. On paper, the route was set to take us to no less than 7 un-activated, 10 point SOTA summits in the week, and I was super excited to potentially leave my mark on the record.But enough of the theory, here is how the trip actually panned out:
(For readers unfamiliar with hiking blog terminology a glossary has been provided at the end of this section. You may refer to it before or after reading the trip description).
Lake Marion from Mt Gould near the Guardians
Day 1 - We arrived by air from the mainland, hired cars and drove 160 km down to Lake St Clair. From here we took the ferry to Narcissus Hut and commenced our walk in steadily increasing rain. We arrived at a delightful campsite at Gould Plateau by 5PM. Overnight rain was significant.
Day 2 - Starting a little late after drying equipment out a bit, we followed the walking track to the end of the Gould Plateau. From here the route was unmarked and the climb of Mt Gould was through scrub, over scree boulders and steeply upward. As we fought our way up through the scoparia and tea tree heading for the base of the cliffs, time was slipping rapidly away. By lunchtime it was clear that the plan to reach The Guardians beyond Mt Gould was wildly optimistic. By late afternoon all hope of even reaching Mt Gould in the day had faded. Another beautiful campsite was therefore chosen on a tiny grassy shelf and a well earned evening meal cooked up.
Day 3 - Starting early, we easily reached the saddle below Mt Gould (VK7/CH090) in an hour or so and took in the beauty of the surrounds. The reality of a potential climb of Mt Gould became clear at this point, and plans rearranged accordingly. Mt Gould has a loose rock summit reached by a not too obvious route from the saddle nearly 250m below. With an average angle approaching 45 degrees, this climb is not for the faint hearted, and not for SOTA. The previous nights goal of reaching The Guardians (VK7/CH026), was now possible as a 'packs off' side trip. In the absence of any obvious foot pad across to The Guardians, we headed off down a couple of sets of cliffs (skirting their edge) with lunch and SOTA gear on board. From the low saddle the climb up to The Guardians is 200m vertical and half a km cross country, again through tea tree & scoparia scrub with the occasional low cliff obstacle. Once on top and sharing our lunch with the ants the SOTA station was set up on 40m and prolific CQs on 7090 sent. VK2IO found us, but time ran out before we could gain another 3 stations. The return path was easier as we found a minimal set of little cairns that took a route close to the southern cliffs. Hard work for one contact. Day 3 was completed by continuing on the route over the Minotaur, which is a spectacular peak but only has 70m of prominence to the Mt Gould saddle so is not a SOTA peak. From the Minotaur the route undulates down a steep route (again following small cairns) and joins the main Labyrinth track 220m below.
Against the odds we found another beautiful campsite and enjoyed a surprisingly good evening meal.
On The Guardians - Thanks VK2IO fer the QSO !
Day 4 - Again starting early, this time to beat the heat (27 deg C forecast), we entered the Labyrinth. This area is so named because everything around it was also given a name from Greek mythology, and is a bit confusing with small tarns (ponds - lakes) everywhere. A most delightful area with a real Gondwanaland pre-historic feel to it. Passing Lake Elisia and the Pool of Memories the track again starts to rise toward the Ducane Range peak (VK7/CH0005). Some upper sections of this well marked track are quite steep and we were very pleased to find an ideal campsite high up on Ducane Range peak. From this point our two strongest members left us to complete the full circuit over Mt Massif and Falling Mountain. We waved them goodbye as they crossed Big Gun Pass, a saddle 150m below the two surrounding summits.
After dinner I set to on 40m to activate this summit. Starting with the Fists Down Under weekly QRS CW Net on 7028, I moved operations to about 7116 where I found Steve VK7CW just finishing a QSO. Steve put the news of my activation up on the SOTA Yahoo group, and things soon began to hot up. Now firmly set on CW for this activation (high QRN, low signal levels preventing SSB) I managed a total of 9 contacts and successfully achieved my goal of a first 10pt activation in the wilderness. Thanks to all the chasers that made this possible, especially Peter VK3PF who has mentored me in this SOTA thing and was my original inspiration for Tasmanian wilderness walking 40 years ago. Cheers Peter !
An ideal campsite on Ducane Range peak VK7/CH-005
Can you see the radio with miniature key resting on top?
Day 5 - Another hot day forecast and our mission was to retrace our steps across the Labyrinth and drop down to Pine Valley hut where we could weather the storm due on Friday (25 mm plus rain).
This was a tiring but uneventful day made delightful by the unique environment of the Labyrinth. A lovely place. (did I mention I like it there?)
Day 6 - As predicted, the rain started overnight and by morning streams were rising and it was no good day to be out walking. A well earned slow day with lots of sleeping bag time. I wonder how the other two are doing?
Day 7 - Rain cleared and we walked out (3-4 hrs) to Narcissus Hut expecting to meet the other two there. They were not there when we arrived, so we took the chance to go for a walk down to Echo Point hut through the wetland and forest. This is an easy track through a lovely forest and its a shame that 80% of Overland Track walkers skip this section for the ferry ride down Lake St Clair.
Just to round out the story, our intrepid two complete the circuit over Falling Mountain and down safely before the rain came. We joined up again late afternoon day 7 and enjoyed a slap up evening meal with all sorts of goodies brought along to the hut for the occasion.
Day 8 - Epilogue - The rain returned overnight and the temperature dropped drastically. It snowed down to 800 m and the trip back to Launceston was rather exciting with over 70 km of driving through snow in the central Plateau region on nominally closed roads ! Quite a trip.
The Fred Dag guide to tramping blog terminology
(with apologies to the late John Clarke's real estate sketch):
1. Steadily Increasing Rain - 'We thought we didn't need to put overpants on at first and then soon realized we were too wet for it to matter any more. When we tried to pitch the tent to get out of the rain, it fill up with water faster than we could erect it.
2. Delightful Campsite - Any old piece of ground big enough to pitch a tent and allow us to stop walking in the rain.
3. Significant Rain - Enough to make Lake St Clair visibly rise overnight.
4. A late Start - closer to lunchtime than dawn.
5. Steeply upward - Requires hands and feet and may cause vertigo in those who dare to open their eyes.
6. Minimal Cairns - two small rocks on top of each other. Any less is just 'rocks'. You should not be able to see the next cairn.
7. Beautiful Surrounds - A view which will cause vertigo, even with your eyes closed.
8. Undulating route - A route with more false summits than you care to count.
9. A 'Not too obvious' route - No group members can agree on which way to go. A coin may have to be tossed.
10. Low cliffs - As opposed to High Cliffs which are part of Beautiful Surrounds (see above).
11. Prolific CQs - 3x3 calls sent until the battery has dropped by at least 1 volt.
12. Reality - A circumstance devised to destroy the best laid plans etc.
13. Surprisingly Good Meal - One provided by the author, whose culinary skills are legendary, but not in a good way.
14. Well marked track - A path suffering erosion due to excess walkers in a fragile environment. Could do with some Parks Service maintenance. Cairns with more than 5 rocks stacked every 20m or so.
15. Ideal Campsite - One inside the SOTA activation area.
The Author as CW op and happy camper. 73 Derek VK3KX
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