195806
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195806 [2016/04/08 09:07] – [Who'd Be a Baulker (Part IV)] kennettj | 195806 [2016/04/08 09:16] – [In Tasmania's South West (Part 3)] kennettj | ||
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Such was the scene witnessed by a circling eagle the morning that Joan, Arthur, Henry and I set out from Lake Pedder to trek to Mt. Anne. Fortunately, | Such was the scene witnessed by a circling eagle the morning that Joan, Arthur, Henry and I set out from Lake Pedder to trek to Mt. Anne. Fortunately, | ||
- | A clump <If small trees, practically the only shelter on the plain, afforded us a shady lunch spot where we could let our restless spirits wander over the sharp peaks and dips of the Arthur Range. For the moment it was enough to admire from afar, but inwardly I knew the Arthurs would bring me back to Tassie some other day. Replenished, | ||
- | (or was it rum cocoa) and discussed plans for Anne, dark, clouds' | ||
- | had been transformed into a distinctly ominous one. But that's so typical of the South-West; changes in the weather for better | ||
- | or worse can occur with such frightening speed. ' However, the weather did not seem to matter then, not when bodies as tired as ours were being called to that haven of tents and sleeping bags we had come to appreciate so much | ||
- | But in the morning it was a different story - the low and threatening cloud ceiling took the edge off our enthusiasm. The mountains which had surrounded us in alltheir glory the previous day had suddenly ceased to exist. Eliza' | ||
- | appeared into a forbidding sea of grey less than half-way up its length - the conditions were ngt exactly promising for an exposed | ||
- | high camp but our hopes woulf be dashed, Our plan was to carry two days food up to a spot just underneath the top of | ||
- | Mt. Eliza, a recognised campsite from which the Mt. Anne plateau | ||
- | can be comfortably explored. So, stringing up the excess food and gear from a tree, we set off Up the ridge and reached our objective after a steady two hour climb. Several members of the Launcestqn Walking Club were already encamped, straining at the leash for an attempt on Anne at the first break in the weather. As the first bout of icy rain stung our faces we carved two tent sites out of the small dead timber which covers the ridge at this point. might mention the necessity of placing a stout log across the bottom end of the tent to prevent sleeping bodies from sliding out of cover down the 30g slope. A biting, southerly provided a hint of what conditions could be like in prolonged bad weather. Later in the afternoon the swirling all-around-east gave some sign of breaking and a two-club party hurried to the tops, but it was all so much wishful thinking; once or twice the murk thinned out to give us tantalising glimpses of great boulder-Rtrewn glopes and | ||
- | plunging ridges; there was nothing for it but to return to camp with fingers crossed for the day to come. | + | A clump of small trees, practically the only shelter on the plain, afforded us a shady lunch spot where we could let our restless spirits wander over the sharp peaks and dips of the Arthur Range. For the moment it was enough to admire from afar, but inwardly I knew the Arthurs would bring me back to Tassie some other day. Replenished, |
- | After tossing | + | |
- | I can ever remember, I awoke to Arthur' | + | Our goal was now well in sight but what's this? Surprise of surprises! Without warning we had suddenly stumbled on the most delightful little creek running fair slap-bang through the middle of those soggy plains. The sparkling clear water ran swiftly over a bed of clean smooth stones, so reminiscent of our own Blue Mountains. After consulting the map I realised that it was the lower reaches of Condeminion Ck., whose source lies high up on the slopes of Mt. Anne - no wonder it was the best water in Tasmania! We made a pleasant camp amidst a clump of trees higher up the creek, just where it runs past the foot of the climbing ridge. It was mighty good to relax through the long summer twilight and put a mug of soup, a giant plate of " |
- | As it was barely five o' | + | |
- | the tent's flap but it was worth it. From a pale but clear sky | + | As we lingered over coffee (or was it rum cocoa) and discussed plans for Anne, dark clouds came sweeping up from the south - in ten minutes a cloudless sky had been transformed into a distinctly ominous one. But that's so typical of the South-West; changes in the weather for better or worse can occur with such frightening speed. However, the weather did not seem to matter then, not when bodies as tired as ours were being called to that haven of tents and sleeping bags we had come to appreciate so much. |
- | above the freshly-risen sun slanted down to wake up the landscape spread beneath our camp like a huge relief map. We looked down here and there onto the tops of fleecy clouds, clouds that were to gradually dissolve as a promise of warmth grappled with the chill morning air, and there up above was the peak of Anne, | + | |
- | waiting so calmly for us. There also close at hand were the | + | But in the morning it was a different story - the low and threatening cloud ceiling took the edge off our enthusiasm. The mountains which had surrounded us in all their glory the previous day had suddenly ceased to exist. Eliza' |
- | Tassie crew, already well advanced with breakfast. The challenge | + | |
- | or the shame, I'm not sure which, was overpowering - I shed my sleeping bag and jumped out of the tent with a whoopl | + | After tossing |
- | Equipped with one only day pack a very excited party started off for what promised to be a day of days. As we climbed higher, wide panoramic views to the south and west began to open | + | above the freshly-risen sun slanted down to wake up the landscape spread beneath our camp like a huge relief map. We looked down here and there onto the tops of fleecy clouds, clouds that were to gradually dissolve as a promise of warmth grappled with the chill morning air, and there up above was the peak of Anne, waiting so calmly for us. There also close at hand were the Tassie crew, already well advanced with breakfast. The challenge or the shame, I'm not sure which, was overpowering - I shed my sleeping bag and jumped out of the tent with a whoop (This article has not yet been corrected by my companions who may hold their own opinions). |
- | up and even Frenchman' | + | |
- | of the plateau, four pairs of eyes were suddenly held spellbound by the magnificent sight of Federation Peak playing hide and seek | + | Equipped with one only day pack a very excited party started off for what promised to be a day of days. As we climbed higher, wide panoramic views to the south and west began to open up and even Frenchman' |
- | with a line of low horizon clouds. It was then that I became convinced that one day I would have to plan a trip to Federation - | + | of the plateau, four pairs of eyes were suddenly held spellbound by the magnificent sight of Federation Peak playing hide and seek with a line of low horizon clouds. It was then that I became convinced that one day I would have to plan a trip to Federation - once seen it could never be forgotten. Indeed, in the excitement of recording this thrilling scene four times over with the tele lenses, we almost forgot that Mt. Anne, so close at hand, was still to be climbed. Fortunately, |
- | once seen it could never be forgotten. Indeed, in the excitement | + | high regions of Tasmania, improved with age and by nine o' |
- | of recording this thrilling scene four times over with the tele lenses, we almost forgot that Mt. Anne, so close at hand, was still | + | |
- | to be climbed. Fortunately, | + | Eventually we were together again, climbing up among the crumbling dolerite columns of which Mt.Anne is made; and what a terrific thrill to stand upon that summit on such a day. Just about everything that was worth seeing in southern Tasmania could be seen and appreciated; |
- | high regions of Tasmania, improved with age and by nin o' | + | |
- | along the tops towards our objective, there was so much to see on every side and so many tempting visions for our caneras | + | |
- | I'd rather not say how long it took to cover those two miles. I | + | |
- | remember looking back at one stage and seeing a tiny figure on the skyline darting from one edge of the plateau to the other. | + | |
- | Poor Henry, his photographic impulses just would not let him come on. Eventually we were together again, climbing up among the | + | |
- | crumbling dolerite columns of which Mt. 1.nne is made; and what a | + | |
- | terrific thrill to stand upon that summit on such a dayl Just about everything that was worth seeing in southern Tasmania could be seen and appreciated; | + | |
- | blue sky. Just to complete the picture, we were again visited by | + | |
- | our old friend Lloyd Jones of the P_ero Club. He flew the Cessna | + | |
- | over from Lake Pedder and buzzed us a friendly twice, skimming | + | |
- | over our heads so low that we could easily enjoy the astonished expressions on the faces of his tourist passengers. That !plane | + | |
- | covered the distance from Pedder to Anne in five minutes flat, a journey that would take we bushmalkers | + | |
- | achievement behind us. | + | |
Lunchtime saw avery entranced party satisfying their scenic | Lunchtime saw avery entranced party satisfying their scenic | ||
appetites with what surely must be one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. From the rocky eastern edge of the plateau our gaze shot down plummeting precipices into the | appetites with what surely must be one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. From the rocky eastern edge of the plateau our gaze shot down plummeting precipices into the | ||
- | lovely blue depths of Juddfs | + | lovely blue depths of Judd' |
- | the lake the incredibly steep slopes of Mt. Sarah Jane, completely covered by the densest and greenest mantle of vegetation (something for the tigers) I have ever seen, rose up nearly to our own level. Far beyond the southern tip of the Charm and some intriguing hanging lakes cradled in their own circle of mountains, the sheer slab nf Federation Peak dominated the razor-sharp horizon of the Lrthur | + | the lake the incredibly steep slopes of Mt. Sarah Jane, completely covered by the densest and greenest mantle of vegetation (something for the tigers) I have ever seen, rose up nearly to our own level. Far beyond the southern tip of the Charm and some intriguing hanging lakes cradled in their own circle of mountains, the sheer slab nf Federation Peak dominated the razor-sharp horizon of the Arthur |
The rest of the day was spent in leisurely exploring the many interesting features of this remarkable mountain mass. Wild flowers there were a-plenty and of course Henry and Arthur were in their element while Joan and I contented ourselves with trying | The rest of the day was spent in leisurely exploring the many interesting features of this remarkable mountain mass. Wild flowers there were a-plenty and of course Henry and Arthur were in their element while Joan and I contented ourselves with trying | ||
to photograph the landscape at large. Finally, after almost twelve | to photograph the landscape at large. Finally, after almost twelve | ||
hours of exposure in that brilliant sunshine, it was no hardship to return to our high camp and think about the inner man, for we had had our fill in overflowing measure. At twenty minutes to nine we sipped coffee and watched with wonderment as the sun, distorted into the shape of a fiery ten gallon hat, sank into the | hours of exposure in that brilliant sunshine, it was no hardship to return to our high camp and think about the inner man, for we had had our fill in overflowing measure. At twenty minutes to nine we sipped coffee and watched with wonderment as the sun, distorted into the shape of a fiery ten gallon hat, sank into the | ||
- | ocean fifty miles to the south-west. It had been OUR day from beginning to end, and as the fullmoon | + | ocean fifty miles to the south-west. It had been OUR day from beginning to end, and as the full moon peeked over Mt. Anne, we |
- | slid into our sleeping bags to sleep the sleep which only the great outclors | + | slid into our sleeping bags to sleep the sleep which only the great outdoors |
The next morning it was time to be off the mountain. Only three days remained of our trip, the three days it would take us | The next morning it was time to be off the mountain. Only three days remained of our trip, the three days it would take us | ||
to walk out to Maydena. Only the continuing spell of fine weather tempered our regret at leaving Mt. Anne behind. And so, quietly, each engrossed in his own thoughts, we descended the ridge and looked back, and looked back again. At Condeminion Ck. the gear was recovered and the loads reorganised - ah, that loathsome lump | to walk out to Maydena. Only the continuing spell of fine weather tempered our regret at leaving Mt. Anne behind. And so, quietly, each engrossed in his own thoughts, we descended the ridge and looked back, and looked back again. At Condeminion Ck. the gear was recovered and the loads reorganised - ah, that loathsome lump | ||
- | was getting lighter at last and it was not hard to take. Lunch and a well-earned bath at Huon Crossing | + | was getting lighter at last and it was not hard to take. Lunch and a well-earned bath at Huon Crossing |
out ait Mt. Anne again for the last tiz,3 its peak ablaze in the low rays of the evening sun. Spread over a respectable period of about | out ait Mt. Anne again for the last tiz,3 its peak ablaze in the low rays of the evening sun. Spread over a respectable period of about | ||
three hours, it was a pleasure to engage in a marathon eating effort of six " | three hours, it was a pleasure to engage in a marathon eating effort of six " | ||
Line 208: | Line 187: | ||
It was here that the famous Tasmanian h:, | It was here that the famous Tasmanian h:, | ||
unexpectedly and so unstintingly to glorious hot baths and home- cooked food. Civilisation would indeed have been hard to take without such compensations. | unexpectedly and so unstintingly to glorious hot baths and home- cooked food. Civilisation would indeed have been hard to take without such compensations. | ||
- | i nd so our trip had ended, as end they all must; that is except for the hundreds of colour | + | i nd so our trip had ended, as end they all must; that is except for the hundreds of colour |
was concerned, it had only just begun. THE END | was concerned, it had only just begun. THE END | ||
- | L.NYONE WP.,NT A BAG? | + | |
- | The sleeping variety. Standard length Paddymade sleeping | + | |
- | bag in good order - 4. See Eric Pegram or ring XB04401. | + | |
195806.txt · Last modified: 2016/04/25 15:22 by kennettj