Travellers Range to Du Cane Gap

[Iluvtheoutdawz]

We are planning a walk in early November down through the Walls to Junction Lake and then up onto the Travellers Range. I have read a number of references in various track notes of a 'rough track' that descends from the NW corner of the plateau, across from Falling Mountain, down into Du Cane Gap to join the Overland Track. Is anyone familiar with this route and in a position to provide any advice/directions which could help us locate it?

[Pedro]

Yep, there is definitely a track there, turning off within a few hundred metres south of Du Cane Gap. Look for a slight pad and an out of place stick jutting up as a marker.

Once you are away from the overland Track it is well marked and is a very worthwhile excursion just to climb up for the view. Its steep, but not hard and, I vaguely recall that it only takes about half an hour to get to the top.

Looking from Falling Mountain, the track comes down to the right of the obvious bluffs in the middle of the picture.

Of course, none of this helps if you are coming the other way, but there were some obvious cairns at the top, so if you get to the correct spot, the track should be easy to find.
Have a great trip

[Iluvtheoutdawz]

Pedro,

Many thanks, indeed we will be descending from the plateau, but
the photo's, particularly the last one will prove invaluable. It's another
useful piece of the navigational jigsaw.

Cheers

Luvtheoutdawz

[rucksack]

There is indeed "a 'rough track' that descends from the NW corner of the plateau, across from Falling Mountain, down into Du Cane Gap to join the Overland Track". Keep hard up against the rocky outcrops (on your right) as you near the Traveller Range escarpment. You will pick up a cairned pad-track at the base of those rocky outcrops and that will lead you down to the edge of the escarpment and the start of the steep track that drops straight down into Du Cane Gap. It's quite straightforward. The track from Junction Lake hut up to Lake Artemis starts directly opposite the hut. As you step out of the hut door, turn right and immediately cross the creek and you will pick up a cairn on the opposite bank. The track up to Lake Artmeis is a bit rough and overgrown, but once you leave Lake Artemis, it is enjoyable walking with great views when you come in sight of Falling Mountain. Enjoy it!

[Iluvtheoutdawz]

Thanks Barry,

Appreciate the advice, particularly when it comes all the way from China!
Gives an insight into the nature of the world we live in, when I'm chasing
info from Perth (WA) for a walk in Central Tassie and getting insights from
Shanghai!

I feel fairly confident we'll nail the location now.

[Iluvtheoutdawz]

Well we successfuly found the pad that leads down from the Travellers Range to the Overland, our route finding landed us right on it (not convinced that it wasn't by accident, rather than design!) As warned the Lake Artemis track from Junction Lake Hut to Lake Merope proved hard going, very scubby with a couple of thigh deep crossing of the lake outlets, icy rushing water made this particularly exciting. When we got up onto the Travellers Range we essentially headed in a straight line NW to Du Cane Gap, crossing the range in the area North of Orion Lakes. Found the going very slow, constantly climbing in and out of unforgiving scrub filled gullies. At Lake Saint Clair one of the rangers told us we would have had made better time if we had stayed on the Eastern edge of the range and looped back around to the South West, more distance on the ground but much easier walking. Can anyone confirm this route or give us any tips for next time?

[PeterJ]

. At Lake Saint Clair one of the rangers told us we would have had made better time if we had stayed on the Eastern edge of the range and looped back around to the South West, more distance on the ground but much easier walking. Can anyone confirm this route or give us any tips for next time?

There are several other options for descending. I have come down near Stony Creek 426547, a little to the southwest of Mt Spurling 265505 and also off the far end near to Frankland Beach using the weir 346381(only if water level is low) or the dam over the Derwent 347364.

There is also a really nice way to pick up the track off near Travellers Rest Lagoon, but that requires you to have transport at the forestry road.