TheSeeker wrote:Hi all
We plan to do the western arthur walk in early jan, and do the smaller traverse in 6 days,with one day spare up our sleave.
This should be quite feasible. If you start early - then Scotts Peak to Oberon (or Square Lake) on Day 1, then to Haven Lake on day 2, then down Moraine K on day 3 and along the plains to 2 Mile Ck(nice camping), Day 4 - back to SPD
But it is much better to spend more time in the range if you can - even allowing for bad weather. And an A - K traverse means you miss out on 25% of the range - a shame!
We are all not unfit, with a few years of climbing and walking up our sleave,
if you are "all not unfit" - this implies that some of the party is unfit - and remember that the party only moves as fast as its slowest members. Being climbers will certainly help with the major scrambling sections (from just before L Oberon to Haven L)
Of late we have not done alot of bushwalking, only general fitness and medium grade day walks.
a lot of overnight multi day bushwalks would certainly help your preparation. As well as the climb up Moraine A, there are lots of little climbs in the range - up and down all the time.
What are peoples thoughts, the book seems to give various days on and off the route, with various numbers for completion. From those who have done the walk will this be too much preasure on some. Or are we in the ball park, I think if the weather really hits the fan than we will obviously pull the plug.
My favourite itinerary (for an A - K traverse) would be -
Day 1 - SPD to top of Moraine A (but only camping on top if the weather is good - otherwise continue to L Cygnus)
Day 2 - a short day - to Square Lake or Oberon (or a high camp on the ridge between them) - be sure to climb Mt Sirius (best views in the range and probably best view in Tasmania)
Day 3 - also short - to High Moor - very scenic - best day of the walk
Day 4 - to Haven Lake (a short day) or slightly longer to L Cirona
then if time permits - to Promontory Lake (nice place too) - and then down K, back along plains to 2 Mile ck on day 6, walk out on day 7
Best side trips -
climb Mt Hesperus - not far off the track - great views
climb Mt Hayes - as above, leave the track close to it and clamber up from the south, then climb from the western side up the last bit
climb Mt Sirius - see above
climb eastern summit of Columba at High Moor
Do many people still bail at epsion moraine is it quite full on as the book emplies by the suggestion of going back via alpha moraine?
I think Moraine E is not recommended as a route by the National Parks. I think they would rather confine the walker impact to the hardened route. And it is certainly more scenic to return via L Cygnus and Moraine A. I have only been down E once - on an unsuccessful winter traverse - and we found it quite fast and easy - some nice views at the top, a short section of scrub, then as easy ridge with a faint track back to the shelter at Junction Ck (now removed)
By the way - do people actually use the "newer" names for the moraines? In my experience most walkers still refer to them as A,B....etc. The newer names are crazy in my opinion as there is no 1:1 relationship between the Greek alphabet and ours.
Dave