For something a little different to the usual New Year's Day hangovers and headaches, a bunch of us from our little running group decided to tackle the Frenchmans Cap summit - 46km-odd in a single day. By no means the first people to do such a thing, but still ambitious and slightly crazy enough for a compelling challenge.
To avoid a long drive from Launceston in the wee-hours we camped at the Franklin River Picnic Area (a few kms down the road from the Frenchmans carpark/trailhead, which was chock-a-block full of cars) the night before, where a few NYE bevvies were quietly enjoyed before we all got an early night's sleep.
The early morning weather was predictably misty and slightly muggy, as it'd been the day prior, but definitely better than the cold wind and rain forecast in the days before. Conditions were damp but perfectly comfortable for a long run, I just held out hope that the day would clear as we approached the summit. Alas that wasn't to be.
Most of us started running at roughly 6:15am, with the faster 3 starting about an hour later and one lone soul giving herself an hour's headstart. Only about half the group - myself included - had any ambitions to make the summit, if the weather would allow, with the others opting for shorter return trips to Lake Vera or Barron Pass.
With the registration book filled, the Franklin crossed and shoes thoroughly disinfected, we got moving along the now much-improved track into Lake Vera. Progress was good and steady, the track being in generally excellent condition with minor sections of mud that presented no issue. Being my first trip to Frenchmans I know only of the 'Soddon Loddons' through reputation and photos, but based on the sections of mud still present, especially where track work is still underway, it'd be a fair guess to believe the original track would have been a muddy nightmare, given the relentlessly wet winter and spring! So thank you Mr Smith
We made the 16km into Lake Vera Hut within about two-and-a-half hours, mostly running with some spirited power-hiking up the steeper hills and gnarly sections, and stopping only briefly to replenish water and keep the group together. Plenty of hikers already making their ways back out to the carpark, mostly amused by the sight of these weirdos charging around in shorts, tech shirts and minimal trail vests while they lumbered in full wet weathers and heavy packs. That said, the first lady we came across seemed very concerned and "couldn't comprehend" what we were hoping to achieve....
After a snack break and explore of the Vera hut and tent platforms - all very impressive - we set off up the relentless climb to Barron Pass. After a solid hour in the muggy rainforest the cool(er) breeze of the ridgeline was welcome, but unfortunately the heavy mist hadn't budged, and we were left to imagine the spectacular view and substantial drop in front of us. Another hour passed as we made our way around Sharlands and Artichoke to Lake Tahune, still shrouded in mist with an almost unreal, film-set/middle-earth quality about it.
By Lake Tahune Hut the faster group had caught up and so the question of whether to attempt the summit or not was upon us. We'd all agreed prior that, ideally, we wanted to have the summit done and dusted by 12pm... it was now 11:30am and realistically the best part of an hour each way up and down... not ideal, but with no real wind and the temperature still very comfortable despite being saturated and the summit (seemingly) so darn close, we decided to hell with it and went for it.
Another quite brutal climb including a few rather tricky scrambles over boulders and little to run proper on, but within an hour, there we were, in the clouds. Very surreal. Rather disappointing not to be able to see any view at all, especially for one in our group for which this was his third Frenchmans and all three had been clouded over. We didn't dwell on it too long though, with the clock ticking, so a few photos were snapped for posterity and we began doing the entire 23km again, this time in reverse.
Making our ways back to Tahune and then Vera it was only then I become aware just how steep some sections of the track are. Of course, it's generally easier to go up than it is to go down, but with a thoroughly damp track, the mist turning to drizzle and fatigue in my legs really starting to set in the going soon became really tough. I could feel my quads on the brink of cramping several times... due most likely to a combination of the tricky terrain and not keeping my water-to-electrolyte levels. Suffice to say I was extremely happy to finally reach Vera again, knowing that the remaining 16kms would be kinder to my legs.
Another slightly longer break to take in some food and recover a bit, and we set off for the carpark... I managed to find something of a second wind and we managed to make a good pace for several kms... parts of Laughtons Lead really do flow beautifully for trail running. Eventually I began to run out of steam again, the fatigue in my legs reducing me to walking pace for all but the flat and gentle downhill sections in the last 3-4 kms. Mercifully the Franklin River suspension bridge eventually showed itself again and after near-exactly 12 hrs elapsed (about 10.5hrs total run/hike time) I was back in the carpark, thoroughly stuffed but chuffed to have made my first day of 2017 so epic and memorable!