Biggbird's Summer Adventures

[biggbird]

Hey all,

Summer holidays time for me, my last set before starting full time work next year. Sigh. So I thought I might as well try and get a bit of walking in whilst I've got the time off! Various plans for the summer, including a few bigger walks later in the year once my significant other gets holidays too, so hopefully there will be some more photos to fill this thread after that!

In the meantime, a few shots from some walks over the last couple of weeks (bonus points for picking where I was ):













Will update this thread from time to time, more or less as a testament to my vanity, but hopefully also to make at least one of you out there jealous enough to get out and do some walking

[stepbystep]

Nice look forward to the updates. Did your DuCane trip go as planned?

[biggbird]

Unfortunately not! First trip, and an all round failure really :p Ended up turning back within about 100m of the top of The slope up Falling as I wasn't having fun with the heights in slippery snow, and especially not by myself. A bit disappointing really, especially as I know there would have been harder sections later in the walk, but I guess I underestimated how much being solo would affect me! Learnt some useful things though, and will definitely be back Will just probably bring a walking buddy this time :p

Did still end up out for 4 days in the end though, went and camped near the OLT/Pine Valley Track junction and headed up to The Labyrinth for an afternoon of book reading by Lake Elysia the next day, before walking back out to Cynthia Bay n the 4th day. Lack of fitness was also definitely an issue, a bit ambitious a trip to plan after essentially a 2 month layoff I guess. More valuable lessons!

Next trip was intended to be 3 nights in the Denisons this Sat-Tues, but given how much rain we've had, that one's also gone in the "later" basket for now. Might head p to WoJ - Rogoona - Cathedral, or perhaps the Anne circuit... But bringing the significant other this time, so hopefully more successful

[stepbystep]

Ah never mind. If unsure it's always good to backtrack. We picked a bit of a dodgy route onto Falling but there were 3 of us to be silly together. I'm sure you'll knock it over soon, as I'm sure I'll go back soon!!

[Minty]

Based on some quick trig calculations and shadow length analysis, I'm guessing #3 is the summit of Wylds Craig?

[biggbird]

Based on some quick trig calculations and shadow length analysis, I'm guessing #3 is the summit of Wylds Craig?

Give this man a chocolate, that's some mighty fine mathematics.

[doogs]

Nice shots BB. Fingers crossed for better weather over the summer now that University has finished for the year/good for you! I'm looking forward to seeing your next set of photos

[tibboh]

Nic pics
The good weather is just around the corner now hopefully. I'm headind up to do the DuCane circuit in mid summer.....can't wait. I hear you with the lack of condition thing....nothing a good week in the bush wont fix Keep the photos coming pls.

[biggbird]

Thanks for the comments guys







Forum member Weetbix told me that this was an impressive cairn... And he certainly was not wrong! Easily taller than me, and I'm about 195cm!



And here is Weetbix, surveying his favourite mountain in the whole world:

[tibboh]

Is that the Platform Peak summit cairn? I read somewhere it was massive.

[Nick S]

Love the tyndall photo Alex
It's been a while inbetween overnighters for myself. Keen to just get out there now. Thanks for the motivation

[biggbird]

It sure is Tibboh, and it was huge! I'm reasonably tall at around 195cm, and it was easily 50% again my height. Biggest I've ever seen. My understanding is that it is a Sprent cairn, which was used in his trigonometric survey back in the 1800s? Somebody is welcome to correct me if I'm wrong. According to an article I read, there are only 12 or so of the Sprent cairns still intact, which is a little sad.

Cheers for the comment Nick! I'm free mostly all summer, and Nitya's on leave starting early December, so if you need walking buddies, you know where to come

[stepbystep]

Pretty sure it's a Wentworth cairn not a Sprent. Sprents were more square in shape, like the one on Mt Sprent

Could be wrong I often remember things backwards.

You can see this cairn from the Lyell Hwy!!

[biggbird]

Well, whoever made it, it's mighty large

[MickyB]

Some awesome photos biggbird. Thanks for sharing. Where is the first photo taken from?

[biggbird]

Cheers MickyB! The first shot of them all is looking up to Olympus from the OLT around 10 minutes before reaching Narcissus Hut (coming from the north). The first shot of the last bunch was a little fella we found at the northern end of Lake Adelaide. He was happily munching away on some ants on the ground next to the track, and was kind enough to pose for some photos!

[weetbix456]

nice photos pal!! i'm gunna have to raid your collection one day, all these superdoop shots that make a mockery of my point'n'shooters!! plus I need to document my grug days for the grandchildren

[Onestepmore]

Awesome photos. You Tasmanians are spoiled for choice of walking routes.
Can't wait to see some of this myself in Feb

[biggbird]

Haha glad to be keeping an archive for you Mr Bix

Cheers OSM, we really are lucky down here! Some of us realise it sooner than others, but at least I wasn't too far into my dotage before I picked up on it, still a bit of time to get out there and see and do

Some more:

[kanangra]

What is the log hut in the 3rd from the end? I like the look of that.

K.

[biggbird]

Hi Kanangra, the second hut in the previous batch is the Lake Meston hut. Beautiful little hut, well worth a visit!

[kanangra]

You know it is amazing what a difference a change of angle and mood makes. I was there only a few months ago in totally different conditions and didn't recognise it! Great shot.

K.

[biggbird]

Haha yes, I guess it probably does look a little different from this side than the diagonally opposite one, you can't see the wood shelter, door etc! They were all lovely huts up around that way though, and even better to be able to go and read about them in the Tasmanian High Country Huts book, which I highly recommend!

Interesting anecdote from our time staying at Lake Meston (We camped at the northern end, as seen in that same set of photos), we met a group of older gentlemen who were on a fishing trip. They mentioned that on their way down they had visited the Lake Ball hut, built by "Boy Miles and friends"... Turns out one of these blokes (and his brother) were among the "friends" who helped to build it back in the 60s! Thought it was a pretty cool chance meeting of somebody who actually had a bit to do with the history of the place

But enough talk, more photos

[biggbird]

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Great photos - thanks for sharing!

[biggbird]

A few more from a recent trip up to Pine Valley:





















Thanks for looking!

[taswegian]

Really beautiful images, thanks Bigbird.
You highlight the beauty and diversity of our beautiful island.

OSM I hope you have a rewarding experience here.

That motorised buggy looks interesting. Might be a way to entice the wife back into the bush.
Do Service Tasmania hire them out?

[tigercat]

Lovely photos Bigbird

[biggbird]

Cheers guys Hopefully off for an extended walk tomorrow, so fingers crossed I will come back with a few more photos!

[Nick S]

Really good photos mate, have a good trip wherever you are going.

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