Bushwalk Australia

Wow, I never realised Frank Hurley (famous for his WWI, WWII and Antarctic/Shackleton/Endurance photos) walked in to Frenchmans Cap. I just stumbled on this by accident, while considering a Frenchmans Cap walk myself sometime soon. I found this page: National Library of Australia Article

To see his entire Frenchmans Cap photo collection, Click Here, then enter 'hurley frenchmans' in the search box (including a stereograph ).

He also has other photos of Tasmania, including the Cradle Mountain area.

(and then you'll probably want to check out his antarctic photos and others too!).

I did Frenchmans myself one time, when I was younger.
I wouldn't hesitate doing it again but only because I know I've got the right gear, I wouldn't go if the forecast was iff'y and I've been there 3 times before.
When I went by myself was between Christmas and New Year early 90's. When I was at Tahune hut I was by myself, the next day I found out there were 29 people in Vera hut. At least I was first up the mountain.
Also I remember looking out the window of the hut and seeing over the helipad and being able to see the whole valley with the view, but when I was there in Feb '05 there was no view at all, incredible all the vegitation that had grown.

I would recommend doing a 3 night walk, 1st day to Vera, then half day to Tahune and half day to climb the mtn if weather permits, next day half day to climb the mtn if weather permits then back to Vera, then out on 4th day - this plan gives you 2 chances to climb if the weather is right. Or you could just as well make it 5 days and have a whole day to kick about at Tahune, climbing the mtn, and enjoying what truly is a wonderful place, also giving you a very leisurely whole day to get to Tahune, indeed it took us a whole day in Feb 05 as we had our cameras out, and we were weighed up with plenty of supplies - did the 7 day circuit. Photos in another post in the gallery.

If you go to this photo
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23564689
Then you sit about 2 feet from your monitor, hold up your hands so you can see the left image with your right eye, the right image with your left eye, then force yourself to go cross-eyed, you get a 3D image of it, which looks real swell, the detail, the branches coming out toward you.
This works whenever you have two identical images side by side, or even if the images are similar enough and framed the same.
I don't know how good it is for the eyes, though.

It's amazing how many images Frank Hurley has at the gallery! I found some nice ones of Barn Bluff and Artists Pool, too.

(Posts discussing actually walking up Frenchmans have been split off to a new topic HERE.)

tasadam wrote:If you go to this photo
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23564689

:

This works whenever you have two identical images side by side, or even if the images are similar enough and framed the same.

Best if the images are taken about "eyes' separation" apart.

I don't know how good it is for the eyes, though.

Not too bad, so long as you keep your eyes relaxed.

Just looking at that pic. You reckon the King Billy Pines are still alive there?

Thanks "son of a beach" for pointing out that Frank Hurley took photos of Frenchman's and other Tasmanian scenes. I have just had a good look through Franks Tassie photos in the on line gallery and was interested in comparing this one

with one I took April 25th this year from the same spot. Interesting to spot the differences that 60 years makes on the landscape!
Edit note-links replaced with actual images, now I know how to do it

An absolutely brilliant comparison.
See how little the bushes at the waters edge to the left have grown in that time?
Can't see any other changes...
Might have to save and do an overlay to have a good comparison.

Thanks for that!

Seems Frank Hurley was quite big as photographers go in those days.
Well worth a look.

http://www.news.com.au/gallery/large/0,25692,5030456-5016621,00.html (dead link)

More on Frank Hurley...
A book has been released -
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/08/27/2995993.htm
And his diaries have been digitised, this is excellent!
http://www.nla.gov.au/cdview/nla.ms-ms883-1

Other papers -
http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.ms-ms883