Narcissus from Pine Valley via Mt Gould

[jdh573]

I know this has been done to death in the forum BUT I am going to be more specific in my question. Has anyone done the walk listed in the John Chapman book, that goes from the Parthenon over the Minotaur past Mt Gould (on the east ridge) across the Gould Plateau to Narcissus? In the book it is indicated as being about 10.5km (which matches my calcs off the map) and takes 8 hrs. The information I would also like is an indication of a track (wishfull thinking I know) and if anyone has done waypoints or track points for the walk? And what would track conditions be like? (Summer walk).

Cheers John

[ILUVSWTAS]

Your wish may be granted, I believe there is a rough track that goes from the Pine Valley turn off, over the Minatour and towards Gould.

[Graham51]

I have walked from Labyrinth to Narcissus once and the other way about 4 ntimes. It's not hard to find your way with rough pads most of the way. It's scrubby around the base of Gould but not unbearably so. It's a walk worth taking an extra day over so you can go out to The Guardians. If you want more detailed track info PM me.

[MJD]

I have also done the walk in the opposite direction. There is a track up to the summit of Gould that cuts off from the Lake Marion track. Going the opposite way to you one would leave this and traverse around under the cliffs of Gould. A little scrubby but nothing hard. You can ascend Gould from the obvious gully near the northern end. Of course your other option is to cart your pack up to the summit of Gould and follow the cairned route along the ridge and down to the plateau. How easy you find getting up to the Minotaur just depends on how many of the pads you pick up. You can also head out to the Guardians and the little lake/tarn as well from the Minotaur.

[ollster]

You can ascend Gould from the obvious gully near the northern end.

I concur. It is a bit steep, and I don't recommend doing it when it's full of slushy snow, but otherwise it's ok. Pic below is looking down from the top of the gulley. Gould summit is just above us.

And, yes, there is a pad up to the Minotaur, you can find the cairns just after you reach the area where the track up from PV tops out. After that, you're on yer own though. We didn't find much water along the Guardians (we didn't get all the way to the end, just camped in a dip about 1/3 way along them) so had to boil snow.

[MJD]

It is summer, allegedly, so there shouldn't be any snow. Could be fun if it's wet although it does face the sun so the rocks are fairly clean. And it's not that steep.... Nice camping at the far end of the Guardians with great views.

[ollster]

And it's not that steep....

Well it's a bit steep. And there's a bit you need to pack haul, sorta.