New Lake Tahune Hut and platforms thanks to Dick Smith

[Mountain Rocket]

So it seems the rumors are true and that Lake Vera hut is going to be completely rebuilt.

With the track upgrade largely complete, attention has turned to replacing the 45 year old hut at Lake Tahune, in the shadow of Frenchmans Cap. Mr Smith’s donation of $100,000 this year brings his total contribution to $900,000. This year’s and next year’s donation will help fund the estimated $300,000 project to remove the old hut and construct a new hut on the existing footprint.

The new hut, designed by Green Design Architects, will provide sleeping space for up to 24 walkers, with a ranger’s room, secure storage, a porch for wet gear and a large deck. Tent platforms will be erected near the hut for those who prefer the privacy of a tent for sleeping. The hut will be built this summer. Watch this space for progress reports.

The proposed new hut at Lake Tahune will be built on the footprint of the existing hut. With the latest in insulation and energy efficient features, it will be much more comfortable for walkers.

From https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 7512044296

Thoughts?

[Strider]

It appears the replacement hut is actually planned for Tahune, not Vera. Can definitely see the need here.

[Mountain Rocket]

Whoops, edited now thanks Strider. But yep that old hut was pretty dark, cramped and moist from how I remember it. Certainly room for improvement!
I just wonder if this will be another architecturally designed flop or one that actually addresses the needs of walkers.

[Nuts]

What is it with modern architecture, bits tacked on. Odd, but maybe the point, a latte tache' on a ned kelly beard.

[eggs]

Clearly the hut is a mock up photo, but I am curious why it was posted with vegetation that seems quite different to the Tahune area.

[north-north-west]

Clearly the hut is a mock up photo, but I am curious why it was posted with vegetation that seems quite different to the Tahune area.

'Architect's rendering'. In other words, another clueless git is in charge.
That said, the depicted building doesn't look too horribly ridiculous for Tahune. But it'll never have the ambience of the old one. Probably not the bedbugs, either . . .

[Lophophaps]

I wonder if there's an air lock and/or area for taking off wet gear. At last the roof is lower than Windy Fridge.

[potato]

The photo is taken from the existing hut site. I saw the pegs marking out the new hut footprint two weeks ago.

Since the track improvements though, the numbers have increased substantially - its an accessible walk now.

Both huts were full over Easter and the camping spots full too. I wonder if a hut for 24 walkers is enough.

[Nuts]

We best have a booking system then?

I did like the split roof design, lots of light:

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Meh, I find it hard to see anything positive in the new WHA built environment. Even here where a new hut is sorely needed, I just see another progression, another concession to overuse.

[north-north-west]

Meh, I find it hard to see anything positive in the new WHA built environment. Even here where a new hut is sorely needed, I just see another progression, another concession to overuse.

*sigh*
Yes.
Obviously time to go back to the front lines. And I thought I'd left all that behind me when the Franklin campaign was over . . .

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

The new hut may be constructed in the same location, but I doubt the footprint to be the same. The old one has a somewhat hexagonal slab which probably will have to be added to.
The old hut was hexagonal to improve snow loading strength - and it worked. It has seen 2.5+ metres and survived to tell the tale.
The platforms are a great idea. I'm astonished that the area between the lake and hut is in such good condition, have seen a fair share of tents there in the past - obviously people camping there have used the tread lightly idea.
It's quite a fragile alpine environment - hopefully the works and the workers tread lightly too.

[potato]

The new hut may be constructed in the same location, but I doubt the footprint to be the same.

The new one has a much larger footprint on the original site. I was surprised of its size when I found all of the survey pegs. The hut ranger mentioned that there is limited space at the site, so its all a bit of a compromise with the need for a heli pad and new toilet etc.

Some rumors of a commercial hut in the vicinity as well.

[DanShell]

Terry gets his own room, he will love that.
I wonder if they will install a solar powered coffee maker for him to greet us with??

[Strider]

Terry gets his own room, he will love that.

And anyone that has been unlucky enough to observe him walking around in his jocks will no doubt love it too

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Strangely enough, I don't think Terry will like that. Perhaps to store his gear and tools, yes.

He struck me as a terribly social creature. He greeted every person who came into the hut and struck up any manner of conversation. Sometimes people didn't like him setting rules, but I think he's given his entire life to protecting and maintaining those facilities - so good on him for being passionate.

I think he'd rather bunk in with everyone else on a humble little thermarest, than disappear into his own luxury hidey hole every night.

Hopefully the new hut retains the windows which can be slid open. Hopefully there's some forming of the tracks around the hut (not boards, but with rocks) as the paths become a bit of a torrent in heavy rains.

[bauera]

I'm with Nuts. Not sure we need to make it better. The local (Hobart) paper quotes Parks head Peter Mooney as saying there will be "solar for lighting" and a mini hydro system for heating. Do we really need lighting in a hut and what about maintenance of the hydro system? Who is going to keep those pesky bushwalkers from fiddling with it? Perhaps OTT when plain and simple would do. And I am afraid, NNW, that those bedbugs will keep coming back as long as we have visitors from overseas that bring them here.

[potato]

I'm with Nuts. Not sure we need to make it better. The local (Hobart) paper quotes Parks head Peter Mooney as saying there will be "solar for lighting" and a mini hydro system for heating. Do we really need lighting in a hut and what about maintenance of the hydro system? Who is going to keep those pesky bushwalkers from fiddling with it? Perhaps OTT when plain and simple would do. And I am afraid, NNW, that those bedbugs will keep coming back as long as we have visitors from overseas that bring them here.

They were trialling solar lights at Vera... I think Terry put them away in the store. The lights are very unnecessary and out of touch with hut experience in my view.

[yyhazy]

Terry gets his own room, he will love that.
I wonder if they will install a solar powered coffee maker for him to greet us with??

Sorry for replying to an old thread. Is Terry the ranger stationed there? I went there in early May but hadn't have the pleasure of meeting him. The log book in the hut was quite an interesting read. He seems like a very nice person!

[DanShell]

Sorry for replying to an old thread. Is Terry the ranger stationed there? I went there in early May but hadn't have the pleasure of meeting him. The log book in the hut was quite an interesting read. He seems like a very nice person!

Yes he is. Well he is a retired ranger but helps out at Tahune. And yes he is a very good bloke.

[Nuts]

Tahune camping is out for a while:

Screen Shot 2017-02-20 at 9.11.19 AM.png (271.04 KiB) Viewed 25850 times

[Explorer_Sam]

Any update on when tent-based camping will be available again at Tahune?

[Explorer_Sam]

Any update on when tent-based camping will be available again at Tahune?

I emailed the WestCoast PWS, no update at this stage.

Is there anywhere we can camp closer to Lake Tahune?

[north-north-west]

There are exposed spots where you could pitch not far from the track, between Artichoke Valley and the creek crossing. Depends how reliable your tent is and what the weather's like.
Sharlands bowl has good camping - closer than Vera but still a good bit further than Tahune.

[Explorer_Sam]

Cheers NNW!

[Mark F]

There is also a little cave/bivvy on the traverse between Barron Pass and Artichoke Valley, you would want foam mats, not inflatables.

[Mountain Rocket]

An update:

Visiting Frenchmans Cap

Good news for the Easter weekend! Walkers to Frenchmans Cap are advised that the Lake Tahune hut and several of the tent platforms are now open following recent construction works at the site.

For further information contact the Queenstown Field Centre on 6471 5922

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Need photos!!

[Suz]

So I'm interneting from the summit of Frenchmans - there is no new hut yet, they must just mean that the old one has reopened. So currently it's old hut and old toilet that are fine to use, a few new tent platforms by the look of it and a new helipad.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Hope you got some photos Suz.

I'd have preferred to tent at Tahunr when I was last there, but the tent spaces were few and far between - and not really big enough for an SS2.

[Suz]

Soz did not take pics of tent platforms...vague memory that 1 would be big enough for an SS2 but yes, some too small and not very many of them...so it's the hut for you I'm afraid. Saves you carrying a tent tho