Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Trip reports, stories, track notes. Multiple/large photos are OK in this forum.
Forum rules
Posting large/multiple images in this forum is OK. Please start topic titles with the name of the location or track.

For topics focussed on photos rather than the trip, please consider posting in the 'Gallery' forum instead.

This forum is for posting information about trips you have done, not for requesting information about a track or area.

Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby taswegian » Sat 19 Jan, 2013 8:59 pm

Someone asked me where the Lea River Falls are.

For those unfamiliar, Lake Lea drains northwards from the northern end of the Vale of Belvoir (at Middlesex on way to Cradle Mt), ending a few kms downstream at what was the confluence with the Iris River at Moina. (now flooded under Lake Gairdner)
Here's a selection of old slides from the trip my brother and I did about 40 years ago.
It would rank amongst the most scenic walks. Truly a rewarding walk that requires effort at times.
There are old mines along the way, beautiful forest and at that time a lovely old hut still well preserved.

Simply put it was wild and beautiful. The slides don't do it full justice so if need be make your own journey and see it first hand. You won't be disappointed.

Lea_River.000.jpg
Lake Lea

Lea_River.003.jpg
upper reaches

Lea_River.004.jpg
upper reaches

Lea_River.006.jpg

Lea_River.007_cr.jpg

cont.
User avatar
taswegian
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 888
Joined: Tue 27 Jul, 2010 8:34 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby taswegian » Sat 19 Jan, 2013 9:08 pm

Lea_River.008.jpg
Cliffs along the way

Lea_River.011.jpg
Below Falls River (Lea Falls downstream form here)

Lea_River.012.jpg

Lea_River.013.jpg

Lea_River.014.jpg


cont.
Last edited by taswegian on Sat 19 Jan, 2013 9:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
taswegian
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 888
Joined: Tue 27 Jul, 2010 8:34 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby taswegian » Sat 19 Jan, 2013 9:20 pm

Lea_River.015.jpg
start of challenging section

Lea_River.016.jpg

Lea_River.018.jpg
The main falls. There are other cascades

Lea_River.019.jpg


I imagine there are fish in the river. We tried but failed to make a catch.
The Iris at Moina in the farming land was teaming with fish back then so can't see why the Lea wouldn't have some.

For others to follow and enjoy the tranquility
Richard
User avatar
taswegian
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 888
Joined: Tue 27 Jul, 2010 8:34 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby Davo1 » Sun 20 Jan, 2013 5:00 am

Thanks for sharing Richard.
Looks inviting.
Wish I was 40 years younger :D
Davo1
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 359
Joined: Sun 09 Dec, 2012 7:20 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby greyim » Sun 03 Feb, 2013 7:05 pm

So how did you travel? walk and swim? tubes??
Nothing beats a nice camp fire
greyim
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 235
Joined: Fri 27 Mar, 2009 6:23 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby taswegian » Mon 04 Feb, 2013 12:40 pm

We walked whole way.
Would have waded some sections but nothing deeper than knees from memory.

There's a section(s) that only way would have been a swim.
That's when we scrambled up the cliffs.
Those weren't overly taxing but certainly required effort made worse with packs.

I would imagine you could take some device to navigate the deeper sections but would depend on season and how high Lake Lea is as water flow maybe low.

The last section before Lake Gairdner could be a mess now. But you could opt out at the old road across the Lea and head back over to the Iris River.
User avatar
taswegian
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 888
Joined: Tue 27 Jul, 2010 8:34 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby greyim » Wed 25 Jan, 2017 5:29 am

again I think excellent pics share Taswegian... I presume it was all done in one very long day? Still on my bucket list :-0
Nothing beats a nice camp fire
greyim
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 235
Joined: Fri 27 Mar, 2009 6:23 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby ofuros » Wed 25 Jan, 2017 11:17 am

Fished bits & pieces of the Lea River over the years...havn't walked the whole length but
i have traced my finger along its wriggly course while hunch over a paper map
on a dark rainy night. :wink:

Slides...how far we've come in so little time.
Thanks for sharing those historic beauties, Taswegion.
Mountain views are good for my soul...& getting to them is good for my waistline !
https://ofuros.exposure.co/
User avatar
ofuros
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1919
Joined: Fri 05 Feb, 2010 4:42 pm
Region: Queensland
Gender: Male

Re: Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

Postby taswegian » Wed 25 Jan, 2017 6:58 pm

Thanks.
That was an overnight trip.
We were both fit but not sure how enjoyable it would be as a single day bash.
Back then walking out to the confluence involved extra that today one could miss and make a shortcut over the ridge to the Iris bridge.
Slides. Certainly made one conscious of what and how to photograph. Far from modern SD card storage capacity and select from that.

That trip still has a special place in my heart.
Couple of weeks back I visited The Vale and looking out across Lake Lea it all came back.
User avatar
taswegian
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 888
Joined: Tue 27 Jul, 2010 8:34 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male


Return to TAS Trip Reports & Track Notes

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests