Frankland Range Solo Traverse

[pazzar]

Hey everyone,

Below is a link to my trip report of my recent Frankland Range solo traverse. I would have posted it all here, but too many photos!

http://pazzarthepeakbagger.blogspot.com ... le-to.html

Here are some to tease you anyway!!

Mt Sprent Trig

Coronation Peak

The Moat and Citadel Shelf from The Lion

Citadel Shelf camp

Mt Anne sunset

Enjoy!

Pazzar

[whynotwalk]

Where's that "like" button?? Great report Jared. I can identify with your tent wrestling, 'though the Franklands sound a lot worse than our Cathedral Mt conditions on that day (& they were bad enough!)

cheers

Peter

[GerryDuke]

'like' +1

[icefest]

Wow. That wind...

Interesting that you though that the Citadel was easier than the descent off Mt Frankland. I was so worried about it that I didn't even try (I got the rest of the range done though).

I might have to do it next summer....

[weighty walker]

Great report thanks. Some fantastic photos. Glad you are safe and well and survived the wind, 154 km/h + thats incredible, I have been in strong winds and found it a bit scary but nothing like you experienced.I also like your tips at the end. Thanks, its always good to get advice from more experienced walkers to make your own trip safer and more enjoyable. I cant wait to get back to Tassie

[tibboh]

Great report pazzar and thanks for the photos.
I have been eyeing this one for a while now, and even though i'm a bit of a recluse, doing this walk with a companion or group is probably some sound advive.

[icefest]

Tibboh, I've done it solo.
I think with modern, decent 9 day weather forecasts it's doable. You need to pick a stable week (keep an eye on the large southern troughs).

With a blue tick mobile and an interim forecast at the cupola you can hunker down near the companion range/Jones pass if it gets bad (unlikely to be that bad as you picked a week without large fronts).

Just take lots of rope...

[pazzar]

Tibboh, I've done it solo.
I think with modern, decent 9 day weather forecasts it's doable. You need to pick a stable week (keep an eye on the large southern troughs).

With a blue tick mobile and an interim forecast at the cupola you can hunker down near the companion range/Jones pass if it gets bad (unlikely to be that bad as you picked a week without large fronts).

Just take lots of rope...

Certainly can be, and has been done. It's a long time to be alone though. The only reason I suggested walking in a group is in case something like I experienced happened. Luckily I was at the end of the range and could bail out. That could have been horrible if it were on day 3. Also I have spent 9 days in the Spires and Southern Ranges, as well as the Western Arthurs solo - I am jut getting a bit tired of my own company - time to find some walking buddies.

[DaveNoble]

Just finished reading your trip report - good effort. When I have been along the range - I have never seen any ducks (cairns) - and I thought this was one range where they were discouraged?

Dave

[icefest]

Just finished reading your trip report - good effort. When I have been along the range - I have never seen any ducks (cairns) - and I thought this was one range where they were discouraged?

Dave

I saw many carins (in Jan), but pretty much only marking the start of a pad through the scrub or a detour over rocks to avoid more delicate landscape.

I was quite happy to see none on the open areas (and not even out of Hatchet valley).

[tigercat]

Great account of what looks like an amazing journey.

[Nick S]

Great report Jared. Must've been wild. So are you getting another goondie?

[pazzar]

Great report Jared. Must've been wild. So are you getting another goondie?

Not sure just yet. I've got a little while to think about what to get.

[stepbystep]

Thanks for the write up Jared. Good stuff!

[north-north-west]

Awwww, I still want to go in solo. Besides, who would ever be mad enough to do a trip like this with me?

[icefest]

Awwww, I still want to go in solo. Besides, who would ever be mad enough to do a trip like this with me?

Seeing how you ran up Sprent, I doubt I'd be able to keep up with you.

[north-north-west]

Awwww, I still want to go in solo. Besides, who would ever be mad enough to do a trip like this with me?

Seeing how you ran up Sprent, I doubt I'd be able to keep up with you.

Daypack. Put a full load including nine or ten days food on my back and watch me stagger.

[pazzar]

Awwww, I still want to go in solo. Besides, who would ever be mad enough to do a trip like this with me?

Nothing wrong with going solo - it's just one of the few places I've been where if the excrement hits the ceiling it is not a nice place to be - no bail outs up there.

[icefest]

Daypack. Put a full load including nine or ten days food on my back and watch me stagger.

Oh yes, it's the food that gets me too
Incidentally I had about 4.5 days food left when I got to Scotts Peak (and I even had a rest day).
Serious over-catering.

Nothing wrong with going solo - it's just one of the few places I've been where if the excrement hits the ceiling it is not a nice place to be - no bail outs up there.

How sheltered do you think the valley between Companion Range and the Franklands would be if TSHtF?
It's not as tucked in as Citadel Shelf, but if you can get to Croaking lake, it's almost 100m lower.

[pazzar]

Nothing wrong with going solo - it's just one of the few places I've been where if the excrement hits the ceiling it is not a nice place to be - no bail outs up there.

How sheltered do you think the valley between Companion Range and the Franklands would be if TSHtF?
It's not as tucked in as Citadel Shelf, but if you can get to Croaking lake, it's almost 100m lower.

No more sheltered than Citadel, and would be pretty unpleasant, but not impossible. Nowhere to camp right at Croaking Lake though. They are in the same spot on the range though - I think there is a better chance of bunkering down at Citadel Shelf. At least there is a little bit of westerly protection there.

[north-north-west]

Yeah, one really needs to get an extended patch of good weather to do it - which I think icefest had (lucky *&%$#!). Which reminds me - rope necessary or not? Is there any pack-hauling to be done? I had thought not as it was never mentioned in other reports, but . . .

[pazzar]

Yeah, one really needs to get an extended patch of good weather to do it - which I think icefest had (lucky *&%$#!). Which reminds me - rope necessary or not? Is there any pack-hauling to be done? I had thought not as it was never mentioned in other reports, but . . .

No packhauling, unless you intend to spend a night beyond Secheron - I wouldn't recommend it. Take some spare cord in case your fly gets ripped out though!

[north-north-west]

I'll probably take the Nallo. Heavy for a trip like that but it's as bomb-proof a tent as I have.
And then hope things don't go pear-shaped . . .

[icefest]

Yeah, one really needs to get an extended patch of good weather to do it - which I think icefest had (lucky *&%$#!).

It wasn't that good, there was at least half a day with clouds....
Yeah, good weather makes it easier, even if water gets harder and harder to find.

I used several long ranged weather forecasts and kept an eye on the hemispheric long wave patterns ( http://www.weatherzone.com.au/long-rang ... -sth-coast )
That's why I only really decided to do it 2 days in advance.

Which reminds me - rope necessary or not? Is there any pack-hauling to be done? I had thought not as it was never mentioned in other reports, but . . .

Rope was not needed before Mt Frankland. You will need rope after the cave on Mt Frankland (if not your pack will keep bouncing )
I should've taken more rope for Secheron, Chapmans route off it is worse than the descent off Capricorn - don't try if you are not good with heights.
I found that Secheron was hard to do solo, I had to climb up and down the most exposed bit about 7 times, so that I could be sure of where my pack would land when pack-hauling.

It's been long enough that I would not mind doing it again, during the descent I swore the opposite.

[north-north-west]

Oh, for the good old days, before they built all those dams, when Secheron was a daywalk from the old Pedder beach . . .

[pazzar]

Oh, for the good old days, before they built all those dams, when Secheron was a daywalk from the old Pedder beach . . .

I think a paddle trip will be in order to pick up Lloyd Jones and Terminal.

Did you go out over these guys Icefest? I know Chapman describes it, but I wasn't aware of too many people to do it.

[icefest]

Did you go out over these guys Icefest? I know Chapman describes it, but I wasn't aware of too many people to do it.

I did. Mostly.

I left the range north off of Lloyd-Jones, as I had already descended a long way to get water and then just wanted to go for a swim in Lake Pedder (There was a heat wave; at least 25°C )