Penguin Cradle Trail
Our group consisted of seven members of Boroondara Bushwalking club (a Melbourne based club) and one member of the Hobart Walking Club. We commenced the Trail on 22nd February 2017. Prior to commencing we had valuable knowledge of the condition of the trail from the North West Walking Club and from Sean who walked the trail in January 2017 (see blog ‘Safari’ - Penguin-Cradle Trail Jan 2017).
We avoided the Tramway along the Leven River to Purtons Flats, taking the alternative route on the gravel road.
On Day 2 most of the party went via Mt Lorymer peak (some scrub bashing and no views), while two members took the marked trail to join the others at the 14.4 km point (John Chapman map). That section of the trail is very slow going with considerable lengths of fallen trees over the track.
We used cars to negotiate the road section over Gunns Plains, so were able to start the Leven River section through the Loongana Range relatively early on Day 3. As expected, it was very slow going in many places due to the damage from floods in 2016. During the morning the leader had a 4-5 metre fall onto rocks in the river; luckily not sustaining any injuries as his backpack took the impact. We made camp at Blackwood Camp.
Day 4 took a turn for the worst. At about 11.30 am, at the 39.4 km point (where there is affixed rope) some of our group disturbed two or three rocks when they walked straight ahead on a false track at the top of the rope (the actual track went to the left). The result was that one member, while waiting to climb the rope, was struck on the forehead by a cricket-ball size rock. He suffered a deep cut and possible brief unconsciousness (but no lasting problems). First aid was applied and PLB activated (and a little later a second PLB was activated). The emergency helicopter arrived about ninety minutes later. While waiting for the emergency services to arrive, we placed ground sheets on the river bank to assist them pinpoint our location. Also, given the tree cover and terrain, we prepared two pathways to points on the river bank suitable to winch out the patient and his wife, which occurred at about 3.00 pm.
Special thanks to the emergency services for their skills on that day.
Two day-walkers had come through while we were awaiting for the emergency services and they explained that it had taken them over five hours to arrive at our point from the northern end of the Canyon, mentioning that in addition to the conditions along the river being bad, the track on the northern slopes of Griffiths Ridge was badly broken up. A decision was then made to abandon the walk given that it would not be possible for us to walk out of the Canyon that day and the night camp would be away from the river and in rough terrain. We therefore returned to Blackwood Camp for that night and walked out to Gunns Plains the next day.
Leaving aside the accident, this is a great walk and hopefully, we will complete the northern section of the trail another time.
Bernie