We left Hobart after work on the Friday night, drove down to the start of the Port Davey track & walked in to Junction Creek by headtorch, arriving there just after 11pm.
Next day we started off at about 9.15am (leisurely for the long day ahead) & followed the familiar Port Davey track...or familiar to the WA's turn off, beyond here was new ground for me.
Along the track below the western slopes of the WA's we had a 15 minute stop to make acquaintance with a fresh water cray (?); he was very feisty & perhaps a little annoyed at the interruption to his mornings sun baking session.
We arrived at Crossing River at about 1pm where we set up camp and had a relaxed lunch under the trees.
The relaxation was now over for the afternoon, a steady pace would be required to reach the summit of Mt Robinson and return before nightfall (head torches were obviously packed just in case).
We set off at about 1:30pm, crossing the Crossing River first, which was at about thigh level.
After about an hour we reached our turn off point, a clear lead directly below the lower slopes of Mt Robinson.
A small band of scrub slowed progress on the lower slopes where a small valley had to be crossed.
We plodded on with mixed enthusiasm, the weather being a little bleak with only partial views and a cold wind & intermittent rain.
We arrived at the summit at 5pm and were rewarded for our long days effort with the view of the inside of low cloud...very disappointing as this mountain, situated in the heart of the SW, is supposed to have some of the best views around.
We didn't linger on the summit as we were now behind schedule & would be racing darkness back to camp.
We retraced our upward route and arrived back at the track at about 7.30pm.
A steady pace was kept back to Crossing River & back to camp at 8:15pm, just in time to get out head torches & relax after a long day.
Next day the weather was improving, tho rain squalls were still pushing over Greystone Bluff & the White Monolith Range.
We plodded lazily on the monotonous return journey; the section from Junction Creek back to the car, as I have done a number of times now, being the most tiresome & boring section of the walk.
It was a great little 2 & a bit day walk into the heart of the SW & despite the mixed weather, some amazing views of wild, remote country were still had...gotta love our backyard
A few photos below:
- The Crossing Plains & White Monolith Range (Sculptured Mountain) from the Port Davey Track.
- Freshwater cray on the attack :-)
- Mt Robinson beckons.
