Turrana, Clumner and Mersey Crag

[nickthetasmaniac]

Some shots from a recent trip into the Long Tarns to climb a few Abels - Clumner Bluff, Mersey Crag and Turrana Bluff. Fantastic trip and I highly recommend the two Bluffs (Mersey is a bit unassuming but it's an easy walk). Clumner especially has probably the best uninterrupted view of the Cradle Mt - Lake St Clair NP mountains going The walk in past Rinadeena Falls (formerly Little Fisher Falls) is also pretty special.

Check out some more pics here: http://peopleandotherstrangecreatures.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/off-track-adventures-turrana-bluff-mersey-crag-clumner-bluff/

Tip of the day - don't approach Clumner from Long Tarns, it takes *&%$#! ages. Go in from Dublin Road like the Abels book says.

Shot with an EM5, m.ZD 17mm and m.ZD 45mm


Little Fisher River bridge - closed! This adds about 45mins to the walk in.


Myrtle Rainforest


Turrana from Deception Plains


Relics at the site of Boy Miles' unfinished Deception Plains Hut.


Looking back down the Little Fisher Valley


Mersey Crag and approaching rain


Turrana Bluff


Scrambling on Turrana Bluff


Long Tarns campsite


The WoJ and southern Overland mountains


The plateau behind Clumner


Anyone know what this is about? Up on the Clumner plateau


Tarn and Pencil Pines


Back to camp after a 9.5hr day out to Clumner Bluff

[Tortoise]

Thanks for posting, Nick. I've been thinking of doing a similar trip, so it's great to get the updated info re the walk in, and to see your pics.

[whynotwalk]

Great stuff Nick. I'll be heading (back) to your blog for more. You've taken me back 30 years (yikes!) to when I first went there. I've dug up an old photo of a younger me at Long Tarns The weather was slightly different ... from memory we went in spring.

cheers

Peter

[nickthetasmaniac]

I think they actually got a fair bit of snow on the Overland the weekend we went, but we only got a dusting of rain...

I've walked from Blue Peaks to Long Tarns before and I think it's probably one of my favourite spots in Tassie. So easy to just wonder off wherever takes your fancy!

Thanks for posting, Nick. I've been thinking of doing a similar trip, so it's great to get the updated info re the walk in, and to see your pics.

It's a pity about the bridge, because otherwise the walk in to the falls would be a great short day walk...

[stepbystep]

Thanks Nick, nice images as per. I've been thinking of this exact trip. Must get off my rear!

[north-north-west]

You do know that cairn isn't the highest point of Turanna Bluff, don't you?
Geez I was cheesed off when I climbed up and realised that there were two higher points to the south . . .

I was hoping to do Clumner from near Mersey Crag in December, while en route back south via the Walls and Great Pine Tier. Too crook to pull it off. Still like the idea of approaching it that way - don't care about the extra time, it just looks like a lovely bit of country from the Crag.

[ofuros]

After seeing your pics, I feel a Tassie trip looming.........thanks Nick.

[corvus]

As usual great pics Nick,
Those poles are intriguing there is one near the OLT just off the Horse Track on the right before you head down to Kitchen Hut ,climbed up it for a look and it appeared to be for what ?? great view of Barn Bluff and over to the West
corvus

[nickthetasmaniac]

You do know that cairn isn't the highest point of Turanna Bluff, don't you?
Geez I was cheesed off when I climbed up and realised that there were two higher points to the south . . .

I was hoping to do Clumner from near Mersey Crag in December, while en route back south via the Walls and Great Pine Tier. Too crook to pull it off. Still like the idea of approaching it that way - don't care about the extra time, it just looks like a lovely bit of country from the Crag.

Haha yeah mate I know. We approached from the south (Long Tarns campsite) and hit up all three (or is it four?) cairned 'summits'... Personally the 'scrambling' one is my favourite but I'm pretty sure it's not the high point

If you start early I highly recommend approaching Clumner from the Little Fisher Valley - as you say the plateau between the Crag and the Bluff is a lovely bit of open walking. Lunch on the edge of the cliffs is pretty epic too The views down to the northern lakes of WoJ makes me pretty keen to explore as well.

As usual great pics Nick,
Those poles are intriguing there is one near the OLT just off the Horse Track on the right before you head down to Kitchen Hut ,climbed up it for a look and it appeared to be for what ?? great view of Barn Bluff and over to the West
corvus

I'm stumped... I was thinking some kind of Met gear, but buggered if I could say what they'd actually use it for. And this one is just in such a random place, it's not as if this is a frequently visited spot

[taswegian]

very nice thanks Nick.
Great place to be.

I wonder if those poles were associated with HEC? (Not sure about Horse Track though) They would have been monitoring many parts of the catchment of Mersey power scheme.

There are some beautiful and large lakes south of Mersey Crag.
Well worth time taken to explore.
I stayed in a rock 'cave' many years ago on shore of Lake Sidon. Had a tin of detonators and other camping paraphernalia in it.

Always felt the Little Fisher Track was a very worthwhile entranceway to that area and onto the Walls. I envisage one day there could be a decent track.
The view northwards down the valley along Turanna/ Fisher Bluff are quite impressive.

[nickthetasmaniac]

I wonder if those poles were associated with HEC? (Not sure about Horse Track though) They would have been monitoring many parts of the catchment of Mersey power scheme.

That would make sense, they left gear in some pretty strange places... I suppose it could have had a rainfall gauge mounted on top at some point.

There are some beautiful and large lakes south of Mersey Crag.
Well worth time taken to explore.
I stayed in a rock 'cave' many years ago on shore of Lake Sidon. Had a tin of detonators and other camping paraphernalia in it.

Always felt the Little Fisher Track was a very worthwhile entranceway to that area and onto the Walls. I envisage one day there could be a decent track.
The view northwards down the valley along Turanna/ Fisher Bluff are quite impressive.

I've been thinking of doing a full on-off track loop thought the Walls; start with the Little Fisher track, drop down through the lakes you mention, Solitary Hut, Trappers Hut, down to Lake Adelaide and along to Meston, then back along the Chinaman Plains to Lake Ball, through Dixons Kingdom, Zion Gate and around Daisy Lakes back to Long Tarns. Should keep me occupied for a while

[biggbird]

Great shots Nick, that plateau looks awesome!

[Nick S]

Nice one Nick, seems like you've stirred a few of us on here to do the same. Me included.

Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk

[nickthetasmaniac]

Nice one Nick, seems like you've stirred a few of us on here to do the same. Me included.

Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk

If you get up there take a footy, I reckon the Clumner Plateau has a few top spots for a game