Schnells Ridge

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Schnells Ridge

Postby eggs » Mon 18 Jan, 2010 9:55 pm

I put up a photo from Schnells Ridge from last Monday in "Where am I", but I thought a few more may be of interest.

It was a very hot day [last Monday 11th] - and although only a day walk - this took more out of me than the other multi-day walks combined.
Drank like a fish at the end of the day.
However - it was good to see something after 2 former cloud bound attempts.

5065AnneRiver.jpg
Anne River from the suspension bridge


5070AscendingWithPeddarBehind.jpg
Ascending with Peddar behind


5074EasternArthursCrop.jpg
Zoom on Eastern Arthurs
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby eggs » Mon 18 Jan, 2010 10:01 pm

5078Rocks&JuddSm.jpg
Lake Judd embedded in Anne Range


5079SchnellsTopPanSm.jpg
Panorama of the Top of Schnells Ridge


5118SouthernTarn.jpg
1000 foot drop down to tarn on the southern side
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby eggs » Mon 18 Jan, 2010 10:16 pm

5120MainBasinPan.jpg
Main basin with Smiths Tarn


5126Schnells Water Supply.jpg
Only water we found near the top


5075FirstTarnPan.jpg
Panorama over the first Tarn on Schnells
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Nick S » Mon 18 Jan, 2010 11:53 pm

Nice pics eggs. I do remember that day being pretty hot
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby stu » Tue 19 Jan, 2010 7:24 am

Very nice photos eggs, thanks for sharing.
I have been up to Schnells 3 times, but never this clear (cloudy 2/3 times).
It's a great little range, I think I'll do the loop walk next time tho to explore the area a little more.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby stepbystep » Tue 19 Jan, 2010 7:57 am

Great stuff, I was curious about accessing the views to the other tarns, looks like pretty open going up top?
It's moving to the top of the list :)
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby eggs » Mon 25 Jan, 2010 5:23 pm

Yes stepbystep,
the tops are very open as well as most of the sides. The scrub is mostly on the lowest slopes. Which means no shade from the sun.
It is also a bit tricky in thick cloud - as the normal loop exit ridge is not found by following the clear ridgeline, as I discovered the previous year.

We have started at a couple of different spots.
This time we went up on the first ridgeline to get a view into the Anne Gorge, and it meant a short but notable section of scrub bashing.
I am also told that if a loop is attempted into the section beyond Smiths Tarn, that it is quite scrubby at the base of the far exit ridge and crossing the creek.
There are 2 high level tarns hidden on that other side, and I believe camping near them is possible.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby tazz » Mon 25 Jan, 2010 5:26 pm

The tannin stained tarns make a nice contrast to the surrounding greenery.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby PeterJ » Tue 26 Jan, 2010 2:09 pm

eggs wrote:............I am also told that if a loop is attempted into the section beyond Smiths Tarn, that it is quite scrubby at the base of the far exit ridge and crossing the creek. There are 2 high level tarns hidden on that other side, and I believe camping near them is possible.


True on both accounts. You can get down that far ridge to the bottom of the moraine somewhat below Smiths Tarn and also just below Moraine Tarn and then climb back up on the other side of the moraine for a nice round trip. There are just a few campsites near the uppermost of the tarns on the eastern side and it is only a short drop to it. See my walk notes.

Probably the last time I went there was in April 202 when I went to prove that a magazine article had a photograph that was clearly not at Smiths Tarn. I have just re-uploaded the web file I made at the time I went there if you would like to have a look.

Schnells is on my list of walks to do for 2010
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby stepbystep » Tue 26 Jan, 2010 4:28 pm

PeterJ wrote:
eggs wrote:............I am also told that if a loop is attempted into the section beyond Smiths Tarn, that it is quite scrubby at the base of the far exit ridge and crossing the creek. There are 2 high level tarns hidden on that other side, and I believe camping near them is possible.


True on both accounts. You can get down that far ridge to the bottom of the moraine somewhat below Smiths Tarn and also just below Moraine Tarn and then climb back up on the other side of the moraine for a nice round trip. There are just a few campsites near the uppermost of the tarns on the eastern side and it is only a short drop to it. See my walk notes.

Probably the last time I went there was in April 202 when I went to prove that a magazine article had a photograph that was clearly not at Smiths Tarn. I have just re-uploaded the web file I made at the time I went there if you would like to have a look.

Schnells is on my list of walks to do for 2010


Interesting Peter,
By this do you see the circuit achievable as a day trip from Hobart or as an overnighter?
Either way I'm keen maybe March sometime???
How was Davis L.O.?
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby PeterJ » Tue 26 Jan, 2010 7:22 pm

stepbystep wrote:By this do you see the circuit achievable as a day trip from Hobart or as an overnighter?
Either way I'm keen maybe March sometime???
How was Davis L.O.?


Davis Lookout was quite good and the weather was a delight; being not too hot and there was hardly a mosquito and the flies not very annoying. I will add a posting shortly.

That was the easy part of your questions. I did the circuit mentioned many years ago as a weekend, and the last time I was over on the eastern side, spent 3 days there. I calculate the diversion would add about 2 hours to the day walk, so from my perspective, after considering the driving (>2hrs), it is a bit far for an enjoyable day and would be best as an overnighter.

March or April would seem a good time of year.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby north-north-west » Thu 04 Mar, 2010 10:11 pm

PeterJ wrote:Probably the last time I went there was in April 202...

So corby isn't the oldest forum member after all . . .
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby flyfisher » Fri 05 Mar, 2010 8:35 pm

No he's not actually. :lol: :lol: :wink:

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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Rolfe » Fri 21 May, 2010 7:56 pm

Did a weekender there with the Launceston Walking Club in February. There was only one pool left for water, which was near the high point. Mostly easy, open walking on the ridge apart from a narrow saddle involving a climb down and up (slightly scrubby). We camped on the ridge East of Smiths Tarn. Got water and a swim in the (larger) tarn to the East of the ridge. Easy going down to the tarn from the ridge south of the knoll and surprisingly quick.
Then went North and off the ridge, crossing the creek about 300m? below Moraine Tarn. There is a narrrow but thick scrub band on the Northwestern side but a bash pad through it which helped (can see it as you come down). Another short bit of scrub just before the Lake Judd track. Was a terrific weekend- highly recommended.
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Schnells.jpg
Looking North to campsite and Mt Anne from knoll East of Smiths Tarn
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby vagrom » Wed 23 Jun, 2010 10:29 pm

I went there a couple of years ago with a Hobart group and we camped very comfortably beside the tarn above as I remember. The plan was to get to the Gallagher Plateau but the weather was so good we just enjoyed ourselves instead. Bummer. Where's the bad weather when you want it?
There's an old Tassie Tramp which describes a walk to Mt Weld across the Gallagher and back. Was it number 22?
And there's an old explorer map, possibly in Trampled Wilderness, that shows a route taken from the Arthur Plains up to Schnells Ridge. In any eventual long distance route from the north to south of Tassie, I wonder if such a route would be feasable, avoiding a Scotts Peak road bash, but being close enough to it for an escape route. Opinions? Is it yet more enviro trashing?
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby stepbystep » Wed 08 Sep, 2010 10:17 pm

A few pics from yesterday, a fantastic walk done with Bap from this forum...gotta love the SW!!!
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3_Sea of Cloud.jpg
Sea of Cloud
6_SmithsTarnandTheRest.jpg
SmithsTarnandTheRest
10_FakePeddarfromSchnellsRidge2.jpg
FakePeddarfromSchnellsRidge
11_Lake Judd.jpg
Lake Judd
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby GerryDuke » Wed 08 Sep, 2010 10:53 pm

Thanks SBS for the great photos. You got a beautiful day. I was up that way a week or so ago just after the snow. Stayed to the roads! Will dig out a couple of photos.

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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Bap » Thu 09 Sep, 2010 8:14 am

Great photos, this walk will stick in my memory for a long time, thanks for the day Stepbystep.
It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is much better at the top.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Nick S » Thu 09 Sep, 2010 8:32 am

Great photos SBS!
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Bap » Thu 09 Sep, 2010 8:42 am

A few from the Nikon. :D :D
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DSC_0158.JPG
The SW under fog
DSC_0158.JPG (137.82 KiB) Viewed 24604 times
DSC_0159.JPG
The twin summits, with the EA's in the background
DSC_0172.JPG
SBS soaking up the views
DSC_0213.JPG
Lake Pedder reveiling itself
DSC_0228.JPG
The mighty Western Arthurs
It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is much better at the top.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby stepbystep » Thu 09 Sep, 2010 11:56 am

Thanks for the comments guys, too easy to get nice pics on a day like that.
Would love to see the area under heavy snow Gerry....
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Phil » Thu 09 Sep, 2010 12:53 pm

Great photos guys; perfect day for it!
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Hallu » Tue 12 Feb, 2013 4:44 pm

Did you do it as a day walk after all SBS ? I'm planning on trying to do Lake Judd and on the way back Schnells Ridge in a day (I'll be staying at Maydena so there's not too much driving) for Easter, 8 hours or less should be ok, more than that would be pushing it.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby ollster » Tue 12 Feb, 2013 5:25 pm

Hallu wrote:Did you do it as a day walk after all SBS ? I'm planning on trying to do Lake Judd and on the way back Schnells Ridge in a day (I'll be staying at Maydena so there's not too much driving) for Easter, 8 hours or less should be ok, more than that would be pushing it.


I did it with MJD (his first or second walk back after breaking an ankle) as a day walk and we took 7hrs (and 1 minute!) return. So realistically a fit person could probably knock it off in 6 hrs or less.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby stepbystep » Tue 12 Feb, 2013 5:34 pm

ollster wrote:
Hallu wrote:Did you do it as a day walk after all SBS ? I'm planning on trying to do Lake Judd and on the way back Schnells Ridge in a day (I'll be staying at Maydena so there's not too much driving) for Easter, 8 hours or less should be ok, more than that would be pushing it.


I did it with MJD (his first or second walk back after breaking an ankle) as a day walk and we took 7hrs (and 1 minute!) return. So realistically a fit person could probably knock it off in 6 hrs or less.


Yep easy, make an early start and take your time.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby Hallu » Tue 12 Feb, 2013 5:48 pm

Great, exactly my kind of walk, thanks.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby mjdalessa » Wed 13 Feb, 2013 7:58 am

How much scrub is at the base of the eastern ridge? Do many use this for the circuit? There are two ridges either side of the mentioned camping tarn that look feasible but each has a reasonable amount of "green" at the bottom. I will be approaching from the Sarah Jane direction. I noticed Chapman suggests the ridge on the opposite side of Smith's Tarn to the west rather than the one I'm referring to. I'd like to camp on top between the two summits- I'm sure there will be no water issues with the weather we've had lately. Otherwise we'll probably camp at the tarn suggested.
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Re: Schnells Ridge

Postby north-north-west » Mon 11 Mar, 2013 1:25 pm

From my experience: the camping until you're up pretty high is very rough and while the scrub bands are narrow, the scrub is thick enough to be a major pain if you miss the pad through it. Once you're on the ridge east of Moraine & Smith's it's easy enough going. But, really, Schnell's is better done from the west. An hour from the road and there's an easy route up.
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