Hiking Recommendations!

[AshleyAnn]

Hey fellow bushwalkers!

I'm planning a last minute trip to TAS in early January and my partner and I are looking to get some epic hikes in. We are reasonably experienced hikers (I am Canadian afterall!) but nothing technical. We basically have 1.5 weeks and were mostly planning on doing day hikes (e.g. Craddle Mountain, Wine Glass Bay, etc.) but I need help nailing down a multiday hike. We were thinking 2-3 days return since we don't have much time to wait out bad weather. I was looking at a short segment in the Western Arthur's Pass, maybe to Cygnus Lake and somehow loop around? Has anyone done it and have suggestions for me? I can't seem to find a map online. Another option was maybe Frenchman's Cap done in 3 days? Is that very ambitious? I find it hard to gauge since I often find that they grade hikes difficult when they are really not (or at least in NSW!).

If anyone wants to share their favorite day treks in all ears!

Thanks so much in advance for your help! I realize this question is probably asked a million times. If you've read this far you're a champ!

Cheers,
Ashley

[Azza]

Hi,

Western Arthurs is a range walk - the track pretty much follows the amazingly jagged ridge line the entire length of the range.
But there are only really a few entry / exit points along the range. In this case a short trip to lake Cygnus or Oberon you would have to enter and exit via Moraine A, as the next exit point at Moraine K - is too far. There was a route down Moraine E but its not advised and parks state this route in closed now.

Frenchmans Cap can be done in a weekend. If you start early you can get into Lake Tahune hut in a day and back out the next day. Not everyone could manage this, its a big day but not a superhuman effort.
Otherwise you do a more leisurely 3 day trip.. Day walk from Lake Vera to the summit can work as well.

Mt Anne circuit could be worth a look as a good 2 to 3 day walk.

Cheers

Azza

[AshleyAnn]

Hi Azza!

Thanks for that! Yeah I'm thinking we will go something a little easier than the Arthurs since we don't have much time to prepare properly and I've heard the weather can be quite crazy.

Frenchman's Cap is looking more doable. I've heard about Mt Anne but haven't looked into it much because someone mentioned to me that she wouldn't do it without ropes. Is that your opinion too?

Cheers,
Ashley

[north-north-west]

Nah, Anne summit is fine without ropes if you're any sort of scrambler. I'm subject to occasional attacks of vertigo and I've still made it up there a couple of times. There's really only one difficult spot which is the descent onto a sloping rock not far from the base of the scramble. Bit slippery in the wet but otherwise you just need to keep your head and you'll be fine as long as the weather doesn't go apeshit.
Besides that, there's only one other spot on the circuit which might give you trouble which is the Notch, and that can be bypassed.

[MrWalker]

I've heard about Mt Anne but haven't looked into it much because someone mentioned to me that she wouldn't do it without ropes. Is that your opinion too?

I'm fairly sure the point about taking ropes for Mt Anne is to haul your pack up the Notch, rather than climbing up with a pack on your back. So that doesn't mean ropes in the usual mountain climbing sense.

[devoswitch]

I've heard about Mt Anne but haven't looked into it much because someone mentioned to me that she wouldn't do it without ropes. Is that your opinion too?

I'm fairly sure the point about taking ropes for Mt Anne is to haul your pack up the Notch, rather than climbing up with a pack on your back. So that doesn't mean ropes in the usual mountain climbing sense.

Potentially... However when I went up Anne there was a party coming back down who had used ropes. They didn't make it to the top as they found it was too exposed for them. Perhaps that's why they were using them.
Like NNW says, it's not too bad so long as the weathers ok for you.

[Mark_O]

Hi Ashley,

You mentioned you were having trouble finding online maps for some areas.

Check out the following site for digital maps of the entire state:

http://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map

It is an incredibly useful and valuable resource, particularly once you start playing with adding different layers and the various basemaps, etc.

Enjoy your walks