Bushwalk Australia

I've read that Lake Tahune hut may be undergoing maintenance when I plan to tackle Frenchman's.
So...to camp near Tahune hut or do a summit daywalk from Lake Vera? I imagine it'd be a hell of a day. I hope it's worth it!

It is a big day but the daywalk from Vera Hut is the most common way to tackle the Cap. From memory we took 12 hours all up.

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Correct. The entire area around Tahune hut will be closed to camping over summer. Track will be rerouted. If you are fit, it is generally not a problem to do the walk as a day trip from Vera. Have done it as a day trip from Vera many, many times (including many trips before the new track - the days of the 'sodden loddons') in mixed weather conditions. Allow around 12 hours but it can often take less if you get a good day. The new, less tiring track in, makes the day trip a much more likely option! Enjoy!

What’s the camping situation like at Lake Vera at the moment? Are there platforms built there now? I’ll need hooks?

Mowser wrote:Correct. The entire area around Tahune hut will be closed to camping over summer. Track will be rerouted.

Any idea where the re-routed track is going ? After Barron Pass I wouldn't have thought there was a lot of options.

I really think that those who go to the top of the Cap and back from Lake Vera are short changing themselves.

"If one could spend a night on the knees of the monarch, beside those quiet lakes, and watch the moon light up the regal symmetry of the marble heights, the scene would form a vision of sublimity to remain in the minds forever more ". Charles Whitham. 1914.

To gaze out across the landscape and watching the shadows fill the Franklin gorge as the day comes to an end is such a great reward. Most would choose to go to the summit and back from Vera because they can't be buggered carrying a pack up Barron Pass.

Ripped 'emselves off IMHO.

As I understand, the track re-route is just around the work site at Tahune.
Agreed with the traditional itinerary and virtues of Tahune camping. Especially for many 'one-off walkers', I'd walk somewhere else this summer.

devoswitch wrote:What’s the camping situation like at Lake Vera at the moment? Are there platforms built there now? I’ll need hooks?

Unless something has changed that I'm unaware of, there are no platforms at Vera. It's all ground camping amongst the trees just beyond the hut.

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Tahune hut is in very poor condition. There’s water leaking onto the bunks and there’s a huge puddle on the ground. I was up there yesterday.
And yes I’m one of those day walkers from Vera and I’m VERY glad I went back to Vera yesterday to a warm dry hut.
Strider, they’ve really started developing the platform camps at Vera. They’ve finished I think 3-4 really nice platforms and they’re still building them. Looks really great.

What if there were no huts at all, at either Vera or Tahune ?
Would that make a difference to weather you went up and back in a day ??

No probably not to be honest. It’s a very doable distance. However I’m on time restraints with a young family and if I had all the time in the world I’d definitely love to stay up there. I’d love to stay up there and explore the nearby mountains too! I met bushwalker Zane up there and to be honest was a little envious of his explorations/itinerary!