Lake Mountain - Upper Taggerty Track/Keppel Track

[dinna89]

I'm thinking of a snowshoe expedition at lake mountain, an overnighter starting at Lake Mountain, camping at Keppel Hut (unmarked on the map, near the NW corner of the marked trail), then return via the Upper Taggerty Trail (map below).

I've called up ski patrol at Lake Mountain and they reckon there should be pretty good snow coverage on these trails but they weren't sure about whether the river/creek crossings are bridged. Can anyone shed some light on whether the major crossings are bridged?

[MickyB]

You might already know this dinna89 and I'm not sure if it affects your plans but:

Due to hazardous trees, the Upper Taggerty Track near Lake Mountain will remain closed until further notice until tree risk works can be completed

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks ... ional-park

[wildlight]

I've done that exact trip in the snow, many years ago when the pre-fires Keppel Hut was still there, without the wretched infrastructure of the current one. Way back then, the major crossings had pipes under the roads- a couple of the minor gullies were more the problem. They were "un plumbed" and were flowing through the snow on the track. They were only a few feet wide, and not deep. It's a great part of the bush so close to Melb. Uppper Taggerty road is well drained, my comment is more about the minor forestry trails. That last bit of Boundary Trail just before you turn off to Keppels, can be fiddly on skis in the event of deep recent snow.

Cheers
Wildlight

[dinna89]

Due to hazardous trees, the Upper Taggerty Track near Lake Mountain will remain closed until further notice until tree risk works can be completed

Thanks for the heads up, I'll be sure to do a quick on site risk evaluation, but in my experience Parks seem fond of putting up signs and never doing anything about it. Good to know about it though!

Thanks for the good info wildlight, i was a bit worried there's be some massive river crossings, but it seems managable

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Dude!
I am plotting a similar snow shoe trek , snow conditions and spare time pending. I will start from from Lady Talbot drive , I'll leave the 2WD car somewhere well before the intersection with Keppels track and head up past the hut to near the Boundary hut ruins and snow camp up there . I am getting the topographical map of the area next week. Bring it on I say. Let me know how you get on. For instance what is the track like ? After the hut is it just 'snow leeches' ;-P and map and compass stuff?

[dinna89]

Snow Leeches?
Upper Taggerty Road has no snow cover, except for a short stretch (maybe 200m) near Lake Mountain. I can see why the road is closed, it is surrounded by heaps of large dead Eucalypts, I wouldn't camp anywhere near there but I found it okay to walk along in mild conditions. All water crossings are on Upper Taggerty Road are bridged or culvert-ed.
Snow cover started about 1km from Keppel Hut, but the log book at Keppel said that the week prior there was snow cover down to the gate, it has retreated a lot since then.
Snow cover was good and consistent between Keppel Hut/Boundary Hut/Lake Mountain. There’s plenty of large trees down across the Boundary Track, and a few small creek crossings, but it’s all passable, and the path is well marked.
There’s plenty of water available, with streams every few km. There’s a stream at Keppel Hut that isn’t marked on the Lake Mountain topo maps, but is on the VicMaps. There’s also a stream where the Boundary Track joins the Lake Mountain trails which should give you water for your campsite.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Thanks for the information.

[JohnStrider]

How did the trip go?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

HI, I have not been up there yet. It is in my to do list.

[JohnStrider]

No worries.

I'm thinking of doing a similar trek, but starting at Marysville Caravan Park and walking either up Mt Margaret Road or Lady Talbot Drive, and staying at Keppel Hut for the night.

Will probably do it over the Melbourne Cup Long weekend. Snow should be well and truly gone by then?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

There is no snow now at Lake Mtn. or near its approaches . Snow at Lake mtn is an 8 week concept , max. , in July and August.

[JohnStrider]

Yep thought as much. Looking forward to it. Couldn't find anywhere that says if you need to book the hut or not. Do you need to?

[dinna89]

No need to book the hut, from memory it's a DSE hut not a Parks hut, so sleeping is encouraged, as opposed to all the alpine huts which are 'emergency use only'. There's a chance you'll find yourself sharing with some 4WD-ers though.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

In Green season the 4 wd mob would be hooning around there. In White season the jeep roads are closed and there would be fewer leeches too.

[JohnStrider]

Thanks for that, Dinna.

Yeah full expect to be sharing the hut with others. My group is only 3 people so hopefully we can all fit in. Looking forward to it.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Take a Tent !

[JohnStrider]

Certainly will.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I am plotting to get up there soon. I shall leave a field report when I return. I 'll push past Keppell's hut and onto near the Boundary hut ruins and camp out up on the edge of Lake
mountain 's plateau.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

My trip report for this hike is in the relevant section. The upper Taggerty track and Keppell's track have both had a huge dead tree clearing operations completed . There are recent bulldozer tracks in the dirt and piles of dead trees that have been felled , and the tracks are well clear of timber on both sides of the road/s.