BWT 4th Anniversary Walk - Silver Lake

[Son of a Beach]

It was a much smaller group than usual that got together for the 4th anniversary of this web site. However, all 2 of us were able to fit into a two seater car for the ride to the track start, so that was handy. And the company was certainly no less in quality, just because it was reduced in quantity.

We walked into Silver Lake and spent two nights at the expansive camping area at the northern end of the lake. The walk took us 4 hours on the way in, including a lunch break, and then later, an afternoon tea stop at Hut 5 (near Lake Antimony) where we chatted with a couple of older blokes who were going to be out bush for 4 weeks. On the way out, we took a little over 3 hours to do the return journey, with only a short stop for morning tea along the way at the junction with the track that goes to Lake Fanny.

The track was fairly vague in some places, and I was glad to be walking with Shazcol who had done the same walk only a few months ago. Even as it was, we went off the track in a few places, but at least we were able to quickly determine where we went wrong and find the track again without much trouble.

On the second day (Saturday), we did a leisurely stroll along the Pine River from where it enters Silver Lake, along the base of the Great Pine Tier, detouring to Ah Chees Lake, past Lakes Sally and Sonia, and stopping for lunch at Lake Solveig. We had initially thought we might go as far as Lake Ball (near Dixons Kingdom in the Walls of Jerusalem), but ended up fishing the river and lakes along the way, instead. No fish were caught all weekend, but we did see quite a few, and they were rising almost all day at Silver Lake.

This walk along the river and lakes was a fantastic stroll in the park. The weather was perfect - cool, but sunny and still, and the river and lakes were also clear and beautiful.

Shortly after our detour from the river to visit Ah Chees Lake, I found that the terrain looked a little different to what I was expecting from my earlier look at the map. So I got out the map again, and this time checked the compass too. "That can't possibly be North!" I said and immediately though that I shouldn't have said it out loud. Turns out that North was about 90° off where I thought it should be. Thankfully we were only about a hundred metres off the route I thought we should be on, but it was a good reminder to me to be more careful with navigation, and don't make assumptions.

Arriving at the Silver Lake camp site (north end)

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Silver Lake from the hill behind the camp site.

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It was a full moon on the second night I think (or very close to it). This is on the first night, trying to get a picture a fish rising by moonlight, but although there were frequent rises over most of the lake, they refused to do it in the camera's field of view.

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Saturday morning at Silver Lake.

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Col fishing the Pine River, just north of Silver Lake.

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Col nearly trod on this tiger snake as we were rounding Ah Chees Lake.

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Cushion Plants near the Pine River

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Col fishing by moonlight on Saturday night.

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[Son of a Beach]

We saw several wedge tailed eagles over the weekend. Two to the east of us on the way in just before arriving at camp, and after the day walk on Saturday, there were 4 across the hill in the west (or with my navigation skills, they might have been to the north and south of us? ). The first of this group of 4 was initially being harassed by about 6 currawongs, but the eagle didn't seem to be phased by it.

[johnw]

Good report and photos Nik. I've got to try and come down for one of these trips. Location definitely has that WOJ look about it.

harassed by about 6 currawongs, but the eagle didn't seem to be phased by it

I guess the size difference and the talons help with that...

[Speculator]

Nik,

Looks like you had a great time. That area around Silver seems to be a bit of a home to snakes, not surprised you saw at least one.

It's a fantastic area, I'll have to head in again myself sometime.

L8r.

[shazcol]

Nik and I had a good time without the rest of you.... I was hoping I might meet a few people from the forum but maybe next year. I got to the car park and confirmed that I had left my camera battery in the charger at home, only smartphone pics this weekend, not all bad as 2.3kg less weight to carry in and out.

We had a very thick fog early Saturday morning that almost obscured the lake from view. Dissipated very quickly once the sun came up. No matter how hard I tried I could not bag a trout for any meal over the weekend. The best I had was a swirl at Lake Sally on the way back to Silver. Plenty of fish to tease us all weekend splashing about just out of range.

I nearly trod on that snake. Just stepped up over that rock in the picture and looked down as I went to place my foot on the other side and glad I noticed the curled up black stick before it noticed me!

A couple more pics from the weekend.

Nik loves Sonja - (Lake Sonja)

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BTW 2011 campsite - plenty of room left for more tents

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Perfect morning dawning just before sunrise

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[Son of a Beach]

Yes, L8R, It is a good spot. The track from Ada to Antimony in is not particularly exciting (ie, not much in the way of views, apart from good views of Ducane Range from one point), however, the walking is quite flat and easy. Also, once you're in that far at Silver Lake, there are plenty of other lakes nearby, and the river makes for very easy navigation between a lot of them. I imagine it would have been quite easy to get all the way into the walls from Silver (we got about half way, but were walking quite slow, and looking for fish, and had to get back again.

[Robbo]

Thanks for the report and pictures, Nik. It truly is a great place to visit and not to far from the Walls at all really. I met a couple of guys a few years agon who were camping along Bernes Valley and who made the walk into the Walls for the day - only a couple of hours they suggested - I guess it just depends on which 'S' lake they were staying at...

Hope to get over for another of the BWT in the not too distant future.

Cheers

TR

[Rick]

It's my favourite place on Earth, scatter my ashes at Silver please!!

P.S My avatar is at Silver!!

[Son of a Beach]

I forgot to mention that on the way up the little hill to the west of the camp site (the hill that runs the length of the western bank of Silver Lake), I found a cluster of scotch thistles, some of which were just budding into flowers. I destroyed them as best I could - probably about 12 or 15. Then on the way back down the hill, I found about another 10 that I'd missed, and destroyed those too. I pulled them out, roots and all, as best I could, but some of them just snapped off leaving roots in the ground. It appeared to be a very localised cluster of the week, but there's bound to be some that I missed.

It's really tragic to see a weed infestation like this so far into a Tasmanian national park.

[Speculator]

I forgot to mention that on the way up the little hill to the west of the camp site (the hill that runs the length of the western bank of Silver Lake), I found a cluster of scotch thistles, some of which were just budding into flowers. I destroyed them as best I could - probably about 12 or 15. Then on the way back down the hill, I found about another 10 that I'd missed, and destroyed those too. I pulled them out, roots and all, as best I could, but some of them just snapped off leaving roots in the ground. It appeared to be a very localised cluster of the week, but there's bound to be some that I missed.

It's really tragic to see a weed infestation like this so far into a Tasmanian national park.

If there's a weed I hate, that's it! It is always awful when you see that sort of thing in a park/WHA. I know it's a superficial way to look at it, but it's always worse when it's an ugly eyesore of a weed like Scotch Thistle too. Goats love to eat them, it's a shame wallabies don't too!

L8r.

[north-north-west]

It's really tragic to see a weed infestation like this so far into a Tasmanian national park.

Like the Ragweed halfway up Drys Bluff. I pulled out everything I could, but it's hard stuff to eradicate once it gets a toehold.

[DaveGwy]

Only 2 of you went? Damn, what a pity there wasn't more. Still, at least you fit in 1 car.
It sounds like you had a nice time, I regret not signing up!

[abowen]

Very nice camping at Silver. Unfortunately I have not had the pleasure. Stopped at Antimony Hut last time and only spied the nice grassy bank at Silver on the way up the valley to Dixon's Kingdom Hut. I will be back and will take a rod.
Cheers
Andrew

[mikethepike]

All those posts leading up to the weeknd and only 2 turn up! Amazing! The organizer and his butler? I hoped to have been there (but never got away) and apart from evertything else, learn by how to catch trout by watching the experts in the group...Hmmmm! Next year. And here I am advertising in the 'Find walking companions...' section trying to get people interested in an extended walk in the northernmost Flinders Ranges. What hope is there?

[Mafeking09]

Hi guys. Walk looks sensational. I'm taking some friends for a practice walk in November and thought this might be good. How far did you drive in before leaving the car?

[Son of a Beach]

We parked at the boat ramp at Lake Ada.

The first 30-60 minutes of this walk is not terribly interesting, around Ada Lagoon, and a bit beyond that. But it does get better. It's a great area once you get in there.

There are two spots where it's easy to miss the way. Firstly where the Antimony track forks off from the Fanny track. Watch out for the marker there (not hard to spot if you're looking out for it). Then a bit further along there is a spot where it's quite difficult to find where the track goes... requires a bit of hunting around. Other than that, it's mostly easy to follow all the rest of the way.

[dplanet]

Time is flying and i was in the same year.

Great memory. Did a big loop a couple of years ago and can recall that i could not see Hut No 5 due to evening sun. It was quickly in sight in the morning. Enjoyed the walk.