Bushwalk Australia

Have you ever noticed that doing a walk three or more times is no guarantee of recollecting its details clearly? Could be why I'd never make a good guide book author ... And why I stick to offering personal reflections on what a particular walk offers me.

The walk in question is Lake Myrtle/Mt Rogoona. Although I've been there a few times, my wife hadn't. So I was very keen to show her what I rate as one of the best bushwalking campsites in Tassie - even if it's one with a heartbreaking history attached (most notably a disastrous fire in the early 1980s).

We looked for - and found - a coming high pressure system, and set off late last week. As you can see from the attached pic., the weather delivered, as did the destination. I've written up the first part of the walk in my blog, with more to follow later. http://www.naturescribe.com/2014/01/nights-by-highland-lake-part-one.html

cheers

Peter

Nice report Peter and well done for getting your wife there. Love the last dusk photo with just a hint of glow remaining on Rogoona. So did you both make it to the summit??

tibboh wrote:So did you both make it to the summit??

Thanks for the comments tibboh. The short answer to your question is no ... the full story is coming in part 2. A bung knee and a rather enjoyable alternative to peak bagging feature. Watch this space

cheers

Peter

Is it about the journey or the destination? I know there are plenty of hardcore peak baggers out there who MUST get to the summit. But on my recent trip to Myrtle/Rogoona, getting to the summit proved problematic. To climb firmly onto the fence, I think I want to say that both journey and destination are important. Anyway here's the second part of a blog about "failing" to summit.

http://www.naturescribe.com/2014/01/nights-by-highland-lake-part-2.html

cheers

Peter

Beautful account, startlingly good photos and great reflection on turning back for home.

As an aside, does anyone know if the path up from Meston hut is easy to find? Does it actually begin from the track, a little north of the hut?

the track is extremely easy to find and very close to the hut across a little creek.

Thanks for the second part of your reporet Peter. It's one of those 'it's about the journey not the destination' tales.

Thanks for the feedback vagrom and tibboh. Yes, I guess this walk was a case of journey more than destination. As if to reinforce that point, a few other things happened that I may end up relating in a part 3 post.

And yes vagrom, tigercat is right. The track to Myrtle from Meston Hut is easy to find. Walk a little towards Lk Adelaide and it takes off straight up the hill to the north,

cheers

Peter

Thanks for info on the path up. I searched from behind the hut and just wound up in doo-doos. I didn't have a 1/25k map with me but on referral when I got home, I must have passed the turnoff just before arriving at the hut, travelling south. I look forward to my first visit to Myrtle and Rogoona, one fine day.

Has anyone found midges/sandflies to be much of a problem in Tassie? Certainly compared to the carnivorous NZ beasties, I've barely noticed them. But what have others found?

On our recent Lake Myrtle/Mt Rogoona walk, we were (eventually) besieged by the little blighters, once they'd locked onto us. And for a week or two after we got back, we had very itchy, lumpy bites all over our heads, faces, ears etc. For good measure we also got "locked onto" by a possum, as I recount in my final blogpost about that walk.

http://www.naturescribe.com/2014/01/nights-by-highland-lake-part-3.html

cheers

Peter

That is most interesting, Peter. Over the years I have had little nips, mostly near the hat line, but never anything other than an annoyance. However on a trip late last year SueOfTheSouth did swollen itching bites. Never happened before over many years of walking. Have they bred with a more potent invader?


Peter

I think midges can effect different people differently.
My not be the same species but I recently got eaten alive in Broome WA by midges, same result with very itchy red pimples for a couple of weeks after.
Apparently the locals get a tolerance to them and the don't even notice they have been bitten, I certainly noticed. So itchy, I still remember the torment.