Mt Anne Circuit

[Binder]

After a recent trip up there, I would strongly suggest picking up your water from as close to the base of the cliffs behind Shelf Camp (upstream) as you can. Seems like some folk think that dooin' pooin' around your water supply is ok.

We may tie Shelf Camp in with some upcoming signage and trial poo tube work that we are planning on having in place for Lake Rhona by the end of winter. Stay tuned.

Cheers

[PeterJ]

......We may tie Shelf Camp in with some upcoming signage and trial poo tube work that we are planning on having in place for Lake Rhona by the end of winter. Stay tuned.

Actually Binder, I am not convinced these tubes will ever really be successfully adopted. I reckon, as a temporary measure until funds are available for a better solution, that at these sites a signed track to a pit toilet out of the watershed should be put in (not that easy at Shelf but then maybe a campsite relocation is required anyway). There are quite a number about already with toilet seats at or just above ground level without a building (Junction Creek, Hanging Lake and south coast for example). How have these ones been from an environmental point of view?

Cheers to you

[Binder]

Fair comment Peter.

Unfortunatley pit toilets are no longer an option as new installations and existing ones are gradually being replaced around the state. The sputniks are classed as a temporary installation, so just scrape through all the regulations, whereas pit toilets don't.

I see the carry out option added to better education about going in the scrub as being one of the few options we have given the current (and forseeable) budget climate and legislation we have to meet. Agreed, it's not a perfect fix but it's worth a shot !

Cheers

[Miyata610]

I, for one, would be happy to always carry my poo out from the parks... geez you have to do it for snow treks anyway, it really is no big deal. Just "make it so".

[Liamy77]

If anyone wants a poo-tube i am happy to make one up at cost for em BTW... and there aree bio-degradable nappy sacks in Big W too (i have some of these)

[Nuts]

poo tubes make sense for large groups and institutions but there are smaller, cheaper, lighter options. Bio bags (doggy bags are cheap and everywhere), in a zip lock? disp. food storage container? spaghetti storer? so on.. We used the poo on a piece of kitchen paper, stick in a bio bag thing before with success..

Hopefully tubes will work binder, needs to be as simple, light, easy, attractive as possible (hot air blower? ) education might work to remove bulk even if not the worst offenders, good on you for trying things.

[Snowzone]

Thanks ILUV & Binder. I will definately be careful where I collect my water from.

I would be more than happy to carry out waste to ensure a safe and clean water supply and a much nicer area to camp in. I've used the doggy bag, then straight into a dry sack method before when snow camping. Its a no brainer really.

[JamesMc]

The argument that toilets can't be installed at places like Shelf Camp and Lake Rhona because the wilderness (or whatever) zoning does not allow toilets means that these places are condemned to be polluted because of Tas government policy. Now bushwalkers are more observant of the law than most other people but
"true" bushwalkers are not the only people out there in the bush. There are places like Lake Judd where there are fish, which attrach certain other people. There are also places like Lt Deadmans Bay which are accessible to boat people.

At Little Deadmans Bay camp fires are allowed, in fire places. This must surely be in deference to reality, noting that it's better for boat people to light fires in a fire place than outside a fire place, and it doesn't really make sense to have a fire place and prohibit its use. Consideration should also be given to reality when it comes to toileting.

JamesMc

[Nuts]

Tas government policy

WHA obligations more likely?

[Liamy77]

.... There are also places like Lt Deadmans Bay which are accessible to boat people.......
JamesMc

That'd be immigrations problem wouldn't it ?!

[flyfisher]

There are places like Lake Judd where there are fish, which attrach certain other people

Many "certain other people"are every bit as environmentaly aware as walkers. They are in fact walkers that like to fish, and to wander.

FF

[Liamy77]

i think there are a certain percentage of idiots across any range of activities....

[myrtlegirl]

Can anyone tell me if the tank at High Camp has much water in it, or if there is water in the stretch between High Camp and the Mt Anne turnoff?
Thanks!

[pazzar]

There are plenty of tarns on the Mt Eliza plateau. As for the tank, I am not sure, but we have had a bit of rain lately, so I would presume that there is water in there.

[Stonie]

I walked the Circuit with my father two weeks ago, great weather. Hardly any rain! Brilliant walk!

Before setting off I read this thread and I have Chapman’s book....
There is plenty of focus on the Notch… probably too much. When you get there the notch pretty underwhelming… an easy rock climb. (It is a climb and not a scramble – however)
You will need a rope for pack hauling unless you have a large group (4+) in that case you might be able to form a pack “chain gang” – but to be honest if the weather turns bad I would want a rope for safety anyway.

What I do wish to point out is that the traverse from the notch to the top of Mt Lot does not get much air play here or in the book... and has some pretty serious drop offs and sections that require careful scrambling.
And further pack hauling in line with your comfort level. Also putting your pack back on needs to be done with due care, as the consequences of losing balance on the section could be dire.

I would say that the Notch to Lot summit section is more dangerous than the notch itself and I would hate to be caught in bad weather up there.
All depends on your skill and experience and is subjective of course, to be clear… I’m an intermediate walker, not a super human like some of the guys that post on this forum.

I’m not trying to put anyone off! the walk was worth every step! Just trying to fill in a few gaps in this thread for those interested.

I can also confirm that some halfwit has deposited poop in the path of shelf camps main water supply.
I would walk right up to the waterfall at the back of the camp to collect your water.

@myrtlegirl - Plenty of water in high camp hut tank.

Here are a couple of pics of the segment between the notch and mount lot’s summit.

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[dplanet]

I follow this thread with great interest in the two tricky spots pointed out: The Notch climbing and the boulder scrambling between The Notch and Mt Lot

Based on photos of The Notch provided by Norts and ILUSWTAS, it looks doable with a rope; but have to watch out for the pack while doing the pack hauling. I mean additional time to retrieve the pack if it gets loose.

Good point, Stonie. But, based on Chapman’s Mt Anne map, there are two routes to get over Mt Lot summit. Which way did you do?

A couple of years ago, few of us planned to do the circuit; but could not complete due to weather conditions. We walked in from Condominium Creek and stayed at High Camp for our first night. Day walk to Mt Anne was the next day. Our third night camp was near Lake Judd then walked back out to the start.

On my recent trip to Tasmania, the plan to walk from Red-T-Creek to Mt Lot could not go ahead because of the damage to my trekking pole which had taken place in a boggy scrub in Rasselas valley. Fortunately, it could be fixed by a staff in an outdoor bushwalking store in Hobart.

An urge of revisit is always in my mind and hope that the two tricky points will be looked into in near future by Parks & Wildlife Service.

[Vern]

The Notch can channel the wind and make it pretty gusty which could change things but I've never had a problem. There is not really much exposure on that climb. And it's a very low grade climb at that. Definately a rope to pack haul is handy.

The climb to Mt Lot does have some exposed sections but nothing I remember as being all that dangerous. I managed to do one of the climbs in this part without taking my pack off but that made the climb pretty tricky. The next time I did the circuit I took it off and it was much easier. Again it's a low grade climb.

Overall I love this walk for just that reason; the challenge, the feeling of being somewhere remote, the views, the mix of walking, scrambling, climbing and just being in Tassie! I also think there's a sense of achievement at the end of it. I love this walk as it is.

[durks]

... hope that the two tricky points will be looked into in near future by Parks & Wildlife Service.

Be careful what you wish for. Unless these spots are suffering badly from, say, erosion damage owing to pressure of numbers, then I would hope that they would be left well alone.

My experience is out-of-date - I've only done the full circuit once, and that was about 30 years ago - but I don't recall any particular difficulties.

By the way, that's a rather radically 'tilted' photo in the posting a couple above this one. Try rotating it 90 degrees for a slightly more authentic feel!

[Orion]

By the way, that's a rather radically 'tilted' photo in the posting a couple above this one. Try rotating it 90 degrees for a slightly more authentic feel!

Yes, it's almost exactly 90 degrees rotated. Too funny.

I thought the notch felt a little exposed. My friend asked me to ferry her pack there (I forgot to pack a rope). But the only place we encountered that was difficult on the way to Mt. Lot was the short slippery section shown below. There appeared to be alternatives though.

What a beautiful place! Then all that thrashing and mud at the end of the circuit... well, it is Tasmania. Near Lake Judd I was walking along barely squishing in a few centimeters when I suddenly dropped into the mud nearly to my hips, a record for me. It made me wonder if anybody has ever gone in all the way and drowned in Tasmanian mud.

[Stonie]

Ok... looking at that picture now that is kind of funny… however I’m not trying to be a di*ck with the angles…
They never look right in pictures anyway .... even better rotated a further 90 for a fully radical effect (now im being a di*ck

P2110132-800.jpg (217.11 KiB) Viewed 12289 times

Anyone that has taken a camera knows you can never do places like this justice with photos.
it’s just far too incredible\beautiful to capture the experience in a still or even video. You have to walk there and feel it

Jokes aside: there is a memorial plaque between high camp hut and the Mt Eliza Plateau in remembrance to a walker who fell to his death, quote: “near the notch” I didn’t mention this before because I didn’t want to come across as scaremongering... Conversely some of the macho on this forum could be viewed as slightly irresponsible (granted track/route difficulty is subjective).

Stonie. But, based on Chapman’s Mt Anne map, there are two routes to get over Mt Lot summit. Which way did you do?

@dplanet: pretty much the easiest way: up though the notch, then around the section posted by @Orion - not up it, but up via a nearby scree slope, then the tracks join before the summit. (you hardly save any time doing that second climb)

BTW: I'm with @Dirks! I hope the area is left alone… the track is hardly eroded, and is largely solid scree and boulder anyway.
It’s such a great walk, something I will never forget. Totally awesome.

[eggs]

I'm yet to get past the saddle to Mt Anne going down to shelf camp [after 4 trips], but a long time ago I knew a young girl whose sister died on the sides of Mt Lot.
Her name is recorded in one of the early Tasmanian TRAMPs - in an article listing deaths in SW Tas.

The story as I remember it is that she was with her friend who was in front. The friend heard a noise and turned to find she had gone. Simply slipped off the edge.
So yes - this is a serious location - take care.
I believe they came in over Lake Judd to recover the body.

[tastrekker]

I enjoyed the Mt Anne Circuit 2 weeks ago without reading this thread beforehand. I got up most of the way out of The Notch with my pack on but found hauling myself onto the top ledge beyond me so used a rope for that last bit.

It's great seeing pics of the exposure from The Notch up to Mt Lot. It was windy, wet and sub-50m visibility when I did it. There was no view after Shelf Camp until Lake Picone and Judds Charm suddenly appeared from the mist as we exited the forest below Lightning Ridge. I also had very limited visibility on Mt Anne and Mt Lot.

Can't wait to go back again to get the views. Here's my pics on FB

[tastrekker]

By the way, that's a rather radically 'tilted' photo in the posting a couple above this one. Try rotating it 90 degrees for a slightly more authentic feel!

What a beautiful place! Then all that thrashing and mud at the end of the circuit... well, it is Tasmania. Near Lake Judd I was walking along barely squishing in a few centimeters when I suddenly dropped into the mud nearly to my hips, a record for me. It made me wonder if anybody has ever gone in all the way and drowned in Tasmanian mud.

Yes, I also suffered a couple of waist deep plunges which, given I had shorts on, inserted mud where it really doesn't belong. The swim in Lake Judd was a great remedy until I fell in the mud again on the way out.

I would love to know if anyone else has lost the track soon after the Lake Judd turn-off. I got into an area of cutting grass and ti tree where muddy tracks led off and vanished in every direction. I walked trackless for a km or so until sidling up to the track further along Schnells Ridge.

[stu]

Sad stories of lives lost...I guess we should all 'adventure' within our limits? (Brian, I would love to see that article on deaths in the SW, just to add to the reference shelf).

I have been through the Anne circuit a couple of times & found the Notch no trouble (tho I do love to rock climb as well as hike); I thought it was much easier than the tricky bits on Anne herself...but a full pack does change a situation.
I have even run into a couple who walked from the car @ Condominium Creek to the Notch, decided it was too difficult for them so walked back to their car, drove to Red Tape Creek & walked all the way back up to Mt Lot from the other end.

A couple of more photos of the Notch below:

Approaching the Notch.

Climbing the Notch.

[north-north-west]

That looks no worse than a lot of the scrambles in the WArthurs. Certainly not as bad as the worst bit on Anne.

I must go back through there one day when I can see where I'm going . . .

[dplanet]

Good evening stu,
Wish I have sexy long legs like the above ones.
tastrekker,
Thanks for the pack-hauling photographs. Will try.