'The Reserve' in Winter

[andyszollosi]

Fellow trekkers,

I would like to share some images that I captured during a recent, 25 day self-supported trip to the heart of 'The Reserve' in mid-winter.

My aim was to climb as many of the lesser visited peaks in Cradle Mt-Lake St Clair NP as I was able to do, therefore experiencing both the beauty and the bite of the Tasmanian winter.

Some key highlights of my trip included: Cradle Skyline Traverse (attempted), Pelion West Circuit and the Du Cane Traverse.

Although my tolerance of the cold was well and truly tested, I was amazed at the transformation of the landscape. Frozen tarns, icy boulder fields, and the short daylight hours
made for a truly unique experience. I'm also looking forward to the day when I'm able to feel with my fingertips again.

I used an Olympus EM-1 with a 12-40mm lens to take the following pictures.

Happy winter to everyone,
Andy

My friend, Rob climbing towards the summit of Mt Emmett in icy conditions. Rob joined me for the first two weeks of the walk.

The summit of Cradle Mountain after a snow storm.

The knife like ridge line of Cradle Mt, Dove Lake below.

My friends, Jimmy and Rob, who came along for the second week and first two weeks, respectively. We tackled the Pelion Circuit as a trio.

Mt Geryon, the three headed beast.

The frozen ridgeline of the Du Cane Range, leading towards Falling Mountain.

The 'big gun' of big gun pass.

If you would like to see more images of remote mountainous landscapes from Australia, or read some of my stories about solo wilderness travel, you can visit my blog,
http://mountainsofaustralia.com/the-reserve-in-winter/

[GPSGuided]

Spectacular! How did you manage your supply for the 25 days?

[andyszollosi]

I carried no more than 7 days worth of food at a time, which was ideal.

I placed three food drops along the route before starting the walk. There were two caches at Pelion Hut and one at Bert Nichol's Hut. These provisions I walked in myself and sealed in the big, 20L plastic buckets. Additionally, I hid them in the scrub to minimise the chance of interference from any two legged mammals. Alongside the food, I made sure to include other essentials; toilet paper, fuel, spare batteries and most importantly, plenty of chocolate.

[GPSGuided]

I see! Thanks for clarifying that up. With the cold, your energy requirement would have been enormous and can imagine the food load. Thanks for sharing your experiences here. Truly amazing!

[gayet]

Thank you!!

Wonderful images, but I don't envy you the frozen fingers.

Any chance of a more detailed trip report here?

[andyszollosi]

In the process of writing one up. May take a while though...

[wildlight]

Just a quick one Andy.

It's not often I look at a website of a walker / blogger / photographer all rolled into one and say what I am about to say here…

"Fantastic. Well done- and congrats on such an outstanding presentation of great content". I've read every word, looked at every image- and enjoyed every moment of it.

Cheers

WildLight

[andyszollosi]

Cheers wildlight, it's not often people take time out to read every word on my blog!

Also, I'm glad you enjoyed the content, there will be more of it coming in the next couple of months.

The boots have finally dried off, but I'll be putting them back on later on this winter when the snow falls!

Thanks again for taking the time to check out Mountains of Australia.

[walkabout]

Thanks for the great photos - I'm looking forward to reading your blog.

[Nuts]

Andy, nice pics, white winter trips are some of the most immersive and memorable. Hey, are you aware of the forum rules around reference to sensitive areas? Given the numbers walking the track and accessing info from here i'd consider the spirit of this rule to include descriptions and/or captioned pics of anywhere in the day walk area around Cradle or any of the peaks or easily accessed high camps, lakes and waterfalls off the track. How about yourself?

[north-north-west]

Andy, nice pics, white winter trips are some of the most immersive and memorable. Hey, are you aware of the forum rules around reference to sensitive areas? Given the numbers walking the track and accessing info from here i'd consider the spirit of this rule to include descriptions and/or captioned pics of anywhere in the day walk area around Cradle or any of the peaks or easily accessed high camps, lakes and waterfalls off the track. How about yourself?

That's a rather draconian interpretation of a rule which simply advises to avoid giving details of routes through sensitive off track areas. If you applied it to the 'Where am I?' thread more than 2/3s of the photos would have to be removed.

[north-north-west]

Andy: Some truly beautiful shots there. Most of these peaks aren't too bad in winter, but I'm in awe of someone who would climb Geryon in the snow.

[Nuts]

That's a rather draconian interpretation of a rule which simply advises to avoid giving details of routes through sensitive off track areas. If you applied it to the 'Where am I?' thread more than 2/3s of the photos would have to be removed.

Well I did try to tell you lot about such indulgences as that game..
'Draconian', if that is your interpretation, i'll take as severe on BWA Kudos, is fine by me.

[north-north-west]

That's a rather draconian interpretation of a rule which simply advises to avoid giving details of routes through sensitive off track areas. If you applied it to the 'Where am I?' thread more than 2/3s of the photos would have to be removed.

Well I did try to tell you lot about such indulgences as that game..
'Draconian', if that is your interpretation, i'll take as severe on BWA Kudos, is fine by me.

All hail the fun police!

[wildlight]

there will be more of it coming in the next couple of months.

hopefully that will include the remaining posts from your AAWT trip! I'm really keen to read the remainder of your account.

Cheers

Wildlight

[jimmyharris]

I was lucky enough to be able to spend a week out there with Andy and it certainly was a great trip. (I'm the one on the left in the campsite photo).

The two highlights for me were climbing Pelion East in 100km/hr+ winds with driving snow and finding our way down off an ice and snow-covered Thetis culminating in me nearly, but not quite, falling head-first down a very steep and rocky gully.

Great photos Andy - wish I'd been able to continue on to the DuCanes with you but looks like I'll hopefully get back there in October.

[andyszollosi]

Hey Nuts, you raise an interesting point about the photos.

My take is that the photos are captioned only with the names of the featured landmarks, and do not include descriptions of access routes. I hope that my photos depict the beauty of the Tasmanian winter and hopefully raise awareness about the truly unique wilderness that we have on this island. Places of such beauty should be known about and the names of famous landmarks should be recognised, wherever possible.

Is this agreeable with everyone?

Also, thanks for the positive feedback everyone, bringing these photos back really makes these big trips worthwhile.

ps: JImmy, you're going to love the Du Canes and our abel-bagging friends have an awesome itinerary planned. There are some serious blizzards in October usually, there may even be some snow up there!

[andyszollosi]

Wildlight, writing up the rest of my AAWT trip is high on my to do list. It will happen in the next couple of weeks!

[andyszollosi]

North north west, I got about 20m below the summit of Geryon before I decided to turn around. One of my microspikes was broken by this stage, it was Day 18 when I got to Geryon and I wasn't about to climb up on some icy boulders without grip on my boots. So I had to turn around just below the summit, was pretty shattered.
Next time, I'm taking mountaineering crampons!

[Travis22]

Beautiful collection of photographs Andy.

I too have just visited your website and really enjoy the read and additional photos there and cannot wait for further updates to your trip on the AAWT.

Travis.

(Quick off topic observation, your Hilleberg Soulo. You dont wrap the top guy rope point around the poles as per the instructions, interested in your take on this method, worthwhile or not etc?).

[Nuts]

Hey Nuts, you raise an interesting point about the photos.

My take is that the photos are captioned only with the names of the featured landmarks, and do not include descriptions of access routes. I hope that my photos depict the beauty of the Tasmanian winter and hopefully raise awareness about the truly unique wilderness that we have on this island. Places of such beauty should be known about and the names of famous landmarks should be recognised, wherever possible.

Is this agreeable with everyone?

Andy that is a noble hope and most likely inevitable. I think you have captured the feel of the park in winter very well.

I'm not sure I got the point across though, I mentioned several places without putting names to them so maybe it's not surprising some could take it as a puritanical assault. Anyhow, we did decide, we've got the rules and this area specifically has been moderated for captioned pics and mention of camping there and on the mountain.

NNW, (.) Anyhow, I wont be reporting anything, i'm less a fan of the rules than the actions that cause them. if camping on that plateau (and no, it doesn't matter where exactly Andy and Jimmy camped), a thought bubble here for potential campers, doesn't spark some concern for fragility, a prime campsite location on the edge of the state's busiest extended walk.. doesn't qualify, maybe we need to start another discussion. One where you can suggest places that do?

[stu]

Sheesh, i'm instantly reminded why I don't contribute to this site anymore.
I don't think Andy was outside the "rules" in the least, c'mon Nuts!!!
Considering the number of threads on this site that have photos / descriptions of remote / untracked areas & the literature readily available out there (Wild mag, The Abels books, Dombrovskis photos etc etc) he's not exactly opening the flood gates to the masses. I'm of the opposite opinion; I think more people should be made aware of our lesser known wild places to promote our wilderness values as a whole; I hardly think many people are going to start undertaking off track trips without prior experience, or at least no more than they currently do &/or have done for decades - and certainly not solely based on a few photos they see on this site.

Nice photos Andy & was great meeting you & the others; hopefully catch you for a walk in October.

[north-north-west]

24. Avoid posting detailed information on accessing sensitive areas without recognised tracks to public topics, but rather use private messages, email, or other non-public means to communicate such information instead. Feel free to ask questions about such areas publicly, so long as the post includes a reminder of this rule to get answers privately only.

That's the rule. My emphasis. A photo of a place isn't access info.

Agree completely with stu on this.

[Nuts]

Unbelievable, here we go again..?

Of course you agree Stu, I would have expected that went without saying. I'd rather people stuck around here despite the dramatics. If not, don't blame others for delicate temperaments. Especially not over such a routine concern for protection. I tried to to be nice about it?

I mean, I suspect NNW never read the original post before jumping on mine. She complied with this rule just the other day: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20691 It was good enough then..

I could suggest to NNW that with another couple of years in the bush her opinion may very well become a feeling about right/wrong/indifference, good luck trying to defend a 'feeling' when that inevitably happens.

It wasn't meant as an assault on anyone's 'rights' (heaven forbid), it was about a specific photo.
If your mate would like me to help here with a list of all the other sensitive places in the park that are fragile I can do so.
Nothing to do with remote peaks and obscure places, and 'fragile' only a part of the equation for that track. I'd thank anyone to not tell me what I should see as a concern, you lot take the result away from anyone that doesn't agree, you want more than that? Unbelievable.

We've had this battle over this very area before. It has been moderated in the past. If your boy doesn't have the experience to know how impacts develop out there then I'm happy to try to help educate him. If that is the attitude passed on through that company (his line was so typically CH I don't have to follow any blog link.. really), bring your manager back on here Andy and i'll explain to him. The other guys 'guides' too? Anyhow.. If merely an attitude developed personally, here we have/had 'rules'. Simple.

Where is fragile? You guys are telling me? Bung a tent at the Doris springs on the side of the track?

Do I have to spell out how something as simple as a caption photo can be (IS) interpreted? Unbelievable.

Maybe the site owner would like the freedom to cut loose with 'information', it appeared that way with his geo-tagging, let the silly rules slide while the noisy people that have tried to defend it slide away too? I do 'hope' he hasn't already been here, doubt it.

[north-north-west]

Unbelievable, here we go again..?

Of course you agree Stu, I would have expected that went without saying. I'd rather people stuck around here despite the dramatics. If not, don't blame others for delicate temperaments. Especially not over such a routine concern for protection. I tried to to be nice about it?

I mean, I suspect NNW never read the original post before jumping on mine. She complied with this rule just the other day: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20691 It was good enough then..

I could suggest to NNW that with another couple of years in the bush her opinion may very well become a feeling about right/wrong/indifference, good luck trying to defend a 'feeling' when that inevitably happens.

It wasn't meant as an assault on anyone's 'rights' (heaven forbid), it was about a specific photo.
If your mate would like me to help here with a list of all the other sensitive places in the park that are fragile I can do so.
Nothing to do with remote peaks and obscure places, and 'fragile' only a part of the equation for that track. I'd thank anyone to not tell me what I should see as a concern, you lot take the result away from anyone that doesn't agree, you want more than that? Unbelievable.

We've had this battle over this very area before. It has been moderated in the past. If your boy doesn't have the experience to know how impacts develop out there then I'm happy to try to help educate him. If that is the attitude passed on through that company (his line was so typically CH I don't have to follow any blog link.. really), bring your manager back on here Andy and i'll explain to him. The other guys 'guides' too? Anyhow.. If merely an attitude developed personally, here we have/had 'rules'. Simple.

Where is fragile? You guys are telling me? Bung a tent at the Doris springs on the side of the track?

Do I have to spell out how something as simple as a caption photo can be (IS) interpreted? Unbelievable.

Maybe the site owner would like the freedom to cut loose with 'information', it appeared that way with his geo-tagging, let the silly rules slide while the noisy people that have tried to defend it slide away too? I do 'hope' he hasn't already been here, doubt it.

This is not an appropriate place for this argument. Can we move it elsewhere or leave it?

[Nuts]

Why ask for populist support? Why not just report the topic (for the win)?

[doogs]

Great photos Andy, there's always something special about getting out and about in winter. Even if the winter in Tasmania is more occasional than a proper season!
Nuts- Maybe you should ask nicely to have the one caption removed that seems to cause you by far the most offence? I understand your opinion (on that one particular photo), I just don't agree with your methods..

[GPSGuided]

To anyone who takes the effort to stop, takes the gloves off in freezing cold and set up their camera for some incredible shots... I'm in awe! These photos and the stories that goes with them are just amazing and inspiring. How about taking those murky forum rule discussions to another thread and let those with deletion powers decide? As far as I can see, this is a fantastic thread!

[stu]

I agree with Doogs.
Nuts - if you had specifically referred to the Doris camp photo i'd have agreed with your sentiment as I do understand your rationale behind this comment (even tho I do think the Reserve out of season & in the midst of winter is another story).
If you are going to moderate then be sure to be specific on what has breached the rules & regs.

[Nuts]

Sorry, I really don't care whether you guys agree or what you agree on, I don't quickly forget the name calling and bullying, the bed you guys made.

It was a civil response made wordy by trying to avoid repeating the reference of concern and it Was a small thing.

PS. And no, it doesn't just apply to concern for the cushion plant groves around Mt Doris.