Lake,Mountain,Lookout
Posted inBushwalking

Cradle and Barn – January 2020

If there was an origin for my bushwalking, it's the Cradle Mountain area.  The first walk I can remember was the old Dove Lake circuit before the lake level track made it the tourist-friendly doddle it is today.  I was four years old.  Amazingly mum and dad were also hauling my two younger siblings on the epic journey through…
Mt Victoria Cross from Mt Wylly
Posted inBushwalking

Southern Ranges – Third Time Lucky – February 2020

If at first you don't succeed... We were super keen to test our theory that we could complete the Southern Ranges traverse, New River Lagoon wade and South Coast Track (SCT) to Cockle Creek in four days.  Our next opportunity arose when a few days off lined up at the start of February - potentially the most stable part…
kooparoona niara / Great Western Tiers
Posted inBushwalking

Tassie’s World Heritage Listed Potential Production Forest

Final day of submissions on this issue.  Here's what I've sent: Dear Natural Heritage Policy Team, Thank you for the opportunity to make submissions regarding the reservation of Future Potential Production Forest Land (FPPFL) within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA). In March 2016 Minister Groom said, “The Tasmanian Government welcomes the report of the World Heritage monitoring…
Mount Victoria Cross
Posted inBushwalking

Southern Ranges – Take Two – December 2019

Mount Victoria Cross I have a confession.  Before the 2011 trip to Southern Ranges I blogged about recently I thought I could have a crack at Precipitous Bluff (PB) that long weekend.  On the Friday night I left work later than expected, took longer to get ready than expected but still hit the road late in the evening with…
Crossing Winterbrook
Posted inBushwalking

PCT and Reynolds Falls

https://www.youtube.com/embed/hAhTzgQIDnM Tasmania's Overland Track (OT) has a little-known, younger sibling, the Penguin to Cradle Trail or PCT for short.  While the OT was conceived in 1931 by rangers at opposite ends of a park, the PCT was imagined and built into existence by members of the North-West Walking Club in 1972, the year I was born!  As a child…
Southern Ranges – November 2011
Posted inBushwalking

Southern Ranges – November 2011

Mount La Perouse summit cairn with Pindars Peak in the distance Pindars Peak, Prion Beach and the Maatsuyker Group Day One Pre-dawn mist near Hunterston in Tasmania's central highlands. The Southern Ranges and their holy grail, Precipitous Bluff, have loomed large in my consciousness since habitually poring over John Chapman's first edition of South West Tasmania when I was…
South Point
Posted inTrail Running

South Point

A day trip from Tidal River to South Point via Oberon Bay then return via Telegraph Saddle in one of Australia's reputedly busiest national parks. How many people do you think we met? None! Little Oberon Bay Oberon Bay Well, to be exact we saw 2 walkers heading away from us towards the lighthouse at Roaring Meg but they…
Tarkine Falls – May & June 2008
Posted inBushwalking

Tarkine Falls – May & June 2008

A couple of 10-year old posts from my old blog... Tarkine Falls May 2008 Recently I had the opportunity to complete part of the Tarkine Rainforest Track south of the Arthur River in the state's north-west.  The Tarkine is an area which many people still find hard to define.  It is a vast area of rainforest, remote mountains and…
If Aus Mtn Running Champs Were One Week Later…
Posted inTrail Running

If Aus Mtn Running Champs Were One Week Later…

Fresh Autumn snow blanketed kunanyi / Mount Wellington a couple of Sunday's ago.  It was exactly a week after our mountain hosted the Australian Trail Running Championships.  What if the snow and the championships coincided?   Panorama Track Settled snow would have been encountered at the event's halfway mark on the steep Old Hobartians track.  Front runners would have encountered…
2018 Australian Mountain Running Championships
Posted inTrail Running

2018 Australian Mountain Running Championships

Happy finishers Fine and mild conditions (by Tassie standards) accompanied runners as they ascended through the stringy bark (E. obliqua) forests on kunanyi / Mount Wellington's lower slopes in the 2018 Australian Mountain Running Championships.  After leaving Talosa Park fire trails gave plenty of elbow room as social joggers like myself were soon separated from serious contenders on the steep sections before reaching…