What's the weather doing this week?

[Ciaran]

Flights booked, packs loaded, track routes organised, weather........who put the kye-bosch on the weather this week?

Who thinks the Du Cane Range will be do-able tuesday to sunday? If anyone has the password for finer skies then I'm asking for it.

My analysis on the next week is for rain, rain, and just a little more rain. So the planned walk accross the Du Cane Range may have to wait a little longer. Not happy Jan!

So what do we think about this:
-Do Frenchmans tuesday until friday
-Lake St Clair friday night replennish supplies
-Pine Valley and Labyrinth saturday to monday

Works for transport, all still wet, but with some luck weather will clear for next weekend. Good thing for Frenchie is the huts will make life more comfortable, no sure bets for summits though, but that seems to be the way for the Central Plateau this week.

Ciaran.

[lyndoor]

Wouldn't we all like to get hold of that crystal ball?!!!
Frenchman's is great but if you get rain, you will see the Loddens in their finest!! ...& you really need a good day to summit but Lake Vera is the pick of the Huts. You could base there & make your decision to carry on or not.
I've done Pine Valley in water up to my knees - great experience, no really! The Hut has been without heating over the winter & I was told last week when we did a walk that it is very mouldy. We headed overnight to the new Bert Nichols Hut (aka Windy Ridge) & enjoyed the new digs. (We sweltered in the mornings & it poured the first afternoon!) Very palacial & unfortunately leaked like a sieve in half the communal area but overall it was nice. I have been told it's high ceilings make for a very cold hut in the winter but we were nice & cosy.

Go for it, Tassie weather is always hit & miss!
Lyndoor

[pazzar]

The Loddons are relatively dry at the moment. The worst of the mud is easily avoidable without causing any further damage. Philps Lead was underwater when I came out last Sunday, so if it rains, expect the creek to flood. Sounds like you are in for a pretty awesome trip though. We had a ripper of a day in the south-west. Not a cloud in the sky, but now I'm paying for it, red arms will hurt in the morning.

[roseart]

Towards the end of January there are a group of us considering walking up from Pine Valley into the Labyrinth and Lake Hellios,
then onto to Mt Massif and Castle Crag, then to the Overland Track.
Does anyone know if we can expect to find water between Lake Hellios - Mt Massif and the Overland Track?
How much time should be allow ourselves to walk between Lake Hellios and the Overtrack Track?
Are there any good spots to camp overnight between Lake Hellios and the Overtrack Track?
What places that are worth taking a look at?
Any hints and/or advice will be gratefully recieved?

[melinda]

Anyone been out to the Arthurs in the last few days??
Tell me that the sun is shining and it's going to stay that way!

[ollster]

Not much camping in between Helios and the OLT. Massif high camp and the top of Falling Mountain around CC provide camping - the rest is basically boulders and other rocky ground. We walked (in late November 2010 I think) from Bert Nichols hut > Massif high camp > Helios in fine weather with no navigational issues. I don't think we walked for more than 7-8 hours per day, I recall we got to both camps mid-late afternoon.

Having been into the lower end of the park to do My Olympus over the last couple of days, I'd be concerned about the lack of water. Many of the huts had run out of water (a ranger told us that) and water was somewhat scarce in some areas around the top and sides of Mt Olympus.

Damn, I thought I had a GPS track of the route we took... but I don't. Still if you need any tips about the route just ask.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Anyone been out to the Arthurs in the last few days??
Tell me that the sun is shining and it's going to stay that way!

Not looking good sorry. Forecast for rain for the next week or so.....

[melinda]

Gee ILUVSWTAS,
That's not the answer I was looking for!
Flying down on Tuesday.
Starting to think it may be wise to have a backup plan. (Just in case.)
So ..... any suggestions for a 7 day walk in the SW that may not be as weather affected as the Arthurs.

[ollster]

So ..... any suggestions for a 7 day walk in the SW that may not be as weather affected as the Arthurs.

Southern Range? Possibly only slightly less hazardous...

[stepbystep]

I reckon your timing will be good Tuesday looks rubbish but there is a huge high moving over and by Thursday I think you will be in a patch of the good stuff for a few days.

If it's no good maybe go for a cpl of shorter walks like Rhona and the Anne Circuit?

[melinda]

Hi stepbystep and ollster,
Still focused on Arthurs but having a few options is good!
Was thinking about Lake Rhona and Mt Anne.
They tell me that Rhona is like a mini Peddar (as it used to be)
What do you guys sacrifice to Taz weather gods when the need arises???

[stepbystep]

What do you guys sacrifice to Taz weather gods when the need arises???

Ourselves

[melinda]

Well that's OK, I'm already doing that!
Sitting here sewing a new Dyneema bottom onto my pack.
Lots of blood letting already going on!
Ouch...