Mt Olympus and Lake Oenone

[kramster]

Spent the March long-weekend on a 2-night jaunt up Mt Olympus.
Our journey started by taking the ferry up the lake as far as Echo Point, following the Overland Track up the lake a little further before taking our prescribed route to Lake Oenone. The original plan was to camp the first night at Lake Oenone, and ascend Olympus the following day before descending down to Lake Petrarch for the 2nd night, and out the Curvier Valley track the third day. Our actual ascent took us too far south of Oneone (and we realised this once finding ourselves on a scree-covered ridge after coming out of the scrub, not that far from the southern Olympus massif). So we ended up going over Olympus South before descending back to Lake Oenone. Spent two nights camping at an idealic lakeside spot, and ticking off the true summit of Mt Olympus (the northern peak is higher) as a day walk. Our return journey took us back down to Lake St Clair in the rain, where we waited for the ferry at Echo Pt (being a bit lazy, tired and soggy at this stage). We had raised the appropraite signal panel and waved frantically at the driver as he passed (up and back), and he returned with a casual wave... but didn't stop for us. Thus followed a somewhat long 3.5 hour slog along the lake shore back to Cynthia Bay.

Attachments

One of the many cliffs we had to negotiate en-route to Lake Oenone

Lk Oenone from Mt Olympus (south)

Mt Olympus (north) from Lk Oenone

Summit tarns on Mt Olympus

[kramster]

More!

Attachments

Looking back down from the Olympus (north) plateau

Sunset at Lk Oenone

(shameless plug) the Macpac Olympus and Mt Olympus :)

Mt Ida from Echo Point

[eggs]

Great photos - thanks for posting

We were at Echo Point a few years back and I believe the boat only stops to drop people off on the way up, and never stops on the way back.
This is a change to the old time practise of hailing the boat, but I believe the rule is you must book
- hence calling from Narcissus, and there is no mobile coverage at Echo Point (Mt Olympus blocks the line of sight)
You could have walked to Narcissus to get it.

If that is the case - they should probably remove the "signal" at Echo Point.

[stu]

Nice kramster, thanks for sharing.
It's a great little walk & not too difficult as far as off track walks go in the area, the sandstone cliffs certainly add some fun!

I'd have been ready to let loose at the freyy driver - the lake shore walk is pretty boring but i'm sure far more worse when you've been left with no choice!

[Penguin]

Great photos.

Spent two great nights up there two years ago. Could it be the best camping spot in the Cradle Mountain/Lake StClaire National Park.

Penguin

[frenchy_84]

nice photos and thanks for the report. The summit looks quite clear, once on top is it easy to walk along the whole ridge? Do you know if it is possible to walk up from near Byron Gap?

[stepbystep]

nice photos and thanks for the report. The summit looks quite clear, once on top is it easy to walk along the whole ridge? Do you know if it is possible to walk up from near Byron Gap?

2km Nth of Byron Gap apparently is the best entry point.

[MJD]

It's a great boulder hop along the ridge. Good fun. There is a pad up from the Byron Gap.

[kramster]

Could it be the best camping spot in the Cradle Mountain/Lake StClaire National Park.

shhh.... don't tell everyone!
I'd be putting it in my Top 10 at the very least.

[norts]

Just a quick by the way , there is mobile coverage at Echo.
Roger

[Neil Grose]

The signal at Echo Point is for emergencies only, however the driver should have called in if he/she saw it, as it is part of SOP to check it as you go past (I was a driver on the ferry last summer).
It is pretty easy to see from the lake on the way up to Narcissus in all but horrid foggy conditions, however it isn't that clear on the way back down, as you are past it before you can see it.
The driver isn't allowed to pick up from Echo on the way up, as passengers at Narcissus have priority, even if they haven't booked over the radio.
Last summer one French guy talked me into letting him on at Echo on the way up, however I had to leave him at Narcissus as there was 22 people waiting for a lift back. Them's the breaks.
I take it from your report you didn't get into Petrach? It is high on my 'to-do' list, but from speaking with Bazza at St Clair Parks, the Cuvier River track is pretty awful.
Cheers
Neil.

[Mickeymoo]

Great photos, the campsite is certaily up there for one of the nicest, especially when the fagus turns!

[Penguin]

A few of us are heading up this way again soon.

I can find no good track notes for the Echo Point to Oenone part of the trip; apart from - "walk up the hill" I realise that there is no defined track, having done the walk a few years ago. At the time we had not great problems, but I love redundancy if possible if heading off track.

Does anybody know of, or have any, track notes or GPS route record for the walk from Echo Point up to help out if needed.

Penguin

[ILUVSWTAS]

A few of us are heading up this way again soon.

I can find no good track notes for the Echo Point to Oenone part of the trip; apart from - "walk up the hill" I realise that there is no defined track, having done the walk a few years ago. At the time we had not great problems, but I love redundancy if possible if heading off track.

Does anybody know of, or have any, track notes or GPS route record for the walk from Echo Point up to help out if needed.

Penguin

Not really needed. It was pretty easy open forest with no scrub to speak of.

[Penguin]

Not really needed. It was pretty easy open forest with no scrub to speak of.

That is my memory from a few years ago, but memory can play tricks . Turn left and go up was the way, with a few cliff's along the walk.

All good fun.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yep thats right. We found a tag under the main cliffs showing a way up, but there were other ways through anyway.

[Vern]

I got some handy directions from some other adventurers I bumped into on the way to Oenone.
I posted them in a trip report here http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=6636

[Penguin]

Thanks Vern

Good post and thanks for the track tips - hope we get some views.

P