Cradle Mountain Summit.. At Night

[Steve]

From the weather report it sounded as though the weekend was going to be clearing up so we didn't know what to expect that night. From the overcast coast I didn't think it would get any better further inland and even more so after a bit of a drizzy on the drive. To my surprise it was a pretty humid and warm night lakeside. The sky was covered in cloud with not the slightest sign of a moon or stars. After referring to the trusty 'ol GPS we discovered the moon had set at 7pm, so it was gonna be a dark night regardless.

Me and my mate met up at Dove Lake carpark at 8:30pm ready and rearing to go in our attempt to reach the Cradle Mountain summit in the dark. In such warm conditions it was a hot and sweaty climb up to Marions, just as much so as doing it during the day. From the first of the chains we started getting into the mist which cut back visibility quite significantly. We were both relieved to finally come out on top and have the nice cool breeze cool us down. The cool breeze made sure we didn't stay put for long. We did good time across Cradle Plateau having no dramas finding our way and before long we made it to Kitchen Hut. We dumped out packs and had a drink and a bite before leaving Kitchen Hut at around 10pm.

We began ascending finding it pretty easy going at first. Once we left the dirt and got onto the rocks things became a bit trickier. Visibility would have been 5-6 meters at best so it was quite hard to spot some of the poles. We had been making out way up for almost half an hour when my mates head torch battery decided to go flat. We contemplated turning back but our desired to make it to the top made it only a mere inconvenience. We pushed on, initially me leading the way then pointing my beam back so he could see what he was doing. This was working but taking awhile. After a little we changed our approach, I went behind and he took the lead which ended up working heaps better; I could still see where I was going and my beam was pointed far enough forward he could see where he was going too. With all the mist in the air it made seeing kind of like wearing fogged up sunglasses, as the light kind of reflects off the mist making a sort of glare. It was kind of weird how some stretches of rock were bone dry while others were as wet as they'd just been rained on. As we got higher we noticed a few gaps in the clouds every now and then. A few times we switched the light off and got some really clear views of the stars and could just make out the outline of the mountain. The view of down below was pretty cool too, the valleys were completely covered in fog with only the cirque area leading toward Barn Bluff sticking out. The views never lasted long as the cloud was moving pretty quick. We made really reasonable time on the way up, faster than a lot of people doing during the day when they can see where there walking! We made it to the summit at 11 something. From there we got the best views of the day, well night. You could just make out the boulders along the top, some awesome views of the stars, and the fog in the valleys. After having a look on the GPS we could just make out the outline of Barn Bluff almost hidden in cloud. We only stayed on top got 5 mins or so until we got a move on heading back down. On the way down we had a lot more success finding the poles quickly and we got back to Kitchen Hut in no time (1ish). From there we contemplated where to spend the night. We decided against Waterfall Valley in the end and headed in the direction of Scott Kilvett, via the Face Track. It was easy walking along the Face Track besides maybe two little vague areas. We didn't end up getting to bed until the early hours of Saturday.

The next morning we awoke expecting to see some blue sky and sunshine, however that wasn't to be, it was just as overcast as the day before. We got packed up and made our way out over Hansons Peak, took a quick sidetrip up Mt Campbell and arrived back to the carpark mid-morning thus concluding the trip. I'd been eyeing off doing Cradle Mountain in the night for quite some time so it was great to finally give it a go and tick it off my list. It was one of the most exciting trips I've done for awhile, something completely different then the norm. One of the best things about doing a walk like this at night is you know you're not gonna be having run-ins with hoards of tourists! We'll definitely be doing something like this again sometime. Quite fitting that it was my fourth night walk in the Cradle Mountain area and the fourth time I've summited Cradle Mountain too!

[geoskid]

Well done Steve - I like your sense of adventure.
Brave to write about it here though - Beware the Motherhood comments.
Edit - Must add though,(yes and the first Motherhood comment is from me!) whilst I like the Idea, It would take a confident person to do this particular summit at night.
I have spoken to a mate (fellow forum member Flyfisher) about walking at night, after reading the book Frog Call, where the Author Greg French recounts several adventures that begin with a walk at night to end at his destination in the early hours of the morning ready to fish at dawn - fascinating reading and exciting walking no doubt. The thing about walking at night is you can take on a destination that you would normally reserve for a long W/end. I hav'nt done it yet but am looking forward to my first starlight( or headlight lit) walk.
Normal disclaimers, caveats, responsibility clauses apply of course.

[Lizzy]

Nice one! But perhaps a spare headtorch wouldn't have gone astray (me being of the mother kind...)

[geoskid]

Nice one! But perhaps a spare headtorch wouldn't have gone astray (me being of the mother kind...)

Good on ya mum

[dee_legg]

Good stuff Steve.
Sounds like a great night out.
One of my favourite walks to date was in the early hours of New Years Eve when I walked up to the hut on Mt Anne. We had planned on walking up on the day of NYE but the 35 degree forecast was off putting so we did it in very mild and clear conditions the night before instead. It was magic!

[MJD]

Sounds like fun.

I can remember sitting on the top of a snow covered Weindorfers Tower (left hand end of Cradle Mtn overlooking the Little Horn) and watching the sun set one winter's evening with my father and the late Ossie Ellis. The only problem with this was that we only had one torch between the three of us and no overnight gear. Just one of those afternoon strolls that had become more and more ambitious. It was certainly very dark for the return journey! Does this count or do you have to set off in the dark .

[eggs]

Wow MJD.
I thought you needed ropes to get up Weindorfers?
Or did you have that gear as well?

Brian

[Steve]

Thanks for the comments guys!

@ geoskid - I'm sure once you do your first night walk you'll love it! It makes a walk you've done a hundred times a completely new experience.

@ Lizzy - We each had spare batteries in our packs at KH, in hind sight they weren't much good down there!

@ dee_legg - That would have been an awesome trip! That really is a magic area. But yeah gotta do anything avoid heat like that.

@ MJD - That sounds like quite the adventure! I know all about those walks that have a habit getting longer and longer. I'd say that'd count too!

[MJD]

Weindorfers Tower - Depends exactly which point you call the top of the tower. Once you ascend the obvious gully on the left hand end of Cradle you can go left or right. Going right gets you to the higher point with a cairn - going this way is relatively easy, has one bit with some exposure, and doesn't require a rope. Going left is a lot more entertaining and not something that you would want to fall off. There's a cairn on the left side as well. I have been up the left a couple of times: once from the gully and once from the Little Horn side. Pretty sure that we abseiled off this side both times.

[Son of a Beach]

Nice one Steve. My only night time walks have been just after dark, by accident. I've often thought I'd like to do something easy at night with a full moon out, and hopefully not have to use a torch at all (although walk carry one, of course).

[flyfisher]

My brother in law, myself and our wives walked along a track at Arthurs lake between Jonah bay and Hydro bay for a couple of k's just at dusk and then returned through the bush in the dark. The bush was light and we had torches but we mostly kept them off to let eyes become accustomed to the dark, and we haven't had our hands held so tightly since courting days.
It was a fun experience.
Forgot to add- it was Easter 4 or 5 years ago so we had a good moon.(always full at Easter)
FF

[Steve]

Nice one Steve. My only night time walks have been just after dark, by accident. I've often thought I'd like to do something easy at night with a full moon out, and hopefully not have to use a torch at all (although walk carry one, of course).

It's great walking solely by moonlight, only that I'd done it twice that I can remember. After the first time I invested in a headtorch, the second time was under better conditions. Every other time clouds have warranted a headtorch.

When you think about it there's not really many walks you can do by moonlight. If you're under a tree canopy you can't see a thing and you can't do anything with uneven ground. Most importantly you need a well defined track or a board walk! Beaches are always good.

[north-north-west]

I've done a lot of nighttime beaches, but otherwise the dark walks have not been entirely voluntary.

I can recall one hellishly frustrating night wandering around on Jagungal looking for the tent, certain that it was somewhere on this slope but it couldn't possibly be as far down as that sort of tent-shaped thing down there . . .
At least it didn't rain. And it was worth the discomfort to watch the sunset from the top and be inundated with Bogong moths once the light went.

[Greenie]

Sounds like fun.

I can remember sitting on the top of a snow covered Weindorfers Tower (left hand end of Cradle Mtn overlooking the Little Horn) and watching the sun set one winter's evening with my father and the late Ossie Ellis. The only problem with this was that we only had one torch between the three of us and no overnight gear. Just one of those afternoon strolls that had become more and more ambitious. It was certainly very dark for the return journey! Does this count or do you have to set off in the dark .

I've only been to Cradle Mountain twice. Both times we meet Ossie. The second time I think he felt a bit sorry for us, two kids & adult stuck in a 2 man tent the night before. The next night was a lot colder, so he let us stay at his place for the night. What a character, what a great guy. I was sorry to hear of his passing.

[MJD]

Greenie - quite right, Ossie was an amazing character. A good friend of my father and someone I was lucky to to do a bit of walking with. Mind you, I probably had more "adventurous" moments with those two than I deserved. The trip up Weindorfer Tower wasn't the only time we finished a walk well after sunset. Still, it was good fun. I should point out that when we finally made it back to the lodge we found the park ranger, Ossie's brother and some of his friends finishing their dinner in front of a roaring fire, and discussing whether they should go out and have a look for us.

[Taurë-rana]

Thanks for the tale Steve, I think I would have waited for a moonlit night at least! I nearly had a night walk a couple of weeks ago on Mt Albert, I've walked through the Don Reserve at night a couple of times (scary, be better in the bush), and I've also walked up to the hut on Mt Anne at night, by moonlight most of the way but it got a bit scary towards the hut when there was so much snow we had trouble finding the track.
Being out at night in the moonlight is magic, and it's so light that you have black moon shadows.

[Nuts]

Oh well.. Wasnt going to mention it but Ive spent a night up there, why shouldnt anyone... or everyone....
Either way, hope you were more considerate than the turd leaving, campfire campers recently on Ossa... I at least know that my mother would have more respect (if she could make it up there)...

[mjdalessa]

Greenie - quite right, Ossie was an amazing character. A good friend of my father and someone I was lucky to to do a bit of walking with. Mind you, I probably had more "adventurous" moments with those two than I deserved. The trip up Weindorfer Tower wasn't the only time we finished a walk well after sunset. Still, it was good fun. I should point out that when we finally made it back to the lodge we found the park ranger, Ossie's brother and some of his friends finishing their dinner in front of a roaring fire, and discussing whether they should go out and have a look for us.

Could you please put up some brief notes for Weindorfer's Tower?