Sloping Main

Friday 25th October 2013

Sloping Main Beach

After a couple of months of walking up mountains I decided that it was time that I did a coastal walk again. I do love the beaches in Tasmania and thoroughly enjoy getting back to them when I can. I chose Sloping Main as I had not been to that particular beach before.
It was very windy at home and I was expecting plenty of wind where I was going but it was not as bad as I thought it would be. The drive down took exactly 2 hours, and I was kitted up and ready to start just after 0800. The walk start was at Gwandalan Park in Sloping Main Drive and the first 3.3 kms. was entirely along Sloping Main Beach, which was pleasant to walk on, as the sand was quite hard. I came across a couple of people walking dogs and two guys fishing off the beach. They had driven their 4WD down onto the beach via a boat ramp which is about halfway along the beach. I suspect that this could be an alternative starting point.

Mount Wellington from Sloping Main Beach

There were good views of Mount Wellington and Sloping Island, and, as you can see from the photos, the wind was not too bad, with only a gentle swell rolling in. After about 40 minutes I reached the northern end of the beach and followed a track heading up the bank of a creek to eventually meet up with a vehicle track. I was now in Lime Bay Nature Reserve. I walked this track for 3.6 kms. to arrive at Lime Bay. It was a most pleasant part of the walk, though nice forest and so very quite except for the birds. Along the way I passed Sloping Lagoon where it is possible to turn west and head along a track on the southern side of the lagoon to come out on Lagoon Beach, thus shortening the distance a little. See info at Everytrail on the Green Head walk.

Track through Lime Bay Nature Reserve

At Lime bay I had a sit down and a snack and watched the sea birds feeding on the shoreline. It was very peaceful and totally sheltered from any wind.
I then found a track leading off the beach to meet the Lagoon Beach walking track which I followed. After clambering over the dunes at the end of the track I came to the beach about halfway along the length of the beach. Here it was blowing rather fiercely and quite cold. The beach was followed in a south easterly direction towards Lobster Point, and, at a convenient point before the beach ended, I exited the beach by climbing the dunes and walked through a little scrub to meet up with a vehicle track. It was then just a matter of walking this track to Lobster Point where I took shelter from the wind and had an early lunch.

Lagoon Beach and Lobster Point

I tried to find a track that was shown on the map that supposedly ran along the coast back to Sloping Main Beach, but could find no evidence of its existence. As I did not feel like scrub bashing, I backtracked slightly and continued on the vehicle track. I wanted to check out Whalebone Beach, so after a time I headed into the scrub and walked back to the coast and met up with a vague walking track which went past Whalebone Beach(a very nice little beach) and eventually back to the vehicular track. I then walked along this and down to Sloping Main Beach and along the beach, finally arriving at the car at about 1300.
A most enjoyable walk.
Distance: 18.7 kms.
Time: 5 hours
Ascent: 270 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Sloping Lagoon

Lime Bay

Sloping Island

Lagoon Beach

Lobster Point

Whalebone Beach

Looking towards Sloping Main

Burdens Marshes and Sloping Main

Mount Patrick

Thursday 18th October 2013

Mount Patrick from ascent track

The weather had been rather bleak all week with showers most of the time, so I was very keen to get out for a walk. Today I was going rain, hail or shine.
There are many ways to approach Mount Patrick - from Lachlan via Jefferys Track, from Myrtle Forest via East West Trail, from near White Timber Mountain access track via White Timber Trail, even from Big Bend or the way I chose which was from Crabtree. Of course if one did not want to walk too far, one could drive up the Jefferys Track(in a good 4WD), and along the East West Trail to the summit access track. I think a permit would be required for the east West Trail.
Why drive when it is so much fun to huff and puff when slogging up the steep Jefferys Track!!
I arrived at the start at about 0740 in drizzling rain and set off straightaway. The climb up the Jefferys Track had not become any easier since I last walked it a couple of months ago when I walked to White Timber Mountain.

Upper Jefferys Track

After about an hour of uphill the track came to an intersection, where left goes to White Timber Mountain and right to the East West Trail. I went right and soon the track became quite wet, but nowhere near as bad as the section to White Timber Mountain. The wet section did not last too long and by the time I reached the east West Trail it was quite good. It was about here that the misty rain stopped, which was an added bonus. At the intersection with the East West Trail is where the track comes from Lachlan, but I believe it is not in real good condition, so, if coming from that direction, it might be necessary to park a few kilometres back down the road and walk. From here there were more uphill sections although it was quite pleasant walking through reasonable forest for about 3 kms. to the cairned turnoff to Mount Patrick.

East West Fire Trail

From here the access track was very overgrown for the first section and was quite difficult to locate it at times, even though it was taped. My pants were instantly wet from the foliage as I battled my way through and after a time came to a somewhat open area called Georges Flagland which was rather pleasant. All along the track it was wet but not muddy. The water was not deep but fairly soon my feet were sloshing around inside saturated boots. I continued on and eventually the track headed uphill to some large rocks which had to be clambered over to arrive at a false summit where there were ruins of a shelter. It was blowing a gale and freezing cold and I quickly walked the few metres to the proper summit, had a quick look around and retreated back to the shelter for a rushed lunch.

Summit Cairn!!

There is a rather unimpressive cairn at the summit, but that is fitting as the summit is not too impressive in itself. The views were not spectacular and probably the most outstanding feature was Mount Charles, which I hope to visit in the future.
While I was eating lunch my fingers were going numb so I did not hang around for too long before commencing the descent. It took about an hour to get back to the East West Fire Trail and I suppose it was about the same up to the summit.
I then began the downhill run to the car. When I say "run" I really mean fast walk as my running days are over. After a bit less than 2 hours I finally reached the car. As I was just crossing the bridge over the Crabtree Rivulet a guy(one of the locals I assume) turned into the road, and stopped and had all these questions for me about what I had been doing and where I had come from. He must have though I was the local cat burglar!! When I told him, I think he thought I was an idiot and his final quote was " Gee mate you will deserve a beer when you get home."
Note: If walking to Mount Patrick some navigational experience is necessary as the summit track is easy to lose and might be hard to find again.
Distance: 18.1 kms.
Time: 6'10"
Ascent: 960 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

From Summit

Ruins near summit

Mount Charles

White Timber Mountain from E/W Trail

Crabtree Rivulet

Nevada Peak

Tuesday 8th October 2013

Pineapple Grass slopes on the way to the summit

After not walking to Nevada Peak last week, I was determined to get up there today, even though I could not see the peak because of the early morning fog. If there is a morning fog then the day is usually quite okay, or so the saying goes. Well, it did not go to plan but overall it turned out to be a reasonable day.
I arrived at the start point at about 0800 after carefully avoiding a large rock in the middle of the road. Last time I was up here I actually drove over it and just scraped the sump guard, thinking I had more clearance than I did. I have a 4WD but it is only a dual cab and does not have the clearance of normal 4WDs.
Note: The normal access via Russell Road is blocked at the Russell River Bridge about 6.0 kms. before the start of the walk. This necessitates driving in on McDougalls Road, past the Lake Skinner turnoff and keep going onto Russell Road. Follow this around and turn left after about 7.5 kms. past the Lake Skinner turnoff and you are now on the other side of the damaged bridge.
I set off and walked along an old logging road and found the the track in the scrub. It took a bit of sloshing through some water and mud to get there so it was not looking too good. I was expecting it to be wet after the recent rain and it sure was. This made the going somewhat slower than I would have liked, and, as well, there were quite a few logs and trees to clamber over.

On slopes on way to summit

The track wound its way through rather thick forest and climbed steadily all the while and after a couple of hours the terrain opened up somewhat into pineapple grass slopes and pandani. The views started here but unfortunately so did the cloud and mist. I could actually see the car parked way in the distance. Patches of snow also became visible at this point.
The track climbed steadily up to a slight peak before heading down to the Snowdrift Tarns. Really there was no track here at all and it was just a matter of choosing the best route that was heading in the right direction. It was at this stage that the wind started to blow and the mist came in, reducing visibility. It was freezing so I had to quickly don my coat and beanie because I am sure my ears were getting frost bitten. I continued on passing one of the Snowdrift Tarns, part of which was frozen.

Frozen Tarn

All I had to do then was climb quite steeply up to the summit which I could just make out in the mist. In doing this I had to walk through a couple of patches of knee deep snow but it was not too bad. I eventually reached the peak but had no views to speak of as the mist rolled in and the wind blew. I found some shelter and had a quick bite to eat and the headed down. As I reached the lower slopes the sun decided to come out, the mist lifted and the scenery started to show itself. I had said to myself up the top that I would bet that was going to happen!!
The plan now was to head back to the car via Wooleys Tarn so I started walking north east past the northernmost Snowdrift Tarn and found some cairns(but not many) that headed in the right direction. The path went past Wetpants Peak and then descended steeply to eventually arrive at Wooleys Tarn, which is quite a large lake. From here the track went ever so slightly uphill and then down to finally arrive at the car at 1540. I must admit I was a bit weary at this stage and glad to finally get sight of the car. Overall a good walk despite the lack of views from the summit.
Distance: 12.6 kms.
Time: 7'38"
Ascent: 864 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

Looking towards the Nevada Peak range

Snowdrift Tarns

Snowdrift Tarn

Northern Snowdrift Tarn and Wetpants Peak

Wetpants Peak

Looking west near Snowdrift Tarns

Wooleys Tarn