Sometimes you undertake a journey that you know you will never forget, this is one of those occasions
LAKE OBERON, JANUARY 2019
SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PARK, TASMANIA "As the trail unfolded before me, I looked up time and time again just taking in the grand view of the mountain range we were soon to climb. I wondered what it would take, what we would find. I also considered what barriers of my own I would need to break through to make this hike a reality" |
THE BUILD UP
There must be some emphasis put on the build up to this trip as it was planned over several years. By the time we were a few weeks out, I was just busting to get to Tasmania and simply start walking. In July of 2016, I started thinking about this journey and put out the call to all involved with a great response. Our team would be made up of four individuals with a sense of adventure, calm heads if things turn ugly and people who are my mates. I would not rather be in the wilderness with any other group.
John -
Has hiked all around the world, fitter than I will ever be and is a wealth of knowledge with a great respect for the outdoors. John has been on many a photography trip with me, scouting for locations, helping with gear and is an all round legend.
Steve -
John's son and a friend that I went through school with, always up for a challenge and is willing to push himself to the limit. Invested in making this trip a reality from day 1 and a has a great outlook on life, I have great respect for this man and was stoked that he could finally come on a trip.
James -
A close friend I met through photography, a persistent and driven individual who is very handy behind the lens of his Sony A7R11. We have been on many a trip chasing the light, with this trip potentially becoming the pinnacle so far. I respect his passion for photography, the outdoors and the process of capturing it in all conditions.
In the initial stages, we all started reading and gathering as much information about the Western Arthur area and the walk as we possibly could - feeding each other what we had found out whilst on practice hikes or over an infrequent schnitzel dinner. We shared training methods, gear updates and plans in the lead up.
The Plan -
Tasmania's South West Wilderness, 2.5 hours north west of Hobart - start from Scott's Peak Dam and hike to Lake Oberon, then hike back out the same way.
There must be some emphasis put on the build up to this trip as it was planned over several years. By the time we were a few weeks out, I was just busting to get to Tasmania and simply start walking. In July of 2016, I started thinking about this journey and put out the call to all involved with a great response. Our team would be made up of four individuals with a sense of adventure, calm heads if things turn ugly and people who are my mates. I would not rather be in the wilderness with any other group.
John -
Has hiked all around the world, fitter than I will ever be and is a wealth of knowledge with a great respect for the outdoors. John has been on many a photography trip with me, scouting for locations, helping with gear and is an all round legend.
Steve -
John's son and a friend that I went through school with, always up for a challenge and is willing to push himself to the limit. Invested in making this trip a reality from day 1 and a has a great outlook on life, I have great respect for this man and was stoked that he could finally come on a trip.
James -
A close friend I met through photography, a persistent and driven individual who is very handy behind the lens of his Sony A7R11. We have been on many a trip chasing the light, with this trip potentially becoming the pinnacle so far. I respect his passion for photography, the outdoors and the process of capturing it in all conditions.
In the initial stages, we all started reading and gathering as much information about the Western Arthur area and the walk as we possibly could - feeding each other what we had found out whilst on practice hikes or over an infrequent schnitzel dinner. We shared training methods, gear updates and plans in the lead up.
The Plan -
Tasmania's South West Wilderness, 2.5 hours north west of Hobart - start from Scott's Peak Dam and hike to Lake Oberon, then hike back out the same way.
I can remember waking up during the night before we started on the trail. I was in the back of my four wheel drive trying to find a comfortable position, being really squashed up. Even if I was completely comfortable, my mind was still racing, wondering if I had covered all the basis, wondering if I was fit enough to hike for six days, but thinking that it was too late for any of that now, we were at the trail head. I was looking out of the back window at the low morning light when suddenly a loud knock on the window jolts me awake. It was one of my fellow walkers , already up and it was time to get this thing underway.
All of a sudden it was time, time to get up and carry out the near 45 kilometre round trip. After a pack up and some breakfast, we put on our packs and finally started the trail. Stepping into what we described as 'the unknown'. There is, and always will be, something very special about taking yourself out of your comfort zone for days on end, surviving and thriving with nothing more than what you can carry on your back, as well as two feet and a heart beat. It is a different feeling, rather un-nerving but also exciting at the same time.
DAY 1
Target - The Trail Head to Junction Creek | 9 kms
When we started to walk, taking those first steps, there was this freedom to it all but also a bit of caution as well. We had checked our gear and re-checked it, we had planned and trained. We were fresh, well rested, all healthy and really ready to go. The original plan was to walk nine kilometres to the campsite at Junction Creek and stay the night, but as we wandered along the seemingly flat plains, with less deep mud than expected, snippets of walking further started to inject their way into our conversation.
All of a sudden it was time, time to get up and carry out the near 45 kilometre round trip. After a pack up and some breakfast, we put on our packs and finally started the trail. Stepping into what we described as 'the unknown'. There is, and always will be, something very special about taking yourself out of your comfort zone for days on end, surviving and thriving with nothing more than what you can carry on your back, as well as two feet and a heart beat. It is a different feeling, rather un-nerving but also exciting at the same time.
DAY 1
Target - The Trail Head to Junction Creek | 9 kms
When we started to walk, taking those first steps, there was this freedom to it all but also a bit of caution as well. We had checked our gear and re-checked it, we had planned and trained. We were fresh, well rested, all healthy and really ready to go. The original plan was to walk nine kilometres to the campsite at Junction Creek and stay the night, but as we wandered along the seemingly flat plains, with less deep mud than expected, snippets of walking further started to inject their way into our conversation.
It was a good, dry day for hiking and we all thought that given we were fresh, we might try to push for Lake Cygnus on the first day, roughly 16 kilometers in total, taking us up onto the Arthur range itself. We made Junction Creek in good time, roughly three hours, stopped for a rest and pushed on. We had read plenty of info about the up coming ascent of 'Moraine A' but you can only read so much. An ascent of roughly eight hundred metres over two kilometres didn't seem extreme. It wasn't until we really saw the ascent that we realised how steep it actually was and once we started, the push and the test really began. It was technical in places but it was a case of put your head down and keep on climbing. It would take roughly two hours to get to the top and by that time our energy was zapped.
|
Steve had managed to charge up the climb of Moraine A, I don't know how he traveled so fast - he was a beast. Once we all hit the top of the range we had this amazing, uninterrupted view all the way to the coast. I didn't expect it and it put the walk into perspective, we were really out there now. A few kilometres later this sweeping view into Lake Cygnus greeted us, though so did a steep descent into the lake. By the time we hit the camp ground, it was roughly 6pm, our legs and energy levels were done for the day. After a break, and after the camp was set up, it was time to assess our final set ups. Focusing on new gear being used for the first time, sleeping arrangements, camera gear, shoes and clothing. It was an opportunity to see how it was all stacking up so far but also a chance to see if we had forgotten anything really important. Luckily, we hadn't. It was comforting to have some food and climb into our sleeping bags and wonder what might be install for the next day - would we get to Oberon?