Tarn Shelf

Monday, 12 October 2015

Mt Field National Park is a fantastic place to visit.  It is just over an hours drive from Hobart, and there is a huge variety of walks to do from super short rain forest things to overnight alpine hikes.  

We've brought the kids here since they were toddlers and only able to make it to the waterfalls (although they certainly had enough energy to complain all the way).    Last year Julie and I knocked off all the Great 60 walks in the area including the longer day walks. This trip was for a different purpose - it was a training overnight hike. It's been a while since we've done one and our date with the Overland Track is rapidly approaching.

I have to admit that after a few weekends away recently I was pretty travel weary and would have loved the weekend at home, but a forecast of around 20 degrees both days meant we would have been crazy to postpone the trip so it went ahead.

Zali was keen to invite a friend (as was Jett but his friend was unavailable), so keen walker Emily joined us for the trip and her first ever overnight walk and we set off from Lake Dobson at 10:30 on Saturday. 

 

 

Strictly speaking the walk we were doing is a day walk, rather than an overnight walk, but it does have a lovely camping site half-ish way, as well as a good few hills along the way. At 14.5 k it was perfect for a not-too-draining trip with good practise in pack carrying.

The walk starts with a solid climb up to the ski fields, then onto the beautiful tarn shelf.

 

  

Just like on our recent trip to Cradle Mountain, there were still patches of snow around which was fun.   

We stopped for lunch and basked in the sun and the thought that we are lucky enough to live in a state where you can leave home at 8.30, and be admiring this view by lunchtime.. 

 

 By 3.30 we had made it to our beautiful camp site - Twilight Tarn, where ye olde Tasmanians used to come and skate and carry-on with their loud gramophones and wooden skis ..

 

So we put our tents up, relaxed and whiled away the afternoon in a manner that would have pleased ye olde Tasmnaians.  Although I suspect they would have been drinking something stronger than water.

 

 

And then we had two minute noodles for dinner.. two minute noodles taste absolutely fantastic when you are camping.

 

The next morning we packed up in a leisurely fashion and headed home. Also, Jon somehow hit the 'Art' function on his camera so the rest of the photos are a bit.. arty..

 

 After about 2 hours of walking, we ware back..happy, hungry, and still very arty..

 

So it was pretty cool.  And as a training run, we learnt a few good lessons, and posed a few questions:

 

  1. If you are in charge of the hot chocolate powder, make sure it goes IN your bag (Jett) 
  2. You have an EPIRB, take it. (Cathy)
  3. You have a brain, use it to apply sunscreen thoroughly (Cathy)
  4. If our packs were that full for an one night trip with one extra child, what chance do we have of eating after the 2nd day of our overland trek?

 

 

 

 

 

2015summary
Bringing back the Caprice Wednesday, 30 December 2015
and now for somewhere completely different.. Monday, 28 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge - Week 5 Sunday, 27 December 2015
End of primary school Thursday, 24 December 2015
Suitcase Cat Thursday, 24 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge - Week 4 Thursday, 24 December 2015
Simplicity Saturday, 12 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge - Week 3 Tuesday, 8 December 2015
PIzza by the Book Challenge - Week 2 Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Mt Rufus Circuit Tuesday, 8 December 2015
December Flowers Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge Monday, 30 November 2015
South Cape Rivulet Sunday, 22 November 2015
Meanest mum in the world.. Sunday, 15 November 2015
Before and After #34 - Green Room Take 2 Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Why Jon is not allowed a credit card - Part 2 Monday, 9 November 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #27 & #28 Sunday, 8 November 2015
To Do.. Saturday, 7 November 2015
Cathedral Rock Monday, 2 November 2015
Silver Linings Part 2 Monday, 2 November 2015
Silver Linings Part 1 Monday, 2 November 2015
Hey Pinto.. Monday, 2 November 2015
Derby River Derby Saturday, 24 October 2015
Cake Saturday, 24 October 2015
What goes around comes around.. Friday, 23 October 2015
cake teaser Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Tarn Shelf Monday, 12 October 2015
Tasman Island Tuesday, 29 September 2015
60 Great Walks Challenge - Walk 26 & Before and After #33 Monday, 28 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Fail Monday, 28 September 2015
Before and After #32 Wednesday, 16 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #26 Monday, 14 September 2015
Pennicot Wilderness Cruise Monday, 14 September 2015
Glamping Sunday, 13 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #25 Sunday, 13 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #24 Sunday, 13 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #23 Sunday, 13 September 2015
Jett is 10! Sunday, 6 September 2015
Patriotic Chocolate Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Snowday! Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Before and After #31 Saturday, 1 August 2015
Before and After #30 Monday, 13 July 2015
How to improve the Tour De France Sunday, 12 July 2015
Unjustness-ness. Saturday, 11 July 2015
Everyone Loves Onesie & Device Day Sunday, 5 July 2015
Homework Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Mt Amos Monday, 29 June 2015
Snow Day Monday, 29 June 2015
Less complaining, More Watching.. Sunday, 28 June 2015
Amazing India Friday, 12 June 2015
Indian Food.. Thursday, 11 June 2015
More Bikes Thursday, 11 June 2015
Routines Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Bicycles Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Goa Day 3 Monday, 8 June 2015
Goa Day 2 Sunday, 7 June 2015
Is this India? Friday, 5 June 2015
Chennai Day #5 Thursday, 4 June 2015
Chennai Day #4 Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Chennai Day #3 Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Chennai Day #2 Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Contrasts Sunday, 31 May 2015
Landing in Chennai Sunday, 31 May 2015
Sparkling Singapore Saturday, 30 May 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #22 Sunday, 24 May 2015
Hollybank! Saturday, 23 May 2015
Stitched Rock Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Literal Translations Monday, 18 May 2015
Two Mountains Sunday, 17 May 2015
It pays to be alert.. Saturday, 16 May 2015
Sick Day Friday, 15 May 2015
Public vs Private - Part 2 Thursday, 14 May 2015
Public vs Private - Part 1 Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Desperate Times.. Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Setting a price.. Monday, 11 May 2015
American Grammar Sunday, 10 May 2015
Happiness Saturday, 9 May 2015
Cat Tree Update Monday, 20 April 2015
This is why Jon isn't allowed his own credit card Thursday, 16 April 2015
KittyCam Sunday, 12 April 2015
Commuter Girl Saturday, 11 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #5 Thursday, 9 April 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #21 Monday, 6 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #4 - Part 2 Monday, 6 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #4 - Part 1 Monday, 6 April 2015
Flinders Island Day 3 Sunday, 5 April 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #20 Saturday, 4 April 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #19 Friday, 3 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #1 Friday, 3 April 2015
More Questions Thursday, 26 March 2015
What's the story.. Thursday, 26 March 2015
Quick Quiz Monday, 23 March 2015
This is an unspoilt beach.. Monday, 9 March 2015
Binalong Bay & Scamander Sunday, 8 March 2015
Old times.. Sunday, 1 March 2015
1 week back Friday, 27 February 2015
Packing Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Goodbye Malaysia Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Penang National Park Tuesday, 17 February 2015
I'm not afraid of parasailing horses.. Sunday, 15 February 2015
Random Photos Friday, 13 February 2015
Goodbye Drammen & Norway Friday, 13 February 2015
Putin the Norwegian Forest Cat Thursday, 12 February 2015
Goodbye Geilo Thursday, 12 February 2015
Ice Fishing - what's not to love.. Wednesday, 11 February 2015
Remains of the day Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Mountain Views Monday, 9 February 2015
uvær Monday, 9 February 2015
Melting.. Monday, 9 February 2015
Lessons Saturday, 7 February 2015
Ice Music Festival Day 2 Saturday, 7 February 2015
Wait for Meeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Saturday, 7 February 2015
Drammen to Geilo Friday, 6 February 2015
I can't believe it's come to this.. Thursday, 5 February 2015
We've come a long way.. Thursday, 5 February 2015
Mesnaelva Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Postcard Perfect Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Free days Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Point to Point Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Norwegian Forest Cat - Update 2 Monday, 2 February 2015
Ski-Every-Day team Monday, 2 February 2015
Kjelke Kjøring and Butt Racers Monday, 2 February 2015
Norwegian Forest Cat - update Sunday, 1 February 2015
Getting through the list.. Sunday, 1 February 2015
Forest Cats and Snow Dogs Sunday, 1 February 2015
Yes. We should all move to Lillehammer. Sunday, 1 February 2015
Lillehammer Day 2 Saturday, 31 January 2015
Hmmph Friday, 30 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 7 & goodbye Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hearts and minds Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Shiplife Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 6 Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 5 Monday, 26 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 4 - part 2 Sunday, 25 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 4 - part 1 Sunday, 25 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 3 Friday, 23 January 2015
in our hearts and minds Friday, 23 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 1 & 2 Friday, 23 January 2015
Goodbye Bergen, hello Hurtigruten Thursday, 22 January 2015
Going Undercover.. Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Beautiful Bergen Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Norwegian Breakfasts Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Over the hills and far away Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Quick Update Monday, 19 January 2015
Ice Hockey! Monday, 19 January 2015
Ski trip #2 Monday, 19 January 2015
Handsome Norwegian Boys Monday, 19 January 2015
This is why.. Sunday, 18 January 2015
Ski Audit Saturday, 17 January 2015
Tourist Day Saturday, 17 January 2015
Snow Day Saturday, 17 January 2015
Thank you Oslo. Saturday, 17 January 2015
Plugged Wednesday, 14 January 2015
I think it's Friday. Friday, 9 January 2015
Happy Birthday Zali!! Friday, 9 January 2015
The Nook Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Fluted Cape Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Kicking goals together Wednesday, 31 December 2014