Mt Field - Strathgordon

Day 52 - Mt Field - Strathgordon

Thursday, 20 March 2014

HH wanted to do the last walk to Lady Barron falls. I wanted to go straight out to the Gordon Dam as the forecast was unusually good. Out Strathgordon (world heritage area, very high rainfall) any sunshine was to be taken advantage of (in my mind). Lots of steps, oh well, stop grumbling, it must be good for me. Saw wasps busy coming out of a tree hole, lots of saw dust, who needs pulp mills?

Eventually set out towards Strathgordon and the Gordon Dam. Two lakes, 4 dams and a canal. Don't know why but all the time we have been in Tassie this place has been on my bucket list. It is just so out in the middle of nowhere, intrigued me, more than the West coast. However, my hankering to get there to make the most of the sun was not going to change HH's mind. We had to stop and check everything on the way. My hope had to been to do those things on the way back.

Turning south to explore Scott's Peak And Edgar Dams on Lake Pedder we passed a police car on the side, strange we thought. A few Kms later another one, then just around the corner a police rescue helicopter. Three guys kitted out in all hiking gear and back packs. HH pulled off for a sticky beak. Turns out they were police on searching and rescue exercises and had been out 4 days and were just choppered back to their ute. Police in Tassie have to volunteer for search and rescue, wonder if that is the same everywhere in OZ.

A cold and windy lunch up on the lookout, clouds starting to build up. Finally got up to Strathgordon by 4.00, quick look around the info centre before 'finally' getting up to the dam. Amazing place. Not too be beaten by the heights this time, walked down the 196 steps down to the dam wall. Incredible place. So surprised at the narrowness of the gorge walls. The old info building now used by a climbing club judging by the ropes, carabiners, helmets, gloves etc. it must be a paradise for them clinging to these shear rocky walls. Not enough time to linger and take it all in, sun too low for good light.

Headed back to Ted's Beach to camp up. Again a lovely, interesting place, but too late to explore. By the time camp set up, dinner prepared it is dark. Ted was involved in the construction of the dam and he thought if a bit of the top vegetation was cleared, when Lake Pedder started filling up it would make a nice 'beach' for the employees and visitors, tourists. He was laughed at at the time, but it has become just that. Very popular for boats and kayaks.

	Scott's Peak area [Map]		Sentinel Range? [Map]
	Lake Pedder from Serpentine Dam [Map]		Lake Pedder [Map]
	The Gorge [Map]		Down into the Gorge [Map]
	Police Rescue [Map]		On the road to Strathgordon [Map]
	Rock climbers heaven? [Map]		The Dam [Map]

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