Catapult Earth

Even the best laid plans, can come unstuck, as Dave and I found out as we set off to Lake St Clair (the southern end of the Cradle Mountain National Park). Our aim was simple – To complete the full traverse of Mt Geryon, one of Tassies great mountain traverses. The setting is truely inspiring and all we needed was a break in the weather on Saturday and it would be ours.

A lot of my gear has been around for a bit, and it seems it decided this trip would be good to one to finally let it all fall apart. The tent got a massive tear in the fly, my boots got holes in the heels and the straps on the 30kg back fell apart. Luckily through all this our Catapult Earth Merino Tshirts stood up to the hard yards of bush bashing, sucked up the sweat in the race up the mountain and kept us warm while sitting around half way up the mountain, waiting in vain for the fog to clear.

We set off in the dark early on Friday morning but by the time we got on the boat at 9am it was raining (not a good start). A 20min boat trip across and 4-5 hours of hiking up to the climbers camp saw the weather clear. We may get lucky yet. The last part of the hike is not too well marked, but the campsite in the rainforest was only slightly damp. That evening we scampered up a rock fall to get our bearings and discuss tomorrow mornings approach, and we were greeted by clear skies and a fab sunset on the stunning 3 peaked mountain and the neighbouring Acropolis.

We were totally pumped, and were awake before the crack of dawn, but had to wait for the sunrise so we could find our way. After an hour of bush bashing we found ourselves in some seriously thick scrub. The fagus was so thick our feet barely touched the ground. After another hour and a half of agonisingly bashing our way through this scrub (this was definitely not the track), we came to the scree slope at the head of the valley we thought we were after. Though it was hard to tell, as the entire mountain and valley was covered in a thick layer of cloud. There was no knowing exactly where to go. After rock hopping up and down a couple of scree slopes, two things were becoming quite apparent. We were not yet far enough over to get up the gully we were hoping too. To get there we would have to do some more bushing bashing and secondly, as there was no wind to speak of, the cloud was not going to clear in any hurry.

It was now after 10am, we were at least a couple of hours from the peak if we could get there, and then we had to do the traverse, which we were only estimating at 6 hours. That meant dark by the time we got back to camp. (Maybe this would be better in mid summer, one thinks). With time against us we decided to bypass the abseil and head straight up and tackle the Foresight – Mt Geryons central peak. At least we would get a climb in. Or so we hoped. We headed up the scree and into the gully. With the thick cloud and vis down to about 10m it was unclear which way was the best approach. We waited and waited, till way after lunch. Though comfortable in my 'Freak Out' Scarlett Merino Tshirt, my patience was being tested. The disappointed that there was going to be no climbing today was obvious. We bailed. Straight down, bashing our way through the scrub again, down to the creek and campsite. We decided to walk out through the Labyrinth, at least we might have some views up there.

As we got up to the Labyrinth the wind came in and we got our views. Mt Geryon was toying with us, me thinks. On the hike out, I looked back at the mountain, with some disappointment (and a I'll be back next summer look). I thought - is there still time to race to the north peak from here. We little persuasion required, Dave agreed, and we turned around to set up camp and calculate our options. The boat left at 3.30pm. From camp we estimated 2 hours to pine valley hut, 1.5 hours to the Overland track and 1 hour to the boat. That meant we had to be back at camp from the peak at 11am at the latest. We estimated 2 hours up the mountain and 2 hours back to camp. That meant starting at 7am and heading back (even if we weren't at the top) at 9am. We weren't sure if day light savings was over. If so it would be the feather in our cap.

That night blew a gale, the patched up tent was a true trooper. 7am and we we off running. Dave in his 'Man Vs Rock', Flax Green Merino tshirt, is a much fitter man than myself and could have run all the way. But I had to breath occasionally, which slowed us down. It wasn't long before we were enshrouded again in thick mist. We lost the track a few times but we finally we could smell the top, as the cliffs on either side dropped vertically down into the valley. By 9am we were so close we decided to risk it. We had to at least see where the real climb started. The start is a 50m and then a 20m abseil of the top of the north peak, and would have been an adrenalin pumping start to the traverse.

The top was wet and had a few tricky bits, but by 9.20am (still engulfed in the clouds) we reached the top of the north peak and located the absail point and looked down in awe at the sheer dro on all sides that disappeared in to the mist. After only glimpses of the Forsight, we raced down, lost the track again, bugger, got back to the campsite, the skies cleared, the mountain was playing games again, 11.30am, have to make up some time, through the Labyrinth and all its stunning lakes, and down to Pine Valley hut, 12.50pm, times running out, feet are killing, backpacks falling apart, back down through the rainforest, suns out, wheres that bridge, and wheres Dave? There laying down at the Overland Track crossing 1.55pm, yes we can do this!!. Narcissus river crossing 15mins to go, the jetty, yes its only 2.55pm. made it. Boats bloody late 4.15pm. Time to go home and rest the feet.

The weekend didn't turn out as expected, but one has to accept the mountains rules. It was good to take 15kgs of climbing gear for a bit of a walk anyway. :–) But there is no better place to be bashing your way through the wilderness. Thanks Dave.

As that big Austrian dude said - I'll be back!!