Julian & Ali Travels


Mt Farrell		February 24

		An evening at the Tullah Oval. Campsite.

		Overlooked by Mt Murchison.

		Next to our camp is some flax lilly (Dianella). Poisonous.

		And some not yet ripe blackberries. We've been looking forward to some blackberry pie. But so far ....

		A not so early start. Two km north is the car park for Mt Farrell tracks.

		A well thought out information board on mines, and more particularly rail lines. A map of all the lines we've been encountering. A bit more understanding of where they all led.

		Plus a description of the confusing lines from Queenstown to the coast. A bit of Irish rivalry that stopped when Crotty, North Lyell CEO, died, and the two Mt Lyell mines combines. A nice bit of additional info on East Pilingur and its demise.

		Mt Farrell mine according to Mindat is further north, across the river. But we encounter remnants as we set out to walk to the top.

		A few track markers. Old painted wooden arrows. Initially steep, for about the first 700m. For a time next to what may have been a water race. After that periods of not so steep, and a few flat bits. All easy going after the steep bit. We found lots of issues with the description in Alltrails. We also had the benefit of a video published a month ago, a couple on a wet track who we think became lost as they couldn't find the last bit of track.

		A forest regrowing. Obviously damp. But seems to have dried sufficiently from rain two days ago.

		We emerge from the tree line. The ridge of Mt Farrell in front and above us.

		Progressively the vegetation becomes shorter. There are two tracks. One leads to the summit, the other leads to Lake Herbert. There's a junction part way, at -41.73753,145.63782, and another at -41.74079,145.64130. At the first junction we took the left hand fork. Less steep, followed a ridge. The tracks met again at the second junction, we took the right hand, up to the summit. The left continues along the side of the ridge to the lake. On the way down from the top we took the left hand track. Steeper, follows a gully, until it rejoins.

		The ridge of Mt Farrell, looking south, becoming more obvious, with Mt Murchison in the background.

		Few clouds so far. We feel lucky. Looking north along the length of Lake Mackintosh. We think it flows into Lake Rosebery. Which has a dam across the Pieman River. The track has crossed to the eastern side of the ridge.

		A quick look back. we have to return this way.

		A bit higher, a bit more lake. Dead trees the unmistakable signature of a possible hydro lake.

		We continue on the eastern side of the ridge. A few steep bits, but generally a steady plod. This about what the track to Lake Herbert looks like, left at the top junction.

		We think we recognise this from the video of the couple who seemed lost. It isn't the top. We are past the second junction, the track leads up the left hand edge of the pic. Well defined to us. We are high enough for button grass to dominate.

		A few more clouds. Further along the ridge.

		The ridge is a series of nobbly false summits. All within a few meters height of each other. On one we find ourselves walking between rocks, and a strategically placed track marker. The only one we saw above the tree line. We are not sure what the rock is.

		We think the highest point on the ridge, the summit. The track winds slowly (at least we are slow) towards it. A bit down, a bit up. Ali stops while I do a recce. As always both of us keen to meet our goal. Though we sometimes wonder why.

		The track crosses back to the western side. Lake Rosebery, looking north west.

		And Tullah below us. Our camp in the oval, about centre this side of the village. Lake Rosebery fading into the distance, the connection to Lake Macintosh to the right.

		We have advanced sufficiently far along the ridge to look down on Lake Herbert. Noticeably higher than Lake Macintosh.

		Not quite the top.

		Still not the top.

		More of Tullah exposed. A few steep bits. We begin to tire.

		There's a steep drop. We like heights less than we used to. More of Lake Herbert.

		We decided we were at the top. A pic of Mt Murchison.

		Manuka flowers. We never tire of them, they are all about. As are bees.

		We take the steeper track between the junctions, left as we descend, on the way down. Steeper, but shorter. Eventually we reach tree level. No longer avoiding rocks, and steps. Less stop start, longer paces. Just the last steep bit to annoy us. Tired and aching, which seems to be our normal state for significant amounts of time. Its taken about 5 hours. Rightly described as hard. Though not difficult. We decide to retreat to Tullah Oval to lick our wounds. We reclaim our last night's camp site.

Gateway

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