Trip Plan

November 2017 - DUCANE RANGE MK 3 Expedition Notes (VK3KX/7)

Introduction. A party of 6 experienced walkers are conducting an 8 day expedition to one of the less visited parts of Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. The party are operating completely unsupported and are primarily in it for the walking (i.e. Radio activities are secondary and Derek’s indulgence.) Mobile phone cover is unknown, but likely only on summits, if at all. VK3KX is on the Yahoo SOTA group and the Discord App (very new). Due to time limitations only 40m will be used, 7.090 MHz SSB or 7.030 MHz CW (only as a fall back, check SSB first).

Due to battery limitations I will need to work efficiently. I will endeavour to answer everyone in an initial call back, but after the first 5 are acknowledged plus any queue that may build up (it’s midweek, ‘dogpile’?) I will QRT for that summit.

These summits are all 10 pointers and have not been activated before. There is reason for that; the area is off track, remote, inhospitable (and beautiful). I am very much looking forward to achieving these activations, I hope you can work with my limitations and join me for this exciting expedition. Wish me luck. de Derek VK3KX.

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Day 1: Sunday 26th: Narcissus to Gould Plateau

7 am Flight – arrives 8AM.

2.5 hour drive to Lake St Clair

Get 12:30pm Ferry Lake St Clair to Narcissus. Drop food tin at Narcissus Hut.

Walk to Gould Plateau (on track) - 3 hours, 6Km / 300m climb

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Day 2: Monday 27th : Gould Plateau to The Guardians via The Minotaur

Off Track walking – Approx. 4-5 hours, 6km

Route: Scramble around east side of Mt Gould at base of cliffs to The Minotaur. After Mt Gould continue on to The Guardians.

Side trip up Mt Gould (SOTA VK7/CH-0090 10pt)

SOTA Notes: Mt Gould is steep, rocky and activation zone tiny. A hard start. ETA 1130 to 1300 EDST (0030 to 0230 UTC)

Camp is at The Guardians (SOTA VK7/CH-026 10pts)

SOTA Notes: The Guardians has a very large activation zone easily accessed from the campsite. ETA 16.00 EDST (0700 UTC). Activation may even be at night after dinner.

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Day 3: Tuesday 28th : The Guardians to Lake Elysia (Or Lake Eurynome)

On/Off Track – Approx. 5 hours, 7-8 Km

Back track to Minotaur. Drop off Minotaur to Labyrinth track

No SOTA today.

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Day 4: Wednesday 29th : Optional day trip to Walled Mountain & Macs

Walled Mountain (SOTA VK7/CH-018 10pts) SOTA Notes: Walled Mountain has a large activation zone and should be easy to set up at despite major cliffs on the NE side. ETA 1000 to 1030 EDST (2300 to02330 UTC Tuesday)

Macs Mountain (SOTA VK7/CH-033 10pts) SOTA Notes: Macs Mountain is a solid and steep 250m climb from the saddle below. This summit will only happen if Walled Mountain went well earlier in the day. Activation zone is small and setup may be difficult. ETA 1400 to 1500 EDST (0300 to0400 UTC Wednesday)

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Day 5: Thursday 30th : Lake Elysia to Mt Massif

Off Track Big Gun to Mt Massif – Approx. 5 hours, 6-7Km

Ducane Range (SOTA VK7/CH-005 10pts) SOTA Notes: Ducane Range is actually an un-named prominence on the entry to Big Gun Pass. It has a fairly generous activation zone and may be a lunch stop. The pass to Mt Massif (Big Gun)

is major however, and if weather is poor the SOTA distraction will not be welcome. ETA 1200 to 1300 EDST (0100 to0200 UTC).

Mt Massif (SOTA VK7/CH-006 10pts) SOTA Notes: Mt Massif is the campsite for this day.

Activation zone for Mt Massif is fairly large and easily accessed from campsite. ETA 1400 to 1500 EDST (0300 to0400 UTC Wednesday). As a fall back, an evening activation may be held.

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Day 6: Friday 1st : Mt Massif to Castle Crag

Off Track, Approx. 6 hours 3Km. A day of scrambling around and through refrigerator sized bocks of rock, up and down over a steep pass. Falling Mountain is an exposed rocky summit at the top of the climb down to the return pass on the Overland track. Falling Mountain may be visited late on Friday, or early on Saturday depending on weather and progress.

Falling Mountain (SOTA VK7/CH-007 10pts) SOTA Notes: Falling Mountain is exposed and rocky with a reasonable sized activation zone. It is close to the campsite at Castle Crag. ETA late Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning.

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Day 7: Saturday 2nd : Castle Crag to Narcissus

Off Track to Ducane gap. Approx. 3 hours,

Ducane gap to Narcissus Approx. 3-4 hours, 9Km

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Day 8: Sunday 3rd : Narcissus to Home

9:45 Ferry (10:30 Cynthia Bay)

3 Hour drive

3:35 pm Flight