The Labyrinth - Tasmania

[Geoff Wise]

I had an odd experience last week in Pine Valley, where I was quizzed by
an employee of the Parks and Wildlife service's visitor centre at Lake
St Clair. He wanted to know if I was planning to camp in the Labyrinth,
which I was. He then strongly suggested I not do so and suggested I
curtail my plans and leave. Struggling to be polite, I ended up
ignoring him and giving a simple, "yes I am camping there". The issue
is the PWS do not like you camping there because there is not too many
places to have a poo, without tearing up the vegetation and the
existing, and not too many campsites, are somewhat overused. On a
notice board in Pine Valley hut, there is one sentence which suggests
you do not camp there overnight.

In talking to other walkers he also had been canvassing other walkers
with the same opinion.

Interestingly we walkers all expressed a similar opinion. If we are
damaging the environment so much then ban overnight camping - simple.
Until they do then we will continue to camp there. How else is a
photographer going to get a good sunset photo of the Lakes with the
Accropolis in the background?

Suggestion was also made of carrying a poo tube by some walkers.
Ironically the track ranger turned up the day I was leaving and chearily
asked what it was like camping up there and made no mention of any of
the above POV. He also had a POO tube he made out of Plasic Piping.
The idea is you poo in a plastic bag and stick it in the tube, which has
a screw top. His was sufficient for four days, he said. All the
walkers thought it was a good idea. A bit difficult for interstate
walkers to bring to Tasmania, as it is a little bulky but I would
certainly hire one.

I timed the visit just right for the Fagus, which is a photographers
delight. There were four other people up there, according to the
walkers registration book, but I only saw one other, and more than one
was a photographer, from other verbal reports made. I thought from
bumping into people coming down and going up that there must have been
an old peoples convention up there. I guess the oldies, I am now 51
(turned it whilst up there) and three were older than me, know when they
are onto a good thing. The track ranger said he bumped into the same
couple at the same time same day when walking in as he did the year before.

I hope the the first PWS employee I met was just being an over zealous
public servant who was speaking "out of turn"

Images of the trip will be posted to the website, within a fortnight.

Geoff Wise
Wise's Wilderness
www.wises.com.au

[David Noble]

Post by Geoff Wise
I had an odd experience last week in Pine Valley, where I was quizzed by
an employee of the Parks and Wildlife service's visitor centre at Lake
St Clair. He wanted to know if I was planning to camp in the Labyrinth,
which I was. He then strongly suggested I not do so and suggested I
curtail my plans and leave. Struggling to be polite, I ended up
ignoring him and giving a simple, "yes I am camping there". The issue
is the PWS do not like you camping there because there is not too many
places to have a poo, without tearing up the vegetation and the
existing, and not too many campsites, are somewhat overused. On a
notice board in Pine Valley hut, there is one sentence which suggests
you do not camp there overnight.

It is their policy to discourage camping in the Labyrinth - not to ban
it - which is fair enough I think.

Post by Geoff Wise
In talking to other walkers he also had been canvassing other walkers
with the same opinion.
Interestingly we walkers all expressed a similar opinion. If we are
damaging the environment so much then ban overnight camping - simple.
Until they do then we will continue to camp there. How else is a
photographer going to get a good sunset photo of the Lakes with the
Accropolis in the background?

At least the present policy still lets you camp there.

It is a very beautiful place - but the campsites near Lake Elysia have
deteriorated a fair bit over the years - but the damage seems to have
stabilised a bit since the new policy of discouragement.

Post by Geoff Wise
Suggestion was also made of carrying a poo tube by some walkers.
Ironically the track ranger turned up the day I was leaving and chearily
asked what it was like camping up there and made no mention of any of
the above POV. He also had a POO tube he made out of Plasic Piping. The
idea is you poo in a plastic bag and stick it in the tube, which has a
screw top. His was sufficient for four days, he said. All the walkers
thought it was a good idea. A bit difficult for interstate walkers to
bring to Tasmania, as it is a little bulky but I would certainly hire one.

The other thing you can do is not to crap in the Labyrinth - walk out of
it. If you walk 10 minutes out of the catchment area of the major lakes
- then there should not be a problem.

I have camped in the Labyrinth at various places a fair bit over the
past 30 years of so - and have never had problems with coming across
turds or toilet paper (unlike Pine valley - before the toilet was
installed). I think people that camp there have always practiced MIB.

The worst damage to the Labyrinth occurred just after the main track to
it was re-routed. It used to cross the swamp near the present helipad -
and it was very difficult to keep your volleys dry when walking through
this section. This really bad boggy section discouraged a lot of casual
visitors.

Perhaps the parks service have avoided upgrading the Port Davey track to
Junction Ck from Scotts Peak Dam to discourage excessive visitaton to
the Western Arthurs?

Dave Noble

Post by Geoff Wise
I timed the visit just right for the Fagus, which is a photographers
delight. There were four other people up there, according to the
walkers registration book, but I only saw one other, and more than one
was a photographer, from other verbal reports made. I thought from
bumping into people coming down and going up that there must have been
an old peoples convention up there. I guess the oldies, I am now 51
(turned it whilst up there) and three were older than me, know when they
are onto a good thing. The track ranger said he bumped into the same
couple at the same time same day when walking in as he did the year before.
I hope the the first PWS employee I met was just being an over zealous
public servant who was speaking "out of turn"
Images of the trip will be posted to the website, within a fortnight.
Geoff Wise
Wise's Wilderness
www.wises.com.au

[Paul Day]

Post by Geoff Wise
Suggestion was also made of carrying a poo tube by some walkers.
Ironically the track ranger turned up the day I was leaving and chearily
asked what it was like camping up there and made no mention of any of
the above POV. He also had a POO tube he made out of Plasic Piping.
The idea is you poo in a plastic bag and stick it in the tube, which has
a screw top.

These are pretty common in alpine and bear country where there's either
nowhere to bury your poo or doing so would attract unwanted furry
visitors. Poo buried in snow makes for an unpleasant summer melt or an
even less pleasant discovery when you're outside the hut burying a
week's supply of meat in the big outdoor freezer. :)

Do any parks in Australia _require_ carrying a poo tube when camping in
the back-country?

PD

[Roger Caffin]

Post by Paul Day
Do any parks in Australia _require_ carrying a poo tube when camping in
the back-country?

It is possible that the NPWS requires commercial guided parties in KNP to do
so in winter.

Cheers
Roger Caffin

[Peter Franklin]

My wife and I were there at the time and in fact noticed your name in
the log book as we signed out. And as you say,it was delightful there.
We had 4 days of clear sky and much the same last year, although then
there was deep snow cover; a marked contrast to 2007. Yes it was us
that met the same track ranger both this year and last.

Post by Geoff Wise
I timed the visit just right for the Fagus, which is a photographers
delight. There were four other people up there, according to the
walkers registration book
The track ranger said he bumped into the same
couple at the same time same day when walking in as he did the year before.