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Frenchmans Cap

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Frenchmans Cap
View of Frenchmans Cap from near Lake Tahune Hut
Highest point
Elevation1,446 m (4,744 ft)[1]
Prominence966m[1]
Coordinates42°16′12″S 145°49′12″E / 42.27000°S 145.82000°E / -42.27000; 145.82000[2]
Geography
Frenchmans Cap is located in Tasmania
Frenchmans Cap
Frenchmans Cap
Location in Tasmania
LocationWestern Tasmania, Australia
Parent rangeWest Coast Range
Geology
Rock ageJurassic
Climbing
First ascentJames Sprent (European; 1853)

The Frenchmans Cap is a mountain in the West Coast region of Tasmania, Australia. The mountain is situated in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

At 1,446 metres (4,744 ft) above sea level, it is within the top thirty highest mountains in Tasmania.[1]

Location

The mountain lies east of the West Coast Range, yet due to its prominence, it can be seen from Macquarie Harbour.[3] It lies south of the Lyell Highway from which it can be viewed from various locations, and south west of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

The peaks of the Frenchmans area include Frenchmans Cap (1,443 metres (4,734 ft)),[1] Clytemnestra and Philps Peak (both 1,280 metres (4,200 ft)), and Philps Ridge (1,200 metres (3,900 ft)).

Etymology

Even though the peak was an early landmark for ships sailing the west coast, the first recorded use of Frenchmans Cap was in 1822 in connection with Macquarie Harbour Penal Station, from where the peak was visible. The origin of the name is attributed to its appearance from some angles as looking like a Frenchman's cap, notably the Liberty cap worn during the French Revolution (1789–1799).[4]

A variation of that was reported by Henry Widdowson, who wrote in 1829 that the name was derived from "its generally being covered with snow and bearing some resemblance to the shape of dress which invariably adorns the head of a French Cook".[4]

History

Frenchmans Cap, March 2016

The distinctive shape of the mountain was used as a guiding beacon by many, largely unsuccessful, parties of escaping convicts as they attempted to struggle through the dense scrub of Western Tasmania to the settled districts further east. It was mentioned as a geographical reference in the account later dictated by convict Alexander Pearce to authorities, following his capture.[4]

The earliest European recorded to have ascended was James Sprent and his trigonometrical party in 1853.[5]

In 1941 the Frenchmans Cap National Park was created and its boundary was in effect the Franklin River.[6][7] This park was subsumed into the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park in the 1990s.

The country around the mountain is invariably referred to by the books and the material written about the Franklin River. Johnson Dean's book gives a graphic account with maps and pictures the nature of the country.[8]

Access

Access to the mountain is usually via a multiday bushwalk from the Lyell Highway. Parks and Wildlife Service and other authorities in Tasmania give advice about the access and preparation needed – due to the changing conditions of the area.[9] The track is repeatedly overgrown, due to the vegetation and the rainfall of the area.[10][11]

The walk to the peak along the well marked track typically takes two days. The first day of about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) will bring walkers to Lake Vera Hut. Water is plentiful (and drinkable) in all seasons. Walk time from Lyell Highway to Lake Vera is between six and eight hours.[12] This part of the walk was historically very difficult, including two steep and prolonged ascents separated by the boggy Loddon Plains. The so-called "Sodden Loddons" were almost always muddy and crossing them took two hours or more. In wet weather the mud was frequently waist high, while in the dry it was only knee high. However, since 2013 track upgrades have seen the North Loddon Planes duckboarded, and the trail diverted around the South Loddon Plains through Philps Lead. This has allowed for significant environmental rejuvenation and reduced the difficulty of the first day. It was financed by donations from Dick Smith after he visited and was dismayed with the state of the trail.[13]

The second day's walk is shorter at 9 kilometres (5.6 mi), but steeper. After walking along the shores of Lake Vera the next two hours are spent struggling up the steep inclines to Barron Pass. Once on top the walker is presented with a dramatic view of Frenchmans Cap. From Barron Pass it is approximately another two hours to Tahune Hut,[14] depending on fitness and pack weight. Water is again available along the way. Walk time from Lake Vera to Lake Tahune is about four hours.

There are two lakes on the way to the summit – Lake Vera, and Lake Tahune – there are huts at both of these locations. Lake Vera Hut was built in 1979 and sleeps 20 people in two two-tier bunk configurations.[15] It is heated by a stove using brickette fuel (similar to heat beads in BBQs).

The original Lake Tahune Hut was built in 1971 and slept 16 people snugly, also in two two-tier bunks and was heated by a brickette fuel stove.[15] The hut was redeveloped in 2018, expanding it to sleep 24 people while adding deck room and an environmentally sustainable heater.[16] At Tahune, the steep walker's track to the top of the Cap takes under an hour.

If the weather is clear the view includes the West Coast beaches, Lake Burbury and the many peaks – such as Tasmania's tallest, Mount Ossa – in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

The 50-kilometre (31 mi) plus walk to Frenchmans Cap is typically completed as a return trip on the same track.

Alternative access

There is an option to make it a round trip by walking on from Lake Tahune to the Franklin River at Irenabyss, crossing the river and exiting at Victoria Pass, which is also on the Lyell Highway. The walk from Irenabyss to Victoria Pass traverses rugged country and is recommended only for highly experienced parties. Many parties visit Irenabyss as a long day walk. Lake Tahune to Irenabyss takes about 4 hours. Irenabyss to Victoria Pass takes about 12 hours.

Climbing

For climbers, Frenchmans Cap offers a variety of trad routes on generally sound, quartzite rock. In keeping with the name of the mountain some of these climbs also have French names including A Toi La Gloire (better known as The Sydney Route), a 380-metre (1,250 ft), 13-pitch, grade 17 climb on the south-east face and Tierry Le Fronde, a 150-metre (490 ft), six-pitch, grade 16 climb on the Tahune Face.

Serious climbing has occurred since the 1960s, as detailed in a 1990 article in Rock by Stephen Bunton. Jon Nermuts Tasmanian climbing page serves as the main information resource for routes on the main face[17] as well as Gerry Narkowicz's description in Climb Tasmania.[18]

Painting and photography

Frank Hurley's black and white images from the 1950s which are in the National Library online collection, are probably the most evocative and easily accessible images close up of the features around Frenchmans Cap.[19]

View from Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour with Frenchmans Cap on the eastern skyline

Literature

Barry Maitland's 2008 mystery novel Bright Air contains a vivid description of a climb of Frenchmans Cap.[20] It also features in For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke and the non-fiction book Hell's Gates: The terrible journey of Alexander Pearce, Van Diemen's Land cannibal by Paul Collins (Hardie Grant, 2002). A more recent book is by Simon Kleinig in 2012.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Frenchmans Cap, Australia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Frenchmans Cap (TAS)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
  3. ^ see picture below titled Frenchman from Sarah, with description – View from Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour with Frenchmans Cap on the eastern skyline
  4. ^ a b c Frenchmans Cap (Map). 1:50000. Information and Land Services: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment. 2000.
  5. ^ Although not specifically referring directly to the triangulation conducted by Sprent on Frenchmans, it is a discussion of his work in the task – "THE COURIER". The Courier. Hobart, Tasmania. 18 June 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 10 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Frenchman's Cap Featured In Map". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas. 15 September 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 9 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "FRENCHMAN'S CAP FEATURE OF NEW MAP". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 15 September 1951. p. 8. Retrieved 9 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ Dean, John (Johnson) (2002), Shooting the Franklin : early canoeing on Tasmania's wild rivers, J. and S. Dean, ISBN 978-0-9581744-0-4
  9. ^ "Frenchman's Cap". Parks and Wildlife Tasmania. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. ^ "TRACK TO FRENCHMANS CAP OVERGROWN". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 17 January 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 9 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "TRACK TO FRENCHMANS CAP CLEARED". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 18 February 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 9 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ State Library of Tasmania; Tasmania. Archives Office (1800), Photograph – 'Hobart Walking Club Easter Party Returning from Lake Vera across the Loddon Plains', 1 photographic print, retrieved 10 June 2015
  13. ^ "No more 'Soddon Loddons'". Parks and Wildlife Service Newsletter. July 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  14. ^ Photograph – Lake Tahune Hut – Frenchmans Cap – Milford Fletcher of Glen Huon in foreground – Taken during inspection of the track, LINC Tasmania, retrieved 10 June 2015
  15. ^ a b Frenchmans Cap Walk Map and notes. Information and Land Services: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment. 2000.
  16. ^ "Redeveloped Lake Tahune Hut now open". Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania. 12 April 2018.
  17. ^ Frenchmans Cap – thesarvo – Confluence
  18. ^ Narkowicz, Gerry (2005). Climb Tasmania – A Selected Best Guide. Exeter, Tas.: Climb Tasmania Incorporated, in association with Oriel. pp. 82–92. ISBN 0-9578179-6-7.
  19. ^ Hurley, Frank, 1910, Frenchmans Cap. summit [with four figures] [picture] : [Frenchman Range, Tasmania] / [Frank Hurley] <http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23504639> – as an example from the series
  20. ^ Maitland, Barry (2008), Bright air, Allen & Unwin, ISBN 978-1-74114-817-6
  21. ^ Kleinig, Simon (2012), Frenchmans Cap : story of a mountain, Carindale, Queensland Glass House Books, ISBN 978-1-922120-05-2

Further reading

  • Binks, C.J. (1989). Explorers of Western Tasmania. Launceston, Tas.: Mary Fisher Bookshop. ISBN 0-7316-7300-X.
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