Wilson's Prom, Mt Latrobe 1997
Myself, my parents and a friend did most of the walk off track, under appropriate permits. After spending a night at the Stockyards Hut, we set out from Darby Saddle, up Mt Leonard and down the eastern side. Next day up Mt Latrobe, the highest peak on the Prom and the key objective of the trip. Having admired the view, down the south western side to camp. Next day, over Mt Ramsay, and down to Windy Saddle. By this time my feet have given up... but we move on to Sealers Cove to spend the night before heading out to Telegraph Saddle carpark.
Thumbnails of the photos on this page.
The view of Shallow Inlet with Shellback island, looking North west from the higher slopes of Mt Leonard. The walking up Leonard is not bad, mostly fairly open but with patches of thick tee-tree, and consistently steep. The view from the very top is limited due to tall growth there, but views such as above can be had from rock outcrops on the way up.
Looking roughly east on the descent from Leonard.
The Matriarch with a big ol' stump low on the western slopes of Leonard. Most of the descent, particularly the lower part, was good walking through beautiful ferns and tall trees.
Mt. Oberon, one of the views to the south from the middle slopes of Mt Leonard.
To get to water and camp for the night, we dropped down to this gully which ran to the south west of the range.
Huge Beech trees (Northofagus Cunningami) fill the sky in the rainforest gullies, formimg a canopy over the ferns... the photo doesnt quite do it justice, but you get the idea.
The Patriarch, checking the bearings on the way up Mt Latrobe. Navigation was by way of good old fashioned map and compass, none of your GPS for this crew!
Big remains, above and below, in the hills between Mt. Leonard and Mt. Latrobe.
Yes, that's a grown-up there at the base. If you close your eyes, you can imagine what the original rainforests here must have been like.
Big ol' rock on the way up Mt. Latrobe. Most of the ascent was pretty tough. Sword grass and scrub aplenty. Once at the top though, the trip was worth it. For the brief time we were there, though the wind was icy, the clouds stayed away and the view was nearly 360 degrees.
The North end of the Prom from the top of Mt Latrobe, Five Mile Beach to the right, and corner inlet to the left. Though the weather was fine, I haven't yet mastered taking shots into the sun with the sea mist to contend with as well!
Looking back west north west, the way we came. Mt Leonard in the middle, Shallow Inlet to the left, and Norman island to the right. This shot shows the beautiful weather conditions which lasted just long enough to get some photo's, around 40 minutes. After being abused and battered for being so irresponsible as to bring so useless an item as a tripod for my camera (!), we moved on ahead of closing cloud
West to Tidal River, with Mt.Oberon to the left. Looking up at this mountain from Tidal river will never be the same!
A teleconverter shot to the south, over the top of Mt.Ramsay to Rodondo Island. Tomorrow we would walk from the bottom right, along the top and drop of the top and down to Windy Saddle.
The Yanakie Isthmus, north from the top.
View south west to Oberon.
Tidal River framed in a depression on the North side of Mt Latrobe.
Another view, dad in forground with very old tree stump. The roots are exposed, well above the rocks and earth.
From the south side of the top of Latrobe, looking down on Sealers cove to the south east.
And again.
We had outstayed our welcome at the top, and the weather began to roll in. Looking back to the north west across the broad western face of Latrobe. Thats Mt. Leonard going under cloud, and Latrobe was not far behind.
Mt. Oberon, with Oberon bay to the left and Tidal to the right. Note the cloud touching down on Oberon as well. By the time we got down to our planned camp on the south west of Mt. Latrobe, the peak we had taken the above pictures from was thoroughly cloaked in mist and cloud. By the time we had boiled the billy and had a meal, it was raining.
Then just on sunset, the sun came through again. My deepest regret is that I didn't risk wet cameras to record the sensational golden red lighting that resulted from the sunset, through the rain, through the canopy.
The next day there was no opportunity for pictures. It drizzled all day, as we made our way up the northern side of Mt. Ramsay, shown earlier, and down the other side to Windy Saddle and the track to Sealers Cove. The down the other side part was extremely difficult and treacherous. Hard to pick up the spurlines, and just as hard to get down them when you do. Lots of fallen, slippery timber and brush. Here we see Norman island, the road out of Tidal River, and Mt Bishop, as we look west from Windy Saddle.
The little waterfall at Ferny Glade, on the way in to Sealers cove. A pleasant place to stop for a break and a drink of pure mountain water.
And so ends the pictorial. The rest of the trip was of course all on track, and after the night at Sealers cove we all made it back to the car, vowing to do it again some time...