This peak is the face of Sleeping Beauty - the name given to the
mountain range profile when viewed from the Huon Valley. It was
first climbed in 1802 and David Collins reserved the name (although
we are unclear if he climbed the peak in this attempt!). David
Collins was Deputy Judge Advocate for the First Fleet and read the
proclamation making Australia a part of the empire. He died in
Hobart Town in 1810. This peak offers views of most of the others
(current and future!)in the Wellington Peaks series.
The Wellington Peaks Series of caches will take you to a number
of peaks in and near the Wellington Park. Remember that the
mountain area is subject to rapid fluctuations in weather
conditions and you should always go prepared for all extremes -
those of you who haven't seen it won't believe us, but the mountain
(and its associated peaks) can change from sunshine to full fog (or
vice versa) in 10 minutes or so. Some advice about bushwalking in
the Wellington Park is available at: http://www.wellingtonpark.tas.gov.au/visitors/activities/bush
There are a number of approaches to many of the caches in this
series. Make sure that you consult and carry a map. In addition to
the major tracks marked on maps, you will frequently find pads
leading off in all directions - so take careful note of where your
car is and where you want to go (maybe your gps will come in useful
here!). Useful Tasmaps for this series are the Mt Wellington Walk
Map, Collinsvale 1:25 000, Longley 1:25 000 and to a lesser extent,
Derwent 1:100 000. These are available from Service Tasmania in
Macquarie St. or agents such as outdoor shops. They can also be
ordered using the form available at: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/JGAY-5496DW?open
Each cache has a number inside its lid/ on the back of the stash
note/ in the logbook. Record these, as - once the series is
complete - they will give you the information needed to find other
caches. Completing this series is almost inevitably going to lead
to you revisitng some areas - but, hey, these are nice areas worthy
of at least a second trip!!! If you want to minimise backtracking,
you may want to delay your hunting until the series is complete -
but that may be some time away as unfortunately we have to work to
earn money to buy and get to caches!!
Many caches in this series could be said to initially contain
too many swaps or swaps that are too bulky!! Some swaps are better
than average (others aren't!!). As there should be some reward for
effort (ie climbing to a peak), you are allowed to take a better
swap (if there are any) and leave a regular swap (that's regular,
not garbage!!!). There is a bonus FTF pin - if FTF wants it (no
swap needed for this, but feel free to swap something else).
Now, on to Beauty's Face. There are two main approaches for this
peak - from either Big Bend near the top of the mountain, or from
Myrtle Forest at Collinsvale. As we slept in, we went by the latter
route - which is quicker but steeper!!! There are signs at the main
track junctions. The trip took us about 4¾ hours (return),
including about an hour for lunch and cache placement. This was at
DD's not speedy uphill pace, allowing time for plenty of comment on
the gradient!!
You can find notes for this trip in the book Mount
Wellington Walks by Jan Hardy & Bert Elson. There is also
information in David Leaman's Step into History in Tasmanian
Reserves However, note that the turnoff from the fire trail to
the Bonnet itself no longer seems to be marked by a cairn and
yellow tape - shouldn't give you any trouble though, as there is a
substantial pole and sign indicating the route. The last section of
this track is marked by snow poles with yellow arrows on them.