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The existing track is sited on the shady, soft soiled side and is muddy. For several days after rain or snow melt most of this track has a considerable flow of water resulting in erosion. This can only worsen with further use. Nearly all the bottom ¾ of this track is on damp soils with fast growing plants and is creating both environmental problems and more onerous ongoing maintenance to keep from growing over. But the most disliked thing walkers complain about is the need to cross a boulder field of large rocks. The boulder field is dangerous even in ideal conditions, with large gaps and sizeable drops, but when they are damp or it is windy or icy it is particularly risky.
The existing track is sited on the shady, soft soiled side and is muddy. For several days after rain or snow melt most of this track has a considerable flow of water resulting in erosion. This can only worsen with further use. Nearly all the bottom ¾ of this track is on damp soils with fast growing plants and is creating both environmental problems and more onerous ongoing maintenance to keep from growing over. But the most disliked thing walkers complain about is the need to cross a boulder field of large rocks. The boulder field is dangerous even in ideal conditions, with large gaps and sizeable drops, but when they are damp or it is windy or icy it is particularly risky.
Below are photos from the existing track
Taken from scree on existing route. The proposed new way goes above the scree where the trees can be seen at the top of the left photo. and below.
Photos above are on the track below the scree , notice the depth of the erosion from the boot well below the base of the pineapple grass in photo on left. The photo on right does not give a good indication of the depth of erosion but the bank is aprox 5 cm high
The photos below are on the Thark Ridge saddle leading to the scree and are typical of the track over 75% of that distance.
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