Hike Statistics
Distance: 65 km circuit
Elevation Gain: 4,500m cumulative
Difficulty: Extreme (Grade 5)
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Weather: Arctic to alpine - four seasons in one day
Trip Report
Day 1: Approach & Ridge Ascent (17km, 1,200m elevation)
The mud began immediately after leaving Junction Creek - shin-deep black Tasmanian peat that sucked at our boots with each step. Eight kilometers of swamp walking brought us to the base of the range where the real climbing began. As we gained the ridge, arctic winds whipped rain horizontally across the exposed rock. We pushed past the planned campsite, scrambling in fading light to reach a sheltered nook just as darkness fell. The first taste of Arthur's hospitality - brutal but beautiful.
Day 2: Lake Oberon Approach (8km, 800m elevation)
Morning revealed our stunning position - perched above Lake Cygnus with the entire traverse laid out before us. The day's short distance belied its difficulty; each kilometer took nearly an hour as we navigated knife-edge ridges and technical downclimbs. The final descent to Lake Oberon felt like entering Middle Earth - its dark waters reflecting the jagged peaks that encircled us. We set up camp on perfect granite slabs, the first sunshine warming our bones.
Day 3: Weather Day at Oberon (0km)
The mountains reminded us who was boss today. Howling winds and driving rain confined us to tents, the once-stunning views replaced by impenetrable cloud. A test of patience and mental fortitude as we lay listening to the storm batter our shelter. The single bright spot - discovering other hikers had left surplus food in the cache, a welcome supplement to our dehydrated meals.
Day 4: To High Moor Camp (5km, 600m elevation)
Clearing skies revealed fresh snow on higher peaks as we tackled the infamous "Hole in the Wall" - a vertical crack requiring pack-hauling and creative chimneying. The exposure was breathtaking in both senses; one misstep would send you cartwheeling hundreds of meters down scree slopes. We moved at glacial pace, averaging just 1km/hour across the most technical terrain. High Moor Camp's expansive platforms felt like five-star accommodation after the day's trials.
Day 5: Haven Lake (5km, 500m elevation)
Morning alpenglow lit Federation Peak in the distance as we picked our way along precipitous ridgelines. The route demanded constant focus - one moment scrambling up chossy gullies, the next performing acrobatic maneuvers around giant boulders with full packs. The reward came at Haven Lake, where we celebrated with the trip's first (freezing) swim and watched sunset paint the cliffs gold.
Day 6: Return to Civilization (22km, 400m elevation)
A marathon final day descending back through the moors to Junction Creek. Our knees protested the endless downhill, but spirits soared with each kilometer closer to the trailhead. The contrast was striking - from alpine grandeur to soggy buttongrass plains in just hours. Six days in this wilderness had changed us; we emerged exhausted but already dreaming of return.
Highlights & Lowlights
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Sunrise from High Moor Camp
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Swimming in Haven Lake's crystal waters
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The "Hole in the Wall" climbing challenge
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36 hours confined to tents during the storm
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Snapping a trekking pole on Day 5
