Third time lucky at the Spires

This is my (Colin) third attempt (first is here, second is here) to get a good view from Twin Spires and Cathedral Mountain this year. All the previous trips have been very enjoyable with only one, the first, giving some glimpses of the fabulous views to be had up here. The first solo trip was rained out, the second with a good mate was great until we arrived and then snowed for the rest of the time until we left. The third with Sharon was almost perfect. The Sunday was perfect but a little late drizzle on the Saturday afternoon was just a slight annoyance really.

This walk starts at the end of the Mersey Forest road and climbs up and up and up till you drop down to Chapter lake and the delightful Grail Falls that drop over a long rock ledge and look quite impressive when they have a decent flow going over them. You can climb up above the falls after a short some what difficult scramble to view them and the lake from above. This is also the route we take to get to the Spires.

Once above the rock slabs above Grail Falls you go down a delightful valley full of Fagus and small pines. This would be a very picturesque place when the Fagus was turning. You exit this small valley after an up and down scramble to cross the outlet creek in one of two places depending on the flow. You then to walk down the Northern side of Chalice Lake passing two pretty awful campsites people have used. Crossing the Chalice NW end can be interesting when it is very full.

Up on the rocks you have two options to get to Tent Tarn, take the direct route or follow the well cairned track that heads up the other side of the gully and creek that comes out of Tent Tarn. Both are easy and take about the same time.  Plenty of camping at Tent Tarn or up further on the plateau with plenty of small tarns and flowing water about at this time of the year. A camp up on the escarpment edge would be great if it was not too windy.

All the peaks on the plateau can be easily reached and walked to with just some typical Tassie scrub here and their to get in your way. An easy to find and well marked track leads to Twin Spires and Cathedral that could be followed. Twin Spires is easily attainable and gives excellent views out to Pillinger around to Ossa and Geryon as is Cathedral Mountain. Getting around further some great views of Falling, Du Cane, The Never Never and Rogoona to name a few. This has to be a great 'bang for your buck' walk with its easy access and great views. The mountains just seem so close to you sitting on Cathedral. Wadleys, Lees, Kia Ora and Du Cane huts area easily seen and seem so close.

Five peak bagger points on offer around here. Other routes and loops are possible rather than through Grail. We had a fantastic trip this time and camped with fantastic views of Rogoona and Ten Tarn out or tent front without seeing another sole all weekend. My mate from the second trip wants to go again and I would certainly take him to enjoy the views once more. I might include a trip to the top of Feather Falls next time.

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