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Location: Franklin River, Strahan, Tasmania
Summary: 122 km, 5 day, IV(P) wilderness
run
Now, people may never have heard of this one, or dismissed it out of hand as most guidebooks have it as V(P). But if you are in the area I think you should reconsider. Any competant grade 4 paddler would be fine on this, its pool drop and you can portage(!) everything. As World Whitewater says, this is one of the top wilderness runs, and I'd have to agree, the scenary is absolutely stunning. Six stars out of five for the majesty of the place. If you want white water stars, this won't be for you. There aren't really any good grade 4 rapids and there are far too many trees for my liking. Plus several entertaining portages around grade 6 seives to spice up your day and the potential for the river to go up 30 feet overnight in the Great Ravine. Fun eh ?
With a river volume around 10 cumecs this is not a big volume run. The water is "Findhorn Black", dyed by tanin from upstream plants. The river goes through several incredible narrow, shear gorges with flatwater in the bottom, very like the Spean gorge in Scotland. As it rains a lot in Tasmania the level can fluctuate rapidly.
River Notes:
As usual all grades are mine and "true" in that I've not added anything for the isolation - open your eyes and add whatever you want for that. Suffice it to say that any mishap here would mean a minimum of 4 days before a helicopter arrived unless you were incredibly lucky. Walking out would be vaguely possible in the first 50 miles but you really, really wouldn't want to and it would take a couple of days to forever. These grades are for the river "running clean", and I'd expect them to hold with some silt but if it got brown you'd want to add some. But if that's news to you, don't. My notes are from a 10th-13th February, 2003. Most groups take 5 days rather than 4 on the river and many do the 1 day side hike to Frenchmans Cap that sets off from the Irenabyss.
Collingwood Bridge to Big Bend on the Gordon, 122km, IV-(P), 4 days,
(+1 with sidehike to Frenchmans Cap)
Alternative shorter run: MtMcCall access road - Big Bend, 65km, III(P),
2 days
Day 1: Collingwood Bridge - Irenabyss
Lots of trees in the Collingwood.
Log Jam (P) : Looks to be IV without trees but completely chocked deathtrap
as is.
Nasty Notch (P) : Rocksieve
Descension gorge (IV-) : Trickiest at the end, would make a reasonable
IV with plenty of water. Probably the hardest and runable rapid on the
run.
Great campsite at the Irenabyss which is stunning.
Day 2: Irenabysss - Coruscades
A couple of log jam easy portages
Sideslip (IV-)
The Churn (V+/P, IV) : Really 2 drops, low portage around both on the
right. Make sure you inspect the boof on the second drop, there is a big
rock on the line.
Great campsite river left just above the Coruscades.
Day 3: Coruscades - Kutikina
Coruscades (P/IV) : Low water portage as it is a rocksieve. Looks to
be a fun IV with water. Second part lovely IV- but currently has a log
across.
Forceit (III+)
Side Winder (IV-)
Thunderush (IV) : Straight down the middle IV but check last 6ft drop
- it lands on a slab at low level.
Cauldron (P): Low water portage on the right. Take care! The whole
right side is sumping. Getting back in is fun as well.
No sway bridge.
Pig Trough (P,V-): Again, two drops. Portage left, then right. Top
drop looks horrible.
Newlands Cascades (III+)
No aerial cableway.
Kutikina: Definitely find this. On left, wooden steps hidden in cliff,
just visible from river.
Day 4: Kutikina - Big Bend on the Gordon
Big Fall (III) : 3 foot U-shaped weir drop. Simple enough to get right
but this is a classic weir - you'll drown if you get in it sideways.
Logistics:
Guidebook:
Get the wilderness travel guide to the Franklin (08 2967093). This
is a laminated 7 page map/guide and although pretty old all the features
are still in place bar the second and third cableways. You'll need to paddle
down a further 20km below Butler Island to get to the Gordon River Cruises
pickup at Big Bend.
Getting there:
Fly to Melbourne. Pick up a hire boat (you'll want a boat capable of
carrying multi-day gear anyway). CanoePlus, 140 Cotham Rd, Kew is probably
Melbourne's premier outlet. 03 9816 9411, ask to speak to Matthew, he's
run the Franklin many times. Hiring boats in Tasmania for the Franklin
is tough, the Marine Safety authority has clamped down recently.
Get the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Port Melbourne, A$210 return
trip in 2003. They run every night and morning, leaving at 9.00.They arrive
in Devonport at 7.00. All the major hire car companies operate at the ferryport
in Devonport. Drive to Strahan (3 hours) via the Collingwood Bridge on
th Lyel Highway, dropping people and gear at the bridge. Go into Strahan,
drop the car and return. You might want to arrange a boat pick-up further
up the Gordon River while in Strahan, the final 50km of the run is flat,
so you can save 20km by getting a boat to meet you at Butler Island. Alternatively,
simply paddle on down to Big Bend and catch the next river cruise back
to Strahan (A$30). There are 4 a day, the last one at 5pm.
Bus schedule out of Strahan: Strahan - Lake St Clair buses (note: 5
a week!)
Tues, Wed, Sat: 11.15am
Fri: 4.00pm
Sun: 2.00pm
