Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey ascends a scrubby valley behind Pelion Hut until we reach Pelion Gap from where we take a side track up to the beautiful Japanese Garden under Mount Ossa, Tasmania's highest mountain. From there we return to the main track and descend to Kia Ora hut and camping ground.
Today's Journey
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Cloud covers the sky as I watch the dawn over the plain looking towards Mount Oakleigh with Barn Bluff and Cradle Mountain visible in the distance. |
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After packing up camp, we follow the track through the forest following Douglas Creek upstream towards its source. |
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About half an hour upstream, we stop at this little rapid before leaving the creek and continuing up the valley. |
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Continuing through the forest, we stop here in amongst a stand of trees. The thin tree in the middle is one of only seventeen existing specimens of a crossbreed between two other species. |
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After a long climb, we reach the bushline at the 1125 metre high Pelion Gap, and take the Mount Ossa side track up the slope of Mount Doris. |
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The track rises to 1272 metres where we stop for lunch at the beautiful Japanese Garden, a sheltered area of compact shrubs and ground covered in moss. From here we continue a little further to the base of the very rugged Mount Ossa, Tasmania's highest mountain (picture at top of page). |
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From Japanese Garden, we start heading back to the main track, looking over the plateau and Mersey River Valley where we will be descending to this afternoon, and following upstream tomorrow. |
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Upon returning to the main track at Pelion Gap, the trail descends across the valley before heading down into the valley where we set up camp at Kia Ora. |
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I head to the nearby hut to watch the sunset with the last of the light bouncing off the impressive Cathedral Mountain. |
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Returning to the campsite as the sky darkens, the lights at the hut is the only sign of civilisation in this remote wilderness. |
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