Day 5
27 images Created 19 May 2019
Another fine day dawned, and rested and relaxed we decided we would get moving early, particularly with a side trip to Mt Ossa (tallest mountain in Tassie) on the cards.
Heading out about 8.30am we climbed steadily through some lovely forest, beside some creeks and waterfalls for about 4km to Pelion Gap. A boarded platform marks Pelion Gap and a crossroads with trails heading out either side to Mt Pelion East (1,433m) and Mt Ossa (1,617m).
From here were decided we would leave our big packs, take our day packs and head up to the saddle between Mt Ossa and Mt Doris, where we understood some lovely views were to be had. We heeded the numerous warning about currawongs and crows that can take off loose pack covers and unzip and otherwise dismantle packs and secured our packs together with some cord and pack covers making them as hard to access as we could.
The track up to the saddle is really well maintained and was a lovely doddle with some spectacular 360 degree views to Mt Pelion East, north to Mt Oakleigh and south down the Pinestone Valley toward our final destination at Kia Ora hut. Reaching the saddle and looking almost straight up to the final climb to the peak of Mt Ossa, we could appreciate the effort that would take and decided against it this time. A young couple who headed out just before us from Pelion had said they were going to attempt the climb, but we could not spot them on the slopes among the jumble of rocks and pinnacles that is Mt Ossa.
Arriving back at the Gap we noted our packs were still securely tied together and untouched, however the same could not be said for another two packs that had been somewhat carelessly left lying with loose pack covers only protecting them. Crows had pulled the covers off, unzipped all of the zippers and were in the process of pulling out everything they could in search of food. A lesson for the owners of those packs, no doubt, to heed the warnings in future.
The rest of the trek was spent in lovely sunshine and all downhill on the trek into Kia Ora hut, capping off what had been our first truly enjoyable day on the trail where we could enjoy the sights and sounds and smells. Arriving around 2pm we picked out a great little tent platform and pitched our tent in no time at all, looking forward to a peaceful nights sleep. We of course kept all of our food in our packs in the hut as again, stories were rife of marauding possums demolishing tents to get to food.
We made a cuppa and headed down to a little bridge over Kia Ora Creek where we sat and dangled our legs over the edge watching as the water rushed incessantly under our feet.
After the usual organising and sorting of gear for tomorrow and hanging of our trek gear to organise and dry a little, followed by some dinner, we retired to our little red Hilleberg Nallo tent after a lovely day of trekking and enjoyed a peaceful nights sleep.
(Day 5: 13km, 5.5hrs, 700m ascent, 650m descent)
Heading out about 8.30am we climbed steadily through some lovely forest, beside some creeks and waterfalls for about 4km to Pelion Gap. A boarded platform marks Pelion Gap and a crossroads with trails heading out either side to Mt Pelion East (1,433m) and Mt Ossa (1,617m).
From here were decided we would leave our big packs, take our day packs and head up to the saddle between Mt Ossa and Mt Doris, where we understood some lovely views were to be had. We heeded the numerous warning about currawongs and crows that can take off loose pack covers and unzip and otherwise dismantle packs and secured our packs together with some cord and pack covers making them as hard to access as we could.
The track up to the saddle is really well maintained and was a lovely doddle with some spectacular 360 degree views to Mt Pelion East, north to Mt Oakleigh and south down the Pinestone Valley toward our final destination at Kia Ora hut. Reaching the saddle and looking almost straight up to the final climb to the peak of Mt Ossa, we could appreciate the effort that would take and decided against it this time. A young couple who headed out just before us from Pelion had said they were going to attempt the climb, but we could not spot them on the slopes among the jumble of rocks and pinnacles that is Mt Ossa.
Arriving back at the Gap we noted our packs were still securely tied together and untouched, however the same could not be said for another two packs that had been somewhat carelessly left lying with loose pack covers only protecting them. Crows had pulled the covers off, unzipped all of the zippers and were in the process of pulling out everything they could in search of food. A lesson for the owners of those packs, no doubt, to heed the warnings in future.
The rest of the trek was spent in lovely sunshine and all downhill on the trek into Kia Ora hut, capping off what had been our first truly enjoyable day on the trail where we could enjoy the sights and sounds and smells. Arriving around 2pm we picked out a great little tent platform and pitched our tent in no time at all, looking forward to a peaceful nights sleep. We of course kept all of our food in our packs in the hut as again, stories were rife of marauding possums demolishing tents to get to food.
We made a cuppa and headed down to a little bridge over Kia Ora Creek where we sat and dangled our legs over the edge watching as the water rushed incessantly under our feet.
After the usual organising and sorting of gear for tomorrow and hanging of our trek gear to organise and dry a little, followed by some dinner, we retired to our little red Hilleberg Nallo tent after a lovely day of trekking and enjoyed a peaceful nights sleep.
(Day 5: 13km, 5.5hrs, 700m ascent, 650m descent)
