Windermere to Pelion

Heading south to Pine Forest Moor just before sunrise.  Mt Oakleigh brooding in the distance.

Snowy walk, saturated run, even snowier walk.  What a way to spend a few days on Tasmania's iconic Overland Track!  This was my first time combining trail running with an overnight bushwalk.  On day one Kylie and I enjoyed a snowy wander from Dove Lake to Windermere Hut via Waterfall Valley (17.5km).  On day three we walked through even more snow back to Dove Lake via Lake Rodway (20km). Day two was our soggy but thoroughly enjoyable 32km jog to Pelion Hut and back.

Sun rising over the eastern Windermere Plains

Weather forecast for our running day was rain falling as snow above 1,000 metres.  We would be running the lowest section of the Overland Track dropping from 990m at Windermere down to 730m at Frog Flats then up to 850m at Pelion Hut.  This meant our day would feature the wet, heavy form of precipitation rather than the soft fluffy stuff.

Henry Creek Lookout*

Setting out was delightful.  No precipitation as we trotted over undulating snowy trails past Lake Curran and on to Pine Forest Moor and the Henry Creek Lookout*.  The sun rose on this section and the mists rising from the Lemonthyme Valley below were devine.

Kylie at Frog Flats

After crossing Pelion Creek the heavens opened.  Our gradual descent to the Forth River at Frog Flats was dominated by rain falling from above and snow melt running beneath our feet from every gully and rill.  We were making good time so high spirits carried us up the steady climb to Pelion Plains.  Just before reaching the Old Pelion Hut turn-off I spotted the start of the Thetis Ridge Track which was wiped off the National Park Map many moons ago.  Good to see it's still identifiable to those 'in-the-know'.

Mount Oakleigh and Pelion Plains from our halfway point

A long lunch break at Pelion Hut featured warm conversation to make up for the lack of gas heating - a broken valve we we led to believe.  After taking the obligatory veranda pic of Mount Oakleigh to prove we were there we headed back into the rain.

At the Frog Flats the juvenile Forth River was at exactly bank-full and ready to stretch its legs over the plain.  We passed our hut-mates from the previous night and set off up the hill.  The recent(ish - about 20 years ago) landslide and the distinct westerly turn of the track heralded our arrival at Pelion Creek before-which I identified the Pelion West Track - another dotted line wiped from recent versions of maps.

Pelion Falls

Here I made a side-trip to Pelion Falls just above the old Pelion Creek campsite.  As a member of the Tasmanian Waterfalls Facebook group I felt it would be irresponsible for me to cruise past twice in such soggy conditions without paying a visit.  The falls did not disappoint.  Perhaps I should not be promoting such off-track antics but waterfall fans will find it well worth a visit for the fun of scrambling directly behind the column of water (while staying dry).

Looking out from behind Pelion Falls

The last leg of our jog took us back over the exposed plains of Pine Forest Moor and Windermere through several icy showers.  Just before reaching the hut the showers turned back to full on drifty snow - a good sign for tomorrow's walk out which would be well and truly above the snow line most of the way.

* Henry Creek Lookout is actually signposted and officially named the Forth Valley Lookout.  However, it is dominated by the side-valley of Henry Creek which leads the eye towards the distant Forth Valley.  The name Henry Creek appeared on a Mines Department Map in 1930 and is therefore a reminder of the mining activity which sprung up around the Upper Forth Valley and Windermere Plains around that time.