The stroll to the highest of Mount Eliza is a slog and a half. It’s a 12km return from Condominium Creek, which is extremely named as there’s no excessive rise residences to be seen. Where it’s apt is the steps….the infinite stairs to the bottom of the summit. You acquire over 900m in altitude on this one, in order that’s like strolling to the tippy prime of the Burj Khalifa after which persevering with for one more few flooring. For some unusual cause, I had it in my head that this was one thing extra akin to a pleasant Sunday afternoon stroll. Nope. When you lookup at Mount Eliza from the carpark, you recognize straight away you’re in for a slog.
Regular readers of this weblog will know my climbing exploits have been few and much between the previous few years. I’ve had a beautiful substitute in elevating a humorous loving little boy and renovating a 100 12 months outdated cottage and its backyard with my associate Gemma. That doesn’t imply the climbing itch isn’t nonetheless tapping me on the shoulder asking “What ya doing? Why you no hike? Pls come hike, hiiiiiike maaaan” and so forth and so forth.
When Gemma advised I take the chance to get my boots again on and hit the paths I used to be somewhat excited. Alas, she wasn’t in a position to include on account of a niggling ankle harm 😦 Being the Southwest she wasn’t eager on me going on my own both. A fast shout out on a bushwalking group on Facebook and Michael from Taiwan was to be my strolling buddy for the day. We met on the automotive park round 9:30am and obtained straight into the stroll.
The steps began pretty quickly into the stroll, first some good shiny new boardwalks, a mild introduction to the endless stairway forward. In 2018-2019 Tasmania was ravaged by a collection of horrendous bushfires that destroyed properties and burned via 278,000 hectares. We reside on a 1 acre property, that to me is freaking enormous. These fires burned the equal of 686,951 of these….
The Mount Anne (and Mount Eliza) space was considerably affected and the observe was off limits for a very long time afterwards, therefore the shiny new stairs. They’ve actually achieved an unimaginable job rebuilding every thing, the craftsmanship and sheer ability of the trackwork is a sight to behold. Now, again to the slog.
I wasn’t certain how seasoned a walker Michael was and had horrible visions of him being an absolute machine laughing at me as he casually strolled to the highest with out breaking a sweat. Thankfully we have been each at an identical degree and the shared tempo was fairly good.
The Mount Eliza observe is uncovered, there’s zero shelter and on a scorching day (which this was), it may be fairly brutal. It’s additionally fairly probably the most effective “no peaking” problem in Tasmania. The epic views of Lake Pedder are there from the get go, each time you cease for a relaxation, you’ll be able to’t assist however flip round and take them in. I dare you to do that stroll and never look behind you on the best way up, it’s unattainable.
The seemingly endless stairs do finally mix into that the majority fantastic a part of bushwalking in Tasmania, the enjoyable bit. The rocks, the boulders, the fun of the climb. I….once more displaying my thorough analysis and preparedness, was stunned by this. I believed it was going to be boardwalk all the best way from the few pics I’d seen haha. It was a freaking superior shock and a lot enjoyable doing the scramble to the highest. There’s a few sketchy…ish bits however nothing too taxing or scary.
Before you recognize it, you’re there, up on the summit the place you’ll be able to flip round and take within the views….which can be barely greater than those you completely peaked at on the best way up. We sat for a fast relaxation and a little bit of lunch earlier than taking a wander additional down the observe in direction of Mount Anne. The vegetation is admittedly fairly stunning simply down from Eliza’s summit with cushion crops a go go and plenty of beautiful alpine flowers and crops offering a carpet of delicate hues main in direction of the towering peak of Mount Anne. That one should wait for one more weblog put up because it’s an overnighter or two. Looking ahead to doing the complete circuit some day.
