Mount Pelion West
Encyclopedia
Mount Pelion West is a mountain located in the Central Highlands
of Tasmania
and in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
It is located at the eastern most boundary of the Murchison River, Tasmania river catchment.
in the island state It has an altitude of 1,560 metres and is one of only eight mountains in the state which are over 1,500 metres.
Achilles (4036) 1:25000. To the west lies an extensive, relatively flat moorland, to the north is Cradle Mountain
and Barn Bluff
, to the northeast and quite close at six kilometres is Mount Oakleigh, to the east is Mount Pelion East
and due south is Mount Achilles
.
Below the northern side of the mountain is Pelion Creek which flows into the head waters of the Forth River. The Forth River has its origin directly east of Pelion West at Frog Flats (720m altitude), the lowest point on the whole Overland Track
. At its closest point the Overland Track passes within two kilometres of the mountain summit.
An early bushwalking and mountain climbing pioneer Keith Ernest Lancaster
(5 Dec 1910 - 8 Apr 2003) climbed Mount Pelion West on Wednesday 30 January 1946 by enduring a slow and painful crawl through sections of the sharp and prickly richea scoparia that frequently inhabits alpine areas around Tasmanian mountains. Lancaster referred to Mount Pelion West as one of "The Giants of the Reserve". In his account of his climb Lancaster mentions "the confusion of the enormous boulders" on the top of the mountain.
, the more traditional side-excursion climbs along the famous 65 km Overland Track
. This is due to a difficult traverse of over 500 metres across huge dolerite boulders to reach the obelisk shaped, sloping summit boulder.
Central Highlands (Tasmania)
Central Highlands is a region in Tasmania where geographical and administrative boundaries closely coincide. It is also known as The Lake Country of Tasmania -Geographical region:...
of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania , 165 km northwest of Hobart. The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known Overland Track usually begins...
It is located at the eastern most boundary of the Murchison River, Tasmania river catchment.
Height
It is the third highest mountainHighest mountains of Tasmania
The Australian island state of Tasmania has a diverse range of geography but a prominent feature is the mountains of the island.Overall Tasmania is comparatively low-lying with the highest point at 1614 metres...
in the island state It has an altitude of 1,560 metres and is one of only eight mountains in the state which are over 1,500 metres.
Mountain Facts
The mountain summit is at grid reference 152682 UTM Zone 55S and high resolution topographical information is available on TasmapTasmap
Tasmap is the main government authority for the state of Tasmania in Australia for the mapping and management of land information systems for the state....
Achilles (4036) 1:25000. To the west lies an extensive, relatively flat moorland, to the north is Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain is a mountain in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia. Rising to 1,545 metres above sea level it is one of the principal tourist sites in Tasmania, owing to its natural beauty...
and Barn Bluff
Barn Bluff
Barn Bluff is a mountain located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in the Central Highlands of Tasmania at the junction of the eastern most points of the Murchison River and Mackintosh River river catchments...
, to the northeast and quite close at six kilometres is Mount Oakleigh, to the east is Mount Pelion East
Mount Pelion East
Mount Pelion East is in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is the sixteenth highest mountain in Tasmania at 1461 metres, slightly higher than the better known Frenchmans Cap at 1446 metres...
and due south is Mount Achilles
Mount Achilles (Tasmania)
Mount Achilles is a mountain in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is the 20th highest mountain in Tasmania. Mount Achilles consists of two main summits, the highest is known as 'Achilles Heel', and the other is referred to as 'Perrins Bluff'.It is a major...
.
Below the northern side of the mountain is Pelion Creek which flows into the head waters of the Forth River. The Forth River has its origin directly east of Pelion West at Frog Flats (720m altitude), the lowest point on the whole Overland Track
Overland Track
The Overland Track is one of Australia's most famous bush walks, situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania. More than 8000 walkers each year complete the track. Officially, the track runs for 65 km from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. However, many choose to add...
. At its closest point the Overland Track passes within two kilometres of the mountain summit.
An early bushwalking and mountain climbing pioneer Keith Ernest Lancaster
(5 Dec 1910 - 8 Apr 2003) climbed Mount Pelion West on Wednesday 30 January 1946 by enduring a slow and painful crawl through sections of the sharp and prickly richea scoparia that frequently inhabits alpine areas around Tasmanian mountains. Lancaster referred to Mount Pelion West as one of "The Giants of the Reserve". In his account of his climb Lancaster mentions "the confusion of the enormous boulders" on the top of the mountain.
Ascending
On the Achilles Tasmap is marked the approximate location of a walking track to climb the mountain along its northeastern spur. The unmarked track start is approximately 250 metres east of the Pelion creek crossing on the Overland Track and is in between two logs that are perpendicular to the Overland Track. This mountain is much more difficult to climb than either Mount Ossa or Mount Pelion EastMount Pelion East
Mount Pelion East is in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is the sixteenth highest mountain in Tasmania at 1461 metres, slightly higher than the better known Frenchmans Cap at 1446 metres...
, the more traditional side-excursion climbs along the famous 65 km Overland Track
Overland Track
The Overland Track is one of Australia's most famous bush walks, situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania. More than 8000 walkers each year complete the track. Officially, the track runs for 65 km from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. However, many choose to add...
. This is due to a difficult traverse of over 500 metres across huge dolerite boulders to reach the obelisk shaped, sloping summit boulder.
Nearby Mountains
- Mount Ossa
- Mount Pelion EastMount Pelion EastMount Pelion East is in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is the sixteenth highest mountain in Tasmania at 1461 metres, slightly higher than the better known Frenchmans Cap at 1446 metres...
- Barn BluffBarn BluffBarn Bluff is a mountain located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in the Central Highlands of Tasmania at the junction of the eastern most points of the Murchison River and Mackintosh River river catchments...
- Cradle MountainCradle MountainCradle Mountain is a mountain in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia. Rising to 1,545 metres above sea level it is one of the principal tourist sites in Tasmania, owing to its natural beauty...
External links
- http://users.bigpond.net.au/dveltkamp/KeithLancaster/054GiantsoftheReserve.htm