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A
guide to Tasmanian cloudlife
Debbie Stuart, Summer 98
DURING our trip to Tasmania, Jeremy and I experienced wonderful
weather and stunning views while walking up and down the many ups
and downs of the Western Arthurs (flat was a four letter word that
we couldn't use until we got off the range).
Following this week of apparent contradiction of popular opinions
regarding Tasmanian weather, we began the Overland Track at Lake
St Claire and headed north, excitedly anticipating still more Tasmanian
views. However, despite reading about them in log books each night
at the huts, they eluded us. On the other hand, we did have the
opportunity to experience the varied and extensive cloud life of
the Overland Track; and so follows a guide for any of you who find
yourselves looking to the mountain summit and having to use your
imagination…Don’t despair. Climb to the top anyway and
you may be happily surprised by what you find.
The Acropolis
These clouds are probably the most bad tempered of the Tassie cloud
life. They hover quietly while you climb towards the mountain top,
and then descend on you just before you get there. We stayed for
a short while, attempting to gain their friendship, but they threw
bits of cold water at us and said "Run away. Run away back
down the mountain!" So we did.
Mt Ossa
These clouds don't wait for you to climb up to them, they come down
to meet you at Pelion Gap. They are cold, heavy and wet, and they
sit on you and say "We are the Kings of the Mountain".
Pelion East
The clouds at Pelion East are significantly younger than those of
the surrounding peaks, and this can be observed in their behaviour.
They zoom frantically around the mountain top, rarely pausing to
take stock of their position. Their favourite game is to play "chicken"
with the lump of rock at the top of the mountain, sometimes they
swerve in time to miss it, often they don’t (luckily this doesn't
matter with clouds).
They are very enthusiastic and friendly and will tug and pull at
you as they zoom past shouting "Come fly with me!!!" Not
realising, I suppose, that we can't.
Mt Oakleigh
These clouds are the Titans of the Overland Track. They are best
viewed from the end of the mountain near the pinnacles. Care should
be taken as they tend not to notice small, insignificant humans.
And even if they do happen to notice, they remain fairly indifferent
to our presence. The huge noise and force of their power is a magnificent
thing, and they even offer brief glimpses of the pinnacles they
work on, and the surrounding countryside.
Cradle Mt & Little Horn
The clouds of these two peaks are definitely my favourites. They
are light and puffy, and quite friendly and considerate. They remain
a suitable distance apart so as not to block the sunshine for too
long and also remain at a level which is even higher than Mt Ossa
(even if Mt Ossa is the highest mountain in Tasmania). They didn't
even mind that we ignored them to look at the views! Brilliant!!
Barn Bluff
Barn Bluff clouds are big, puffy, thick, insipid clouds with little
or no brain. They sit high in the sky, floating here and there aimlessly
until someone climbs onto the mountain, at which time they come
down for a look and completely envelope you.
This only lasts as long as you stay on the mountain top; once you
have descended, they'll rise back up off Barn Bluff into the sky
once again. A second summit attempt is not advised as they have
short memories and will come down for another look, forgetting that
they have already seen you. |
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Photo: Geoff
Wise
Looking up from Pine Valley |
Photo: Geoff
Wise
Cradle Mountain from Scott Kilvert Hut |
Photo: Geoff
Wise
Cradle Mountain, from the infrequently visited Lake Rodway |
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