24-Feb-2024
We had camped overnight at Mt Field campground. After milling around the visitor center for an hour or so we headed off for the car shuffle near Mt Anne. Cath dropped us off at Gelignite Creek and took the car to the end at Red Tape Creek. Where the Scotts Peak bus picked her up and bought her back to Gelignite Creek.
The route we were taking is not the usual Mt Anne circuit. It’s the scenic route, which is saying a lot as Mt Anne is spectacular anyway.
We dove into the bush down a wallaby hole and off into the scrub. Lots of button grass, mud, Banksia. Some of it ankle height, some above head height. We disturbed two small white lipped snakes along the way.
At about 5pm we crossed Sandfly Creek and set up camp for the night. There was intermittent drizzle and a few mosquitos so an early night listening to books.
25-Feb-2025
We headed off through burnt out hakea and other scrub along the valley floor for about a km till the route started the climb up to Pandani Saddle. The forrest changed rapidly to huge beech and eucalypt. We estimated these at about 60m tall. Lots of lichen and moss over everything. As we climbed higher we started to encounter lots of King Billy pine. These got more dense and larger as we climbed, becoming a forest. The largest of the King Billy Pines were over 1.2m diameter and 50m tall. By far the largest King Billy pines I had ever seen.
The forest thinned out near the summit and opened out to spectacular views of Mt Anne and Lots Wife.
To the west we could see ranges right to the horizon. With Frenchmans Cap standing out above all the other ranges.
After a traverse and a short descent we arrived at Pandani Shelf and camped the night amongst the biggest cushion plants I have seen.
26-Feb-2025
Great sunrise this morning. Lighting up the Pandani and Tarns that surrounded our camp.
Another fine day with light winds for the rock scramble along the north east ridge to Mt Anne. Very slow going against dense scaparia and small King Billy pines.
Eventually we climbed up onto Mt Anne proper. The route turned into boulder hopping for most of the way. James, Jean-Marc and I climbed to the summit while Cath had lunch and admired the view.
More boulder hopping ensued until we made it to the regular Mt Anne track. Then a steady descent on the rocky trail to Shelf Camp where we stayed the night.
We also met a Ranger at the camp and spent an hour or so exchanging stories.
27-Feb-2025
Windy night with a bit of rain. We woke to low cloud so no views. Cath was having trouble with her ankle and the weather forecast was 100kmh winds and some rain so we changed plan.
James and Jean-Mark did a side trip out to Mt Lot before we packed up and headed out to High Camp over Mt Eliza.
The route to Mt Eliza starts off with lots of boulder hopping. Followed by a pleasant walk across a Plateau dotted with tarns.
The views from Mt Eliza are outstanding. To the south we can see the Western Arthurs, to the west is the Frankland range. North is Reeds Peak and Bonds Crag where we hiked a week ago. And in the distance is Frenchmans cap. To frame it all is Lake Pedder in front of us.
The descent from Mt Eliza is a challenging boulder hop that descends 300m in 300m. So very steep.
We set up camp on the two sheltered platforms at High Camp and watched a spectacular red sunset. A lot of the smoke from the fires near Zeehan and Queenstown had been drifting south making for the special sunset.
28-Feb-2025
The forecast winds and rain arrived in the early morning. We packed up in the rain and headed for the hut for a cup of tea. James headed down to the road to hitch back to the car and bring it back to the Mt Anne car park. Luckily he got a ride in the first km.
We descended down the trail which had only recently been upgraded. Steps and board walk most of the way. Huge contrast to the extreme boulder hopping yesterday. James was already at the car park with the car.