More Mt Rufus

Sandstone outcrops on one side of the mountain.

Mountains as far as your eyes can see....360 degrees.

Rocky top on Rufus

17km x 3km Lake St Clair looks small from 1416m.

Mt Rufus pics

Our mission: climb this mountain.

You bet we did! Jon at the top. Of course I made it too...who else took the photo?

The sponge 'forests' and underground waterways.

Some of the more unusual plant types on our 8 hour circuit hike.

Victory! Still 1.5 hours from home....you can tell by my face where not quite there yet....but so glad we took on Rufus.

Photos, just like words, could never do this day and the magnificent views justice. So you'll just have to be happy with the few little pics we have attached here....and we'll have to keep those mental pics we took fresh and alive for years to come.

Takes you breath away

There are some moments in life that just take your breath away. Or moments that are so great, there are just not enough good words to use to describe them. We have had a couple of those moments in Lake St Clair National Park. This World Heritage listed 'Eden' has delivered us beautiful sunny days and stellar views. On the first day we were here, we took a ride on 'Wild St Clair' a boat trip up the 17 kms of lake. Every way you looked....mountains. Big ones, rocky ones, ones with waterfalls and all stunning in the afternoon light. This glacial formed lake is 3kms wide and 167m deep at its deepest point. It is the start of the Derwent River....which flows 156 kms south east to Hobart. Part of the boat trip was a visit to the cool temperate forests at Echo Point where we had the chance to sample the nicest water I have ever tasted straight from a mountain stream. The next day dawned bright and sunny...again...so we couldn't waste the brilliant conditions. Hiking boots on, day packs full, we set off up Mt Rufus. 1416m above sea level, this mountain provides anyone game enough to climb her (ok...it wasn't that hard...not as tricky as Cradle anyway) with stunning 360 degree views all the way to Cradle Mtn (almost felt like that); across to the Walls of Jerusalem NP and down through the Gordon Franklin Wild Rivers NP. Mountain after mountain after.....get it? And we had crystal clear views, with only high cloud. I have simply 'never seen anything like it' and coupled with the sense of achievement of climbing my 2nd mountain in a week, I loved it! The trek home took about 4 hours and wound through the most amazing landscapes....underground waterways, lakes, barren, rocky outcrops, rivers, sponge valleys, button grass plains, snow gum forests, enchanted woods...you name it, we saw it. Jon kept an eye out for Treebeard and Robin Hood...but by the end of our 8 hour hike, I was just looking forward to seeing the CMC and Navara and taking a hot shower. Just one of those days and one of those adventures you can't put a price on.