Czeching Out Tasmania

It’s been hugely satisfying attempting the Abels with Gemma the last few months and a little while ago we ticked off the sibling of Mount Field West, which we had climbed previously on a sweltering day. The day we ventured up to Mount Field East was thankfully a little cooler, albeit not by much.

You don’t have to go all the way up to Lake Dobson to get to Mount Field East, instead you park at the side of the road near Lake Fenton, the source of some of the tastiest water in Tassie.

I’d been up this way previously on an Instameet where we saw the turning of the Fagus, Tasmania’s only native deciduous plant. It’s always fun to venture further along trails you’ve walked before, that sense of going into the unknown is hugely exciting. We climbed gently up into the ghostly snowgum forest that’s like something out of a fairytale. Trees that are as white as snow contrast sharply with the green of the rest of the vegetation and the orangey/grey rocks.

Eventually you reach a clearing, a very large one indeed. Across a vast flat plain called Windy Moor (but wasn’t really living up to its name) you get your first glimpse of Mount Field East. It looks so far away. The walk across the plain is really fun with a bit of puddle hopping and trying to stay on the path. We saw our second snake of the day as we neared the rocky part of the climb. Gemma stopped in her tracks and called out snake, I looked down just as it passed right between my feet as I put my foot down. NEW PANTS PLEASE! I’ve said before how exciting it always is to see a snake and this was no different. Whooo!

We continued on our way up to the summit, passing a family on their way back. Love seeing families when we’re out on a hike, it’s so good to see the next generation being encouraged to get out into the wilderness. We hung around on the summit for a little while, took some photos, had some lunch, I put on a dress and then we made our way back down to the car…..you know, standard hike stuff.

The image below is a bit of fun, a bit of fun with a serious message behind it. Over the last few months I’ve seen some huge accounts on Instagram posting images of attractive young people in the kind of clothes you’d wear out on a warm summer’s evening……….but on a mountain. That’s all well and good when the location has a carpark or is easily accessible but so many of these accounts were taking these images in truly remote places. I’m fairly certain they did as I did and changed into their wholly impractical outfits at the top, took a few quick photos and then changed back into more suitable clothing. If they didn’t, well that’s just irresponsible. The point of this is many people are hugely suggestible and sadly gullible when it comes to online imagery. Instagram has created a phenomenon where everyone wants to get the same shot that these huge accounts are creating and I think it just opens up huge risks for those who aren’t aware how quickly a lovely walk in the wilderness can go south. Hence why I posed in a dress to show the silliness of this pursuit. Always wear location and activity appropriate clothing but if you really have to wear a dress, maybe wait till you get to the top to change into it eh? 🙂