Waking up to a slightly overcast and foggy day didn't to anything to dampen our enthusiasm, instead it motivated us and inspired us as we knew the weather would clear and it would become a sensational day. Today was our ...
SUMMIT DAY
... the day we'd been talking about for two years, the one day we would get in the entire Expedition to attempt to summit Cradle Mountain. Everyone was excited, everyone was ready and everyone was looking forward to an inspirational day ...
Departing Scout Hut the track continued up showcasing amazing views of the National Park and surrounding features and providing the natural mystery of ... "what's next, what's around the corner & what views will we see?"
Crater Peak & the surrounding views
After enjoying the views offered by Crater Peak, we continued to follow the trail up through a small valley before the world opened up offering us views throughout Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park.
Glimpses of ...
Barn Bluff
Cradle Mountain
Kitchen Hut
Walking the final few hundred metres to Kitchen Hut, brought us back onto the Overland Track and offered views of the day ahead as Cradle Mountain rose in the distance with the track rising up towards the summit. It was a stunning view as the clouds danced over the summit, around the towering rocks and in the surrounding valley adding to the mystic and atmosphere that is Cradle Mountain. Kitchen Hut offered us a chance to relax, reset and prepare before tackling the track ahead. A track that offered a variety of different challenges to each individual.
As we climbed higher, so did the clouds as they lifted high into the sky ... simultaneously offering amazing views of the stunning surrounds and a realisation of the steep & deep nature of the trail rising to the Summit. While the stronger members of the group moved effortlessly towards the summit everyone else moved at their own pace while supporting and encouraging those around to extend their comfort zones and achieve to best of their abilities. It truly was a unique and remarkable trail.
Summit Fun
Through support, encouragement and determination we found ourselves at the top of Cradle Mountain where it was time to relax, enjoy the endless views and have fun together on the tower rocks that create the plateau that is the summit of Cradle Mountain.
Summit Photos
Eventually we moved over to the actual summit of Cradle Mountain where we simply sat, contemplated, ate lunch and reflected as a group on what we'd just achieved. It was an amazing feeling, a great achievement and satisfying to simply sit there while being immersed in the stunning vista that is the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park.
Summit Views
While the Summit of any mountain is always an achievement to be proud of, it is only halfway as you must safely descend to complete your summit. Knowing what was involved to get to the summit everyone turned their mind to the descent and started following the track down the mountain, ensuring their footing was secure with each step while always appreciating exactly where they were.
The Descent
Once back at Kitchen Hut we rested and re-grouped before heading back to Scout Hut. At the junction between the Overland Track and Horse Track which lead us directly back to Scout Hut, we were offered the opportunity to continue along the Overland Track to enjoy the views from Marion's Lookout and down to the Dove Lake Boatshed. So, while the majority of the group returned along Horse Track, four members of the group followed the Overland Track to further explore the National Park and enjoy the views immersing themselves into the famous Boatshed, Lake & Cradle Mountain postcard photo.
Cradle Mountain
On the Overland Track to Marion's Lookout
The view from Marion's Lookout
Dove Lake
Crater Lake
Wombat Pool
Our Postcard Photos
While exploring National Parks it is wonderful to enjoy the vistas, be amazed at the enormous and be inspired by the horizon, but it is also important to discover the micro and extend your knowledge through the discovery of full National Park exploration with eyes & minds open.
Cradle Mountain Nature
Scout Hut Sunset
The rock scramble up and down Cradle Mountain, it was awesome and felt more like problem solving than walking.
The negativity with the hills as they’re not all that bad ... and they do eventually end.
Thinking I can’t do stuff, but I actually can.
