Mount Roland

So there are two options for climbing Mount Roland – one climbs gradually up the backside of the mountain, the other heads straight up the face and is described on the Mount Roland Conservation Area website as “potentially dangerous, steep and awkward. This track is not recommended…”. Guess which one we chose?

Somewhere in amongst those cliffs is a track...

The “Face Track” starts in the forest at the base of the mountain. I had imagined that this section wouldn’t be too bad, with the really steep stuff starting once we hit the cliffs. This was partly right – as in the REALLY steep stuff did start at the cliff-line, but the forest portion also involved a pretty decent climb.

Part of the track in the bottom left of the picture

(if you think it looks almost vertical, you would be correct)

The ascent through the cliffs took us up a densely vegetated gully, which gradually opened up towards the top of the mountain. We alternated between ducking under and around mossy branches, to scrambling up tumbled boulders and scree. All the while, the view behind us was growing gradually more spectacular with the elevation gained.

Climbing up the gully

(some random guy in a green T-shirt keeps getting in all my shots...)

View back towards the coast

Scrambling up a rock-fall

(not very well demonstrated...)

Once on top, the surroundings abruptly changed to what we’ve come to know as “Tassie Alpine”, with low, prickly scrub dotted with jumbled rock. We had come prepared this time with warm gear, and donned jackets, beanies and gloves once we started finding iced over puddles along the track.

Proof I was also there

This picturesque stream is actually the track...

Typical Tassie mountaintop

We walked for another hour or so along the plateau to reach the trig. This involved more climbing over boulders, as well as slippery patches of snow and lots of water and mud. The view from the trig was magnificent with a 360° vista taking in the coastline as well as snow-capped peaks inland. It was also freezing cold and windy (surprise), so we quickly retreated to a lunch spot sheltered amongst the rocks below.

This is not just a picture of snow, but is actually the track

(which required a bit of rock-climbing)

Target acquired

(you can just see the tiny trig in the distance)

The view was alright I guess

(looking West-ish)

View north towards the coast

After lunch, we retraced our way back along the plateau and then back down the gully (facing the awesome view most of the way). The descent was unrelentingly steep (as expected) and my quads were cramping in protest by the time we reached the bottom again.

Summary for the day – 8.5km of walking, 850m of climbing, two very sore legs (Ryan’s were fine) and one muddy boot.

Nothing to see here