Mount Pelion East Explained

Mount Pelion East should not be confused with Mount Pelion West.

Mount Pelion East
Photo Size:280
Elevation M:1461
Elevation Ref:[1] [2]
Prominence M:335
Isolation Km:3.23
Map:Australia Tasmania
Map Relief:1
Map Size:280
Parent Peak:Mount Ossa
Listing:25 highest mountain in Tasmania
Location:Central Highlands, Tasmania, Australia
Range:Pelion
Coordinates:-41.85°N 146.06°W
Topo:Tasmap Cathedral 1:25000
Type:Dolerite
Age:Jurassic
Easiest Route:Walk / hike via the Overland Track from Pelion Gap

Mount Pelion East is a mountain located in the Central Highlands region of Tasmania, Australia. The mountain is situated within the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

With an elevation of above sea level, the mountain is the 25 highest mountain in Tasmania, slightly higher than the better known Frenchmans Cap at . Unlike Mount Pelion West, Pelion East is not a massive mountain, more pinnacle-like, the spire shape having been caused by harsh glacial erosion many thousands of years ago.

Location and access

The mountain summit is at grid reference 225655 UTM Zone 55S and high resolution topographical information is available on Tasmap Cathedral 1:25000. To the west is Mount Pelion West, due north is Lake Ayr, due east is Curate Bluff in the Cathedral Mountain range, and due south is Mount Massif. The mountain is made up of dolerite and the lower slopes are covered in low scrub, including scoparia. This mountain is approximately midway between Pelion Hut and Kia Ora Hut on the Overland Track which passes within of the summit.

Mount Pelion East may be accessed via the Overland Track from Cradle Mountain during the main walking season from November to April when a booking and fee system applies. During this walking period the track is restricted to limited numbers and north-south traffic only is permitted. In the off-season, walking is also allowed from the south at Lake St Clair. Another access route is the combined Arm River and Innes Tracks which passes Lake Ayr and joins the Overland Track at Pelion Plains. A wider overview of the area and access points is available on the Tasmap Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair map and notes publication.

This mountain can be climbed from the Overland Track which passes by very closely at Pelion Gap, at an elevation of .

Pelion Gap and Mount Pelion EastImage:lower slopes.jpgPelion East from the lower slopesImage:from Pelion West.jpgMount Pelion East left, Cathedral Mountain centre and Mount Ossa right, as seen from Mount Pelion WestImage:Pelion East from Ossa.jpgMount Pelion East from high on Mount OssaImage:Pelion East and Doris.jpgMount Doris in the foreground and Mount Pelion East behind - from the lower slopes of Mount OssaImage:Summit Pelion East.jpgSummitImage:Ossa And Massif.jpgMount Massif on the left and Mount Ossa on the right as seen from the summit of Mount Pelion East

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LISTmap (Mount Pelion East) . . Department of Primary Industries and Water . 29 February 2008 .
  2. 11514 . Mount Pelion East, Australia . meters . 7 June 2015 .