GUNUNG · Australia

Mount Pelion East

Information

Elevation: 1.461 m
Country: Australia (AU)
Location / Range: Taman Nasional Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair, Kawasan Warisan Dunia Hutan Belantara Tasmania, Pulau Tasmania
Mountain type: Puncak dolerit berbentuk menara/spire (dijuluki 'The Nipple') di Dataran Tinggi Tengah Tasmania — gunung tertinggi ke-25 di Tasmania, side trip klasik dari Overland Track
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: -41.8572, 146.0677
Difficulty: Menengah–sulit: side trip pendek tapi menanjak dari Pelion Gap dengan bagian scrambling batu dolerit ke pinnacle puncak; bagian akhir terekspos dan menuntut kehati-hatian
Best Season: Musim pendakian utama November–April (bersamaan dengan musim booking Overland Track); di luar itu kondisi bisa bersalju dan es
Permits & Rules: Wajib Parks Pass Tasmania. Paling sering didaki sebagai side trip dari Overland Track (perlu booking musim Oktober–Mei) yang dimulai di Pelion Gap; dapat juga dicapai lewat Arm River Track ke Pelion Hut untuk pendakian yang lebih pendek
Hazards: Cuaca alpine yang cepat berubah (kabut, angin, salju), batu dolerit licin saat basah, dan bagian pinnacle puncak yang terekspos dengan scrambling — berbahaya bila jarak pandang buruk atau batu basah; jalur side trip tidak selalu jelas dalam kabut

Description

Mount Pelion East (1,461 m) is one of the most distinctive peaks along Tasmania's Overland Track, recognisable by its pointed, tower-like form — often nicknamed 'The Nipple' — which contrasts sharply with its broader neighbour, Mount Pelion West. Set in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, it is Tasmania's 25th-highest mountain, built of Jurassic dolerite carved by glacial erosion thousands of years ago into its characteristic spire. The Overland Track passes within about a kilometre of the summit, making it a favourite side trip from Pelion Gap (~1,126 m): walkers climb through alpine vegetation and then scramble among dolerite rock to the exposed summit pinnacle, with views to Mount Ossa (Tasmania's highest), Mount Pelion West and Cathedral Mountain. The climb is relatively short compared with the main track, but the final section demands care, especially when the rock is wet or the cloud is down.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Akses via Arm River Track ke Pelion Hut

Menengah (pendekatan lebih pendek dari sisi timur, tetap perlu scrambling di bagian puncak)

±2 hari (naik lewat Arm River Track ke Pelion, puncak di hari kedua)

Alternatif tanpa menempuh seluruh Overland Track: pendaki masuk lewat Arm River Track menuju kawasan Pelion Hut, lalu mendaki Mount Pelion East sebagai perjalanan lebih singkat dari Pelion Gap. Cocok bagi yang ingin fokus ke puncak ini tanpa booking trek penuh, meski tetap menuntut kehati-hatian di pinnacle puncak.

Source

Side trip puncak dari Pelion Gap (Overland Track)

Menengah–sulit (tanjakan menembus vegetasi alpine lalu scrambling batu dolerit ke pinnacle puncak yang terekspos)

±2–4 jam pulang-pergi dari Pelion Gap (tambahan di luar etape Overland Track)

Rute puncak yang paling umum: dari Pelion Gap (±1.126 m) di Overland Track, jalur side trip menanjak ke timur menembus vegetasi alpine lalu scrambling di antara batu dolerit menuju pinnacle puncak 1.461 m. Bagian akhir terekspos dengan panorama ke Mount Ossa, Mount Pelion West, dan Cathedral Mountain. Sebaiknya dibatalkan saat batu basah atau berkabut.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Almost all documentation of Mount Pelion East appears in the context of the Overland Track: hikers describe it as a 'must-do' side trip from Pelion Gap that branches off the main path to climb to the summit pinnacle. Accounts consistently call the final section a demanding dolerite scramble, rewarded with sweeping views of Mount Ossa and the surrounding peaks. Thru-hike vlogs provide the context — showing how the mountain's distinctive tower shape dominates the landscape around the Pelion Plains — while dedicated side-trip videos highlight the decision to climb mid-trek, the deciding weather, and the thrill of standing on the exposed summit. A recurring safety theme: the pinnacle is best avoided when the rock is wet or the cloud is down.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.