Overnight there were light showers, enough to wet the ground and make sure the track around Mt Pelion West was wet mud. During the morning there was more showers for about half an hour, but this was the only rain we had the whole trip.
Distance: 16.8km Time: 5-7 hours Terrain: Undulating across the buttongrass plains, with some steep forested sections. Track Surface: Mainly natural gravel surface with some planking and cordwood. The day begins striding out across the heathland and moorland. About 4km in, take the short side track to the Forth Valley Lookout to view into this deep, dramatic valley. Back on the main track, you’ll pass through Pine Forest Moor and continue on through buttongrass moorlands before crossing Pelion Creek. You’ll then enter a glorious myrtle-beech rainforest on the eastern flanks of Mt Pelion West. It’s a gradual descent all the way through rainforest to Frog Flats – the lowest section of the Overland Track (730m above sea level). At Frog Flats you’ll cross the Forth River. There is a campsite here, however most walkers push on to Pelion. From Frog Flats it’s a gradual walk up through more rainforest before breaking out into the open eucalypt forest on the edge of Pelion Plains. The spacious Pelion Hut is set on the edge of picturesque buttongrass plains, with the spectacular dolerite spires of Mt Oakleigh framing the view to the north. OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP Old Pelion Hut Several hundred metres before Pelion Hut is the junction to Old Pelion Hut. Many people visit this charming, historic hut on the way to Pelion. Alternatively, it’s a good afternoon leg-stretch after arriving at Pelion campsite to back-track to the hut. Old Pelion Hut is one of the park’s oldest, constructed around 1916 to accommodate workers in the nearby (now disused) copper mines. It was later used by graziers and snarers. Careful observers may see remnants of the mine operations. The hut is for day shelter and emergency overnight use only. There is a good swimming hole in nearby Douglas Creek (follow the foot track). Distance: 1km return Time: 1/2 hour return Grade: Easy