Day 2 on the track is more strenuous than Day 1 (previous post), proceeding from Surveyors Hut (130 metres altitude) to Munro Hut (240 m) by way of Arthurs Peak and Crescent Mountain (300 m), a total of 11 km which should take 4 to 4.5 hours according to the track notes.
Most of the route lies close to the cliff tops and the spectacular views present plenty of excuses to stop and rest for a few minutes. My camera will do most of the talking.
We didn’t see a lot of wildlife (it was the end of summer and the country was very dry) but wallabies grazed around the huts at dusk and dawn.
The ‘storyseats’ were an unexpected delight. Trackside seats designed by UTAS furniture design staff and students, they were diverse, whimsical, ingenious and practical. This one celebrates wombats’ famously square poo.
Some time after summiting Crescent Mountain we had our last view along the western Tasman Peninsula coast and our first good look at Cape Pillar – although the tip of the Cape is out of sight in this shot.
Munro Hut hosts two groups at once every day, though only briefly. Day 2 walkers trickle in while Day 3 walkers are returning from Cape Pillar and loading up for their short hike to Retakunna Hut. The dining area and decks are much bigger than at the other huts to make this possible.
The views from Munro are all to the north, towards Mt Fortescue and Cape Hauy.
- In this Three Capes Track series: Intro and Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 and afterword.