Trip Date: January 22, 2019

2019 TASMANIA ADVENTURE VACATION

Mt. Amos Day Climb

Mount Amos (1490 ft / 454 m)

Trip Report Summary

Region: Tasmania (Australia)

Sub-Region: Eastern Tasmania

Sub-Sub-Region: Hazard Range

Area: Freycinet National Park

Starting & Ending Point: Wineglass Bay Trailhead on Freycinet Drive (Elev. 150 feet / 45 meters)

Way Points: Mt. Amos Trail junction & Mt. Amos apron & Mt. Amos summit (hike & rock scramble via Mt. Amos Track)

Summit: Mt. Amos (rock scramble via North Slabs—Northwest Cleft)

Approximate Stats: 2.5 miles / 4.0 kilometers traveled; 1400 feet / 425 meters gained & lost; 3.0 hours elapsed.

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Full Trip Report

At the beginning of our visit to the Freycinet Peninsula on the eastern coast of Tasmania, Eileen, Brooke, Callum, and I climbed Mt. Amos.  This small but popular peak is one of five peaks that comprise the Hazard Range located within Freycinet National Park.  Despite its modest elevation (1490 feet / 454 meters), Mt. Amos has two special attributes.  First, the ascent is an absolutely delightful Class 2-3 scramble up mega-crystalline pink granite.  Second, the summit provides an excellent view down into world-famous Wineglass Bay.

We started at different times from Wineglass Bay Trailhead on a hot, humid afternoon.  A few dozen yards up the main trail, the Mt. Amos Track branches off to the left and contours across the forested hillslope, then ascends about 300 vertical feet / 90 vertical meters.  Rather suddenly, the trail runs into a large granite apron, and this is where the fun begins.

The route is convoluted and not terribly obvious but is well marked with scads of yellow arrows.  It initially follows a series of moderately steep slabs, then gradually angles rightward into a large cleft that contains many cracks and grooves.  The scrambling is steep and challenging in places but never exceeds Class 3.  Thankfully, the weathered rind on the coarse granite is super-grippy.

After a full 1000 vertical feet / 300 vertical meters of scrambling, we topped out on the summit dome (1.1 hours + 1350 feet / 410 meters from TH).  Views were restricted by low clouds wafting in from the ocean, but we managed to steal a few peeks down to Wineglass Beach and Hazards Beach.  These two beaches are separated by a narrow, lowland isthmus.

The descent took just as long as the ascent, as we carefully down-climbed the grooves, cracks, and slabs.  We appreciated the yellow arrows helping to keep us on track.

Route Map

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Photo Gallery

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