Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

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                I truly did not know what I was getting into when we set out for this hike. This experience was both one of learning about the landscape around me and what it took to preserve such a beautiful place and one of personal growth and perseverance in a difficult situation. In the interest of sharing what I gained from both learning experiences I will discuss both the things I learned about Cradle Mountain and its inhabitants as well as what I learned about myself during this day of hiking and what I observed in my peers (and climbing).

When we arrived to the park we were quickly instructed to disinfect our boots. This was one of the first sustainability precautions I noticed in the park as it was meant to prevent detrimental fungi from entering the park and disrupting biodiversity. This theme preservation continued on through out this hike. There was an overall sense of accountability and respect for this land from each of the people that hike this trail. There was very little trash that we saw along this trail and the plants surrounding the trails we walked were all very healthy. It was clear to see how much this park is valued by those who visit. The park overall was a very sustainable place filled with many amenities meant to allow visitors to enjoy their stay while leaving a low impact on their environment.

A second piece of this hike that was truly so fascinating was getting to learn about the history of the park and the different flora and fauna that inhabit it. This park was once inhabited by the Big River Nation people long before it became a national park. The park was then first preserved because of a man named Gustav Weindorfer and his wife Kate. The two first saw Cradle Mountain from the summit of Mt. Roland during their honeymoon. Following this event they bought land in Cradle Valley and quickly fought to preserve this piece of pristine land for generations to come. This vision became reality when in 1922 158,000 acres of this land were proclaimed a scenic preserve and wildlife sanctuary. We truly were able to experience all of this beauty during our day in the mountain and it was during this experience that I was able to deeply understand the importance of preservation. This area is especially important to Tasmania’s overarching ecosystem as it is home to Australia’s only native deciduous tree, the Fagus. It is also home to an abundance of wildlife such as echidnas, wombats, padymelons, and of course, the Tasmanian devil.

The final experience of this day that was so pivotal for me was the experience of the hike itself. Early on, our guides kept telling us that this hike was more of a test of our mental strength than our physical strength. As we begun the hike I did not quite know what they meant as the beginning of this hike was one of enjoyment. Our group quickly bonded together and made an enjoyable experience out of the first half of our hike. The mood of our group began to shift once we arrived to our biggest challenge of the day, the summit. This was when we all began to understand how important our mental strength would be to our success. The daunting height of the summit ahead quickly became an exciting challenge for us. It was during these next two hours of summiting that mountain that I witnessed the most support and comradery that has emerged from this trip. Each person in our group was looking out for the safety of those around them and were nothing but supportive in the face of adversity. Once we reached the final stretch of our hike, nothing but determination emerged from our group. Reaching the summit of Cradle Mountain will go down as one of the most memorable experiences of my life. From a personal standpoint, I never imagined I could do something like that, climbing up large boulders for two hours. This was a moment of strength and persistence that showed me so much as to what I am capable of. As a group, there was nothing but pride in what we had just accomplished and a sense of togetherness because we did it as one unit. This same strength continued as we made the risky decent down and walked back to the point where we began. I am truly so grateful to Cradle Mountain and the beautiful land that we were lucky enough to enjoy.

               

 

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