When Crawf proposed an overnight adventure to Clumner Bluff, I couldn't resist. From what I remembered of its close neighbour, Turanna Bluff, the promise of breathtaking views were too strong to ignore. Plus it had been a few months since my last walk! We set off from Launceston around 3:15 pm, and made good time.

We were already brimming with excitement, but that escalated when we discovered that a fallen tree, which had previously obstructed our path to the starting point, had been cleared. Yes!This unexpected surprise meant that our trip would be slightly shorter and we would be spared about 200 meters of climbing elevation. This was most convenient. The road became a bit scrubbier as we progressed but not too long after passing the cut up tree we arrived at a tape indicating the starting point.

Out of the car by 5:30pm, we found ourselves standing at the foot of a steep track that disappeared into the open forest above. This forest, beckoned us - with a well-trodden path and regular tapes as our guide, we embarked on the climb.

After about 50 minutes of navigating through the forest, we reached the beginning of a boulder field. The landscape changed dramatically, with clusters of trees giving way to a terrain laden with boulders and scree. The trail took us on a gentle incline initially, allowing us to acclimatise to the changing landscape.

An hour into our walk, the true nature of the boulder/scree field revealed itself. Looking up, we could see the plateau high above us. We started our ascent, manoeuvering over the large boulders, following the well-cairned route. The climb became steeper but we made swift progress as we approached the top.

At 7 pm, we reached our destination - the summit plateau. We shed the weight of our packs and quickly located some small tarns for water, ensuring we had enough for dinner. We then made our way the short distance to the main summit, leaving our packs behind.

The sight that greeted us was nothing short of magnificent. The world seemed to stretch out in every direction, the landscape bathed in the soft, golden light of the evening. It was an awe-inspiring sight, and we felt privileged to be there at that moment.

After drinking in the panorama, we returned to our packs and moved a couple hundred meters to a grassy area that looked perfect for setting up camp. The grassy knoll was nestled in a spot that offered a spectacular view of the surroundings. While Crawf went about setting up camp, I turned my attention to preparing dinner.

On the menu was a meal fit for kings - Cryo packed steak and Instant mashed potatoes. As the delicious aroma of our meal filled the air, we sat on the edge of the escarpment, marvelling at the views that extended as far as the eye could see. From our lofty vantage point, we reckoned that we could see at least 30 Abels, if not more! The peaks of Central Tasmania seemed so close, we felt as if we could reach out and touch them. From The King William range and Mt Olympus, we could see every peak in between to Cradle Mountain and Black Bluff. To the south, we could see Reeds Peak and Pokana Peak. Further to the west, we could see the top of High Dome - A peak we planned to visit in a months time.We continued to take in the stunning scenery until the setting sun signalled the end of the day around 9 pm. It was time for bed.

The sound of my phone alarm jolted us awake at 4:30 am. Despite the early hour, the need to return home to work had us up and about by 5 am. The morning air was filled with a fine mist, making initial navigation tricky. With head torches lighting our path, we began our descent. We navigated our way through the boulders, careful to watch our step.

As the first rays of the sun broke through, we found ourselves back in the forest. By 6:30 am, we were back at our car, the sight of it signalling the end of this quick adventure.

By 9 am, we were back in town and at work, our bodies in the office but our minds still back on the summit.

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