After the coast we headed inland to Ben Lomond, an amazing prominent mountain plateau known for its rugged terrain and alpine environment. In the early 19th century, European explorers ( notably including John Batman and artist John Glover who was famous for landscapes - a local town has an art prize named after him in his honour) explored the area. By the late 1920s, the Northern Tasmanian Alpine Club was established so that skiiers could enjoy the mountain, which of course improved access and created chalets and chair lifts.

This also meant an access road to the plateau so 1963 the steep and scenic "Jacobs Ladder" was built. It's an amazing winding mountain road - you'll see it better in a following post - with six switchbacks that ascend the Ben Lomond plateau and is renowned for its wild zig-zag design and stunning views into the valley below.

The valley we could not actually see because it was so cloudy and foggy. Still, the beginning was incredible enough, with glimpses of the crags.

The road is considered one of Tasmania's most challenging roads, so it was nerve-racking to say the least, but mainly as we could not see anything! I was terrified.

Needless to say we couldn't see a thing, so we made camp at the free camp below and had a fire to ward off the tons of mosquitoes.

No wonder there were mozzies, there was a pretty little mossy creek where they bred. The fog came in waves - sometimes we could see things, sometimes it was pea soup.

I loved all the alpine flowers, tinted white grevillea and tons of native berries. I always forget which are edible! Best to steer clear in that case, and like many wild places in Tassie, we didn't have reception to check.

Nevermind, we thought, if it was clear in the morning we could try again.

With Love,

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