Mt Fishtail is an epic mountain located in the Richmond Ranges Forest Park. Starting at Pine Valley Creek the track takes you along a creek, past a campground and a DOC hut. Not long after the hut you cross a stream and the track does a few zig zags, then follows the ridge more or less to the tree line.
The track following the ridge is quite steep, however the time stated (5 1/2hrs) allows for a slow ascent with plenty of time for breaks. Along the way the forest goes through distinct changes including a very cool looking Dracophyllum forest.
Once you reach the top of the ridge the forest becomes distinctly stunted and you have a short travel along the top of the ridge before crossing a saddle heading for the hut. Its not hard to see after crossing the scree field that the hut is in pretty much the only spot it could be in. From the tiny 4 bunk hut its not far to the summit of Mt Fishtail.
To get to the summit from the hut climb up the lefthand side of the vegetation and make the saddle. From the saddle its a case of spotting cairns and following them to the top of the ridge. Once on the top of the ridge just keep heading up until you reach the summit.
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