Advertisement
Published: January 23rd 2019
Edit Blog Post
Day 41 Mt Chance Shelter to Woolbales Shelter
21.8km + 1.5km Mt Pingerup Loop
Hoping for a miraculous patch of fineness to have another crack at the Mt Chance dome. Pack up all my gear, the only things that had dried were my tent inner and footprint. All of my walking clothes are still wettishly damp. Very unappealing sensation putting on wet undies, wet shorts and a wet long sleeve T. Even worse is pulling on cold wet socks and shoes (Note- I do have another pair of dry undies and pair of dry socks but figure they will only get wet again and it's nice to have dry stuff at the end of the day). Leaving my pack in the shelter I took the spur trail to the dome but after getting even less far than yesterday I gave up- it was blatantly obvious that it was ridiculously dangerous - unbelievably slippery and foolhardy. Oh well...
At 09:00 I am finally leaving, the 21.8km day doesn't phase me at all anymore. It is sprinkling again as I get back onto the track. Walking was similar to yesterday with the exception of a few hilly bits (hooray-
it feels good to mix it up a bit). The absolute highlight of the day was the Mt Pingerup Loop at the 7.8km mark which was only a 1.5km return trail. Quick and not too steep ascent through dark, dense bush, mossy steps and a mossy covered granite outcrop. BEWARE THE MOSS COVERED GRANITE- yet another slip but luckily no fall. You then follow a small track to a "Caution Cliffs" sign and BAM! Open granite (to slip on) and the most AMAZING views of the Broke Inlet and the coast to the south. Climb onto the very highest boulder and take many photos. STUNNING. Enjoy a protracted break in the sunshine and wind. The clouds are moving really, really fast but it stays fine for the entire time. The other thing that is really memorable about this spot is that you are right on top of the forest- really awesome looking over the tall trees of the forest.
The rest of the day is a succession of flat track, grasses, dwarf banksia, grass trees, lengthy wading patches, mud, fallen debris, new varieties of flowers, calf deep water and more calf deep water with yabbies, tadpoles and frogs. Also
a patch of Warren River cedar with views of Mt Pingerup- very speccy. Reach the Woolbales (named after the hills to the east and south east) at 15:15, so does the rain. It rains with new vigour for hours. I'm not concerned though- I have peeled off my wet socks and shoes and am luxuriating in my clean dry ones and my night clothes. Enjoy an evening of eating and reading an old National Geographic, followed by an even older Landscope magazine.
Impressions of Woolbales- Excellent reading material, there's a granite dome behind the campsite that I will check out tomorrow. Absolute must for the day- Mt Pingerup Loop- don't even think about missing it! Body Assessment- twisted my lower back on the almost fall on the Pingerup Loop - no ill effects thankfully, otherwise all good- feeling very fit and somewhat slimmer! Total People Seen Today- not a soul
Advertisement
Tot: 0.129s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 10; qc: 31; dbt: 0.081s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb