Glasshouse Mountains & Mount Warning

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Ahoy over there!

First of all for those waiting with baited breath for the latest installments of my crazy rock and roll happenings I apologise for the lack of updates.

Anyway, was a bank holiday the weekend in honour of her majesty's birthday so thought I'd do something productive with the weekend.

Friday started with a trip to the tivoli in Brisbane to see that well known band Cog (big out here), pretty good and the venue was a bit if a change from the norm. Non-sticky floors (clean carpet), small bar queues, no smoky atmosphere and a general ease of moving about the place which was most unnatural. Didn't quite feel right.

After spending Saturday recovering from Friday, on Sunday I took a trip up to the Glasshouse Mountains to conquer the mighty Mount Beerwah, all 500-odd metres of it! Wasn't quite the walk in the park (or woods or hills for that matter) that I expected, there's quite a casual attitude here to likelyhood of death from outdoor activities. The internet guide said it was quite a challenging walk and may involve some rock scrambling, it didn't say that it would involve full on rock climbing in parts.

After climbing/scrambling/walking for an hour or so I finally made it to the top and the views were pretty good in the end. Some bloke up there said one of the neighbouring mountains was pretty nice and not so much of a climb so I thought as it was still early doors, I'd have a look at that. The bloke lied, it wasn't as high but the climb was definitely more of a challenge and I did have severe reservations about being able to get down, but all was good in the end and rewarded myself in the evening with a barbecue and shaving my head!

After successfully negotiating two mountains (big hills) in one day I thought Monday would be a good day to go up Mount Warning. It also involved my furthest trip south yet, into New South Wales. At about 1600m its alot higher than anything North of Bris-Vegas but a much gentler climb. A bit like going up Coronation Park in 'bridge but longer and the last hundred metres of so is a steep climb with the aid of a chain. Someone broke their ankle on the way up as well and on the way down we passed no fewer than 18 people going up to help her (paramedic's, mountain rescue etc) seem a bit excessive for one person half a mile up a track. Again, rewarded myself with a barbecue but thought shaving my head again would be taking it too far, also I got bitten to shit the night before doing it.

So three large hills in two days, pretty chuffed and there's plenty more to climb as well, although it did take a couple of days for the thighs to stop aching.

Have also been integrating myself into Australian culture by joining one of Brisbane's English pubs' footy teams. There is a strict no Aussies rule apparently. It is going well, we're currently lying on second place just a few points of the top spot, there's also a chance we may play at the Sun-Corp stadium (where the recent Wales-Oz rugby test was) as a warm up game for Brisbane's football team. Will believe it when it happens though, its one of those my mate know's someone who know's someone stories. The team is mainly back packers passing through and looking for a game but its a good laugh and we get free beer after the games (which are held on a Friday night!!).

Am currently planning a trip up to North Queensland/Northern Territory for a week or so for some winter sun, allegedly now is the time to go as its not stupidly hot up there at the moment. But not before I move down to surfers paradise. Gonna be house sitting at Dave P's place whilst he's out of the country. Three months on the beach should be most pleasant!

Adios

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Photos

Mt Beerwah
Looming large, the closer it got the more daunting it looked, there certainly didn't seem to be any obvious paths up.

Mt Beerwah
The first climb, a delightfully step face with not many places to put hand or feet. Its amazing how much friction you can generate with your hands when you need to.

Mt Beerwah
Crazy overhang located about halfway up, also a nice place to stop for a drink. The rock is eroding away so its like a being on the beach.

Mt Beerwah
Crazy overhang from the side

Mt Beerwah
At the top!
Mount Coonowrin and Tibragargun in the background.

Mt Tibragargun
The venue for the second climb of the day.

View South
Looking towards Brisbane

Mt Beerwah
From afar

To the coast
View East from Mt Tibragargan

Mt Warning.
Like the path at Coronation Park!

Mt Warning.
Mount Warning national park. Apparently Mount Warning is part of an ancient volcano. Overheard some bloke telling his kid that when the volcano exploded it was the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs!!! Like living in the National Geographic channel.

Mt Warning.
Mount Warning national park. Site of the extinction of the dinosaurs don't you know.

Comments

[Bleedin Fingerz]

Bonza
Very nice stuff, very jealous of you out there in the land of Carl Kennedy... Love the yellow socks too! Fingerz

[Steve Miller]

Mount Warning Trivia
Great pics Tim, reminds me when I was there and as I sit in my house with nowhere to sit because we are plastering the front room i wish i was there-anyway I digress. When I climbed Mount Warning, I was told by our lovely lady kiwi companions that Mount Warning is the fist piece of mainland Australia to receive the sun's rays (presumably because it is so high). May be useful in a pub quiz over there.