I was on the road before 6 AM, and it was past 10:30 AM before I arrived to Yadboro Sate Forest, the start of my journey into the Morton National Park. Stepping out from a warm car into the frigid weather at the Long Gully car park was a shock, my breath was instantly visible and my fingers began to redden and numb as I prepared my pack. I didn't take long to warm up as I left the shade of the clearing and began the long hike up the Kalianna ridge towards Castle Rock.
Even with a loaded backpack and cloudless skies it was pleasant walking the track in the full sun, the forceful wind providing additional cooling whenever I passed through an exposed section of track. The rocky features that marked a way-point for my hike were larger and more impressive than expected and it took a while until I stopped ascending and began to traverse the western flank of Castle Rock.
While extremely impressive, my goal that day was to pass that formation and header deeper into the park so I continued on towards the Nibelung between the Mt Nibelung and Mt Mooryan. This eventually led me down into a small gully where I refilled my water bottles from a nearby stream and stopped for a snack and some coffee. It was cool in the shade so I didn't spend too long resting there, I shouldered my pack and continued on. I soon passed out of the gully, gaining some elevation and finding myself aptly titled Monolith Valley.
It was gorgeous hiking through the ever changing Forrest, flanked by impressive rock formations as I went. A shame the rock is so friable, it would be fantastic to climb! Passing the Seven Gods Pinnacles I continued northwards between Mt Cole and Shrouded Gods Mountain.
Exiting the valley I turned west to traverse along the western side of Mt Cole. Doing so I began to search for some natural cave formations that would provide shelter during the approaching night, knowing there were several places to choose from I continued along to find a suitable place to settle down before the sun set.
I was looking for a cave with a nearby source of water, after finding what could generously be called 'The worlds smallest waterfall' I unpacked my gear under a small rocky overhang sheltered from the ferocious unrelenting wind. A few trips back and forth to fill up water bottles I made camp, and did some reading in the last of the daylight.
It had been a long day, to celebrate the next day's milestone I cracked open a bottle of red wine, got comfortable, and settled in for the night. It had been a long day, sleep came quickly, if somewhat fitfully, as the howling wind continued unabated. I was generally sheltered, but at times the wind would quickly change direction and I'd feel a dust storm envelop me. I fashioned a face mask, put in some earplugs, and tried to rest.
It was a cool, clear morning when I awoke, the wind still howling past. Coffee and breakfast always warm the sole, after a hearty meal of porridge I packed up and was ready to continue on.
The track to this point has been well marked with cairns, I pushed further west along Mt Cole until I arrived at the pass between it and Mt Owen. Here the track became a little less defined, I continued south down a gully that quickly became more overgrown. I came across no more cairns, nor footprints in the soft sand sections. Passing a group of hikers the day before I expected to see some signs of passage, but by this time I realized I was heading down the lesser used section, most parties taking the higher ground over Mt Owen.
Undeterred and not wanting to back track I made my way further south. Some sections required careful footwork, or slight back tracking to find the overgrown path.
At one point I had to climb down some tree roots to navigate a small sheer gully, made a little more difficult wearing a fully loaded hiking pack. Eventually I found the main path which took me back to the resting point I took lunch at a day earlier.
Another chance to fill the water bottles and it was back through the Nibelung Pass, and heading home.
It was time to check out Castle Rock, I hiked up the small path, stashed my bag as to fit through the narrow tunnel, and arrived on the north-eastern side of the rock.
From here it was a matter of scrambling up the trail until I summited the northern most section of the formation. This wasn't the true summit, but I had already been on the move for five hours and didn't have time to keep going, so I descended to my backpack and started down the Kalianna Pass.
It was steep and tiring work, but I couldn't have asked for better weather or surroundings. Seven and a half hours after I broke camp I was back to my car. Shrugging off the backpack felt amazing, stopping a few kilometers down the road on the banks of the Yadboro river I splashed some icy water on my face (it was all I could bare) and started back to Sydney.
I couldn't have asked for a better weekend.
More photos here
