Greetings hivers;
This would be my hiking post after a long time; and the first one on HF24. So let's get started things to be told and seen.
Last week I decided that I haven't hiked and walked long distances in a while - covid19, public transport and all that shit. So I planned prepared some food the night before and headed off early in the morning to the Blue Mountains which is about 40km train ride from my place. Nice ride to reflect on things with a nice view.
Since I use public transport - that usually means in Australia additional 5-10km of walking. :)
Anyways, my plan was to hit the trails of about 6-7km (in total about 14km). Not bad for a day considering that I needed to get home earlier to watch the F1 FP3 and qualifying session - feel free to call me nuts. However I managed to fuck up all my plans, and do 13km hike (20k when included paved walking).
The weather was nice, not too hot but still sunny, about 14 degrees. Perfect conditions and the hike was about to start.
All the map and trails studying seemed to me that paths are pretty much straightforward and that you can't really miss the crossroads and turn on the wrong ones (first mistake). I must say pretty much everything is well labelled except when you need it, it's a bit confusing.
As I have written previously, hiking in Australia means that you are first descending from the top, going through the valley and then ascending again. So after 20minutes of nice walk I was greeted with some steep stairs and first waterfall - Empress Falls it was the first one and there was a couple already swimming in the relatively small pool beneath it.
And this was my first mistake - looking around there was no sign that the waterfall tour and descending is continuing... but rather went back and picked an additional loop trail - adding 3.5km to the count.
I must say it wasn't bad at all, small walk alongside the creek, and then getting some beautiful panoramic views of endless eucalyptus green.
However, after some time I ended up at the beginning of trail; and went to the Empress waterfall again - to find the missed passage; Now, again this is basically where I screwed up again :) but before that I managed to see all the falls from the group Sylvia, Lodore, Flat Rock and Red Rock falls before heading out to magnificent Wentworth Falls.Unfortunately, there wasn't much rain in the recent months so the waterfalls are rather starved and not roaring and mighty ( I guess they are when there is plenty of water). :)
Passing them it was time to hit the paths to the next group; another strange thing - as you are in mid-hike you are only surrounded by trees(considering you are at the bottom of the valley) so no photos from there. But as you walk (alone) you have plenty of time to think and reconsider all your recent actions and overthink some consequences and all the things people do. :)
You can see on the map that there is a group of waterfalls on the west and two large ones on the east on connected with 3 different trails (Wentworth pass, National pass and overcliff). My plans changed here and decided to pick up the overcliff (shortest) since I already spent some time hiking; but in order to get to overcliff from Empress falls - you either need to go back again (which I couldn't be bothered) or take a National Pass and jump on overcliff. National pass was closed and I ended up on Wentworth pass (the longest one).
After some walking and thinking... the biggest waterfall with a nice pool appeared in front of me; just seeing it was enough to cool you down a bit; not to mention the ice-cold water (not really that cold but it was a drastic change from the aerial temp).
And well just sitting/lying there and watching how the wind plays with water it is mesmerising and nature's poetry in motion - here is a crappy low-effort gif trying to give you a glimpse of it.
After relatively short break it was time to hit the climbing stage; Haven't counted but definitely there was more than 500 stairs on the way up - pretty much secured.
Once on top, I realized that I have extended my planned route for additional 4-5km, but I did it in less time than I was projecting the 6km hike would be. Once on top, I was feeling fine with enough energy and decided to take another short trail - there was no stopping that day.
I focused more on being present in the forest, sensing the surroundings and walking instead of taking photos - but still got plenty of them - as it usually goes. If you would like to see some more photos let me know; either forestry green or the waterfalls (no-hOomans whatsoever). :)
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