Cathedral Range April 2012

Cathedral Range  - Round 3

With the forecast of 20 degree weather, probably the last for a while, the Cathedral Range was calling so back we went. This time with Mic and Robyn for their first time hiking the Range with newly acquired gear. Finally busting through the Friday afternoon traffic, fresh air and beautiful mountains imposed themselves on what was a busy week of work.

Arriving at The Jawbones car park, both the North and South Jawbones wait like sentinels, prepared to scrutinise your every step up the Jawbones Track. Both Andrea and I felt really comfortable with the step climb....the training at Baw Baw and even a day walk at Wilhelmina Falls was paying off! The encroaching darkness soon took over and torches were required to walk the last few hundred metres to The Farmyard.

We shared the campsite with another couple who disappeared into their tent very early, while we sat around eating fillet steak and drinking Chandon in celebration of Robbie's birthday.The stillness of The Farmyard was interrupted only by the awesome light show of the Milky Way and the occasional shooting star....oh, and the Friday night flights from Sydney.

Mic and Mark and the view back to The Sugarloaf

Saturday was forecast to be around 22c and fine and we weren't disappointed with the day. Blue skies were the order and as we walked along the Ridge Track the view into the cloud covered valleys below was brilliant. The track was still a little over grown and the walk maintains a high level of challenge as you have to rock hop for the length of the path. It is a great workout for the calves! We did a side trip to the Cathedral, at 840m it isn't the highest mountain we have been to but it has spectacular views down into the valleys and across to the surrounding mountains. 

Andrea navigating the Ridge Track

From the Cathedral it is down hill....all the way! (a great workout for the thighs). We stopped at Ned's Saddle for lunch before continuing on to our campsite at Ned's Gully. We took a swim, actually it was more like a splash, in the freezing Little River to freshen up before relaxing and cooking dinner. Once again, night approached quickly and with the darkness a drop in temperature left us heading for our tents fairly early.

Overnight two claps of thunder signalled a change in weather and the steady patter of rain on the Marmot provided us with our first test in the rain. Fortunately, the rain eased just after waking so we were able to pack up without interuption. The return walk was via the Little River Track and St Bernards Track. (currently closed due to logging of the Pine Forest).

Another fantastic weekend, the walking provided us with the challenges we require to build our fitness and experience walking. It also promotes the removal of cobwebs built up from the daily routine of work.

Thanks Mic and Robyn for a great weekend and Elise for being an awesome editor!

Mic and Robyn negotiating the rocky terrain