Australia Videos

The Three Trails Walk 9-3-2012

The Fitzroy Waterfalls 8-3-2012

 

Lace Monitor Lizard of Tathra 25-2-2012

 

Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains NSW 26-12-2009

Mount Warning Part 1 NSW 19-12-2009

                                                         Mount Warning Part 2 NSW 19-12-2009

Road Trip To Camp Willis NSW 9-2-12

Helvellyn, White Side & Raise via Striding Edge

Friday 30th March saw me up in the Eastern Fells on a very warm and pleasent spring day. I have been on Striding Edge twice before in fair weather but with quite a breeze blowing from left to right that makes it a bit tricky at times to stay right on the spine. This day however was to be different. With virtually no wind and with clear blue skies although a bit hazy, conditions were as near to perfect as could be. I set off from the car park at Glenriding about 12.30pm and was soon on the steady path nd looking back to Ullswater

I took the path that takes you past the old mines and follows Mires beck through the valley as the shapely mound of Catstye Cam soon takes up the limelight

The easy to follow path leads you upwards around the base of Catstye Cam but it was a bit hard going this stretch as there was no wind to keep the heat of the sun away so a few rest stops were gratefully recieved.

Helvellyn soon comes into view, complete with the last of the winters snow, or not!!

I made my way to the hole in the wall and the views down the valley towards Patterdale & Ullswater

After another rest stop I made my way up the banking as close to the edge as possible as I wanted to take full advantage of the conditions and take in as much of the spine that I could. I really wanted to appreciate the full length of Striding Edge and the added bonus of having it vertually all to myself. In all, from one end to the other I must of seen about 8 other people taking on this classic Ridge

A look back along the edge see's another lone walker enjoying the conditions

  with another two making there way down from a very quiet Helvellyn Summit

A quick chat as we pass and I was soon on the last of the rocky scramble before making my way up along the final steep secton that brings you out at the memorial stone

Looking back down from the memorial stone along the edge with Red Tarn below and Ullswater in the distance.

 As I topped out there was a noticeable difference in temperature and there was quite a stiff breeze blowing with quite a bite to it. Jacket, hat & gloves went on as it was quite fresh compared to the summer like conditions I had below. That's the mountains for you!
I made my way along the very quiet path to the wind shelter for a bite to eat and to take in the views of the surrounding fells and valleys before making my way along the top to the summit of White Side.

 

This was a pleasent walk along the clear path and views all around, although vey hazy and quite misty towards the North & Western Fells, Although the wind had died down a bit there was still a chill in the air as I made my way on to White Side

On getting to the summit of White Side there was a geat view of Hellvelyn's other classic ridge, Swirrl Edge, that takes you up onto the summit of Catstye Cam, with Striding Edge in the background

It was then another gentle walk along the distinct path up to Raise that offered great views back down to Ullswater

All that remained was to make my way down a route that bought me almost ontop of the old mine workings that I passed earlier on my ascent, with views along the valley that shows my ascent path from Ulswater and up behind Catstye Cam

I got back to the car park 6 hours after I left so a good day in the Fells. I had a rest next to Ullswater, just as the sun was going down, which was the perfect end to a perfect day.

A Walk Along The Thredbo River, Australia

Wednesday 22nd Febuary 2012 saw us camping at the Thredbo Diggins campsite next to the Thredbo River in the Kosciuszko National Park.

This was a really truly fantastic two nights, warm and sunny during the day and cool and clear by night. Sat around the camp fire having a beer and  looking up at the milky way takes some beating and it's something that won't be forgotten any time soon.

Lazing about on the hammock with a couple of kangaroos for company whle the kookaburras laugh in the background will stay with me forever and a day

We aso had a duck or two for company while cooking on the open fire pit. Wonder what it's waiting for!!

A popular area for fly fishing, although this particular time was very quiet with only half a dozen other campers well spread out. The river was quite low as the rain hadn't yet reached this area and so it was very clear. It was also very quiet and peaceful and the only sounds was the kookaburras

 and the ripple of the river.

We set off along the Bullocks Track that followed the river towards the Skitube & Lake Crackenback Resort and then followed the river walk for another 3km's

A real relaxing 5 hour walk through the valley along easy to follow tracks with the forest covered mountains on both sides. We only saw two other people all day and they were busy fishing.

With the sun shining and very little breeze it was proving to be a great day and there was some good reflections on the river

 At this point we did find time to refresh our feet in the cold and refreshing river. Very nice

We carried on back along the tracks and you can see where there had been bush fires in the past as a lot of the trees still bare the scorch marks

The rocks make good lookout points

Along the tracks we did come across a bit of wild life including quite a few lizards

an Echidna

a Bush Wallaby

not quite sure what this is but it was about 3-4 inches in length

a snake that made a hasty retreat into the bush. Infact we saw 3 snakes but they were all to quick for me to get a decent photo!!

  a Funnel Web spider

A rather large beetle

and a large stick insect

While on the walk, we got talking to the two fishermen we saw and they very kindly gave us a freshly caught brown river trout to put on the BBQ. Well it would of been rude not to, so thats what we had for tea :-)

Done on the fire pit with corn on the cob, tomatoes, potatoes and rice with a few beers, Heaven :-))

The following morning was again a beautiful blue sky day and very warm. There was no hint of what was on the way and five days later the rains had come and flooded most of the area in and around Kosciuszko National Park. In fact the rains affected 75% of New South Wales but we managed to miss the worst of it. We were lucky to of had five days and nights of really good weather around this great wilderness area.