Slip, Sliding Along!!!!

It had been wet on & off for the past few days, but Saturday dawned and the weather was perfect for hiking – not raining; no wind thus no chill factor despite being in the “mountains”.

17 set out on a 17km trek through the mountainous terrain. Great cardio & lower leg workout until scroggin break – steep uphill climbing to the ridge for the first 1 1/2hrs on the Moonlight Divide Track. Through regenerating Mountain Ash forest with dense understorey of Dogwood, Daisy Bush & Blackwood.

We stopped for a well earned scroggin break, under a beautiful canopy of trees, avoiding the mist in the open area ahead.  We turned onto Moonlight Creek Track following a full & fast flowing mountain stream through the most magnificent, vibrant fern gullies. Nature had put on its best face & spring was evident. Buds & fronds were bursting into new life, displaying colours from golden orange to bright lime greens.

Lichens & moss were abundant along massive tree branches, with ferns growing out of them – it made us all think of our childhood and “the Magic Faraway Tree”. It was magical & breathtaking. Giant ferns were covered in moss & smaller ferns down one side of their trunks – adding to the magical quality. Giant fungi were abundant growing like giant plates from the tree trunks.

Along with the lushness, comes moisture or should I say: “mud, glorious mud”!!!!! We went slip, sliding along and very soon became covered in it….some more than others!! Over the course of the day, 4 intrepid hikers “kissed the ground”.

We also had to climb over a number of fallen trees across the path, just to add to our mud!

After what seemed to be many slow going hours, we arrived back at the Moonlight Creek Picnic area/car park for a very well earned rest and lunch and a wash of muddy hands.

Then on to the next circuit, following the sawmills and & Giants Circuit track – which took us again through fern gullies, mountain ash forest and eventually back to the car park.

Birds were abundant throughout the entire day, though we didn’t get to spot any lyrebirds.  We had a brilliant day & some finished it off with a coffee at the Stumpy Creek Café in Darnum.

Thank you Robyn for organizing it.