 |
|
|
We started our trek at the car park (which was empty) and began
our assent under the walls of Clumnar Bluff. It seemed so
imposing and it was right there at the beginning of the track!
We couldn't help but wonder what we were up against a little
farther down the line. |
As we
gained altitude our views to the west and south kept getting
better and better. These are the peaks along the Overland
Track, Tasmania's most famous walking track.
|
 |
 |
|
Looking southeast along our path we could see ahead to King
David's Peak in the distance with Herod's Gate just to the left
of it. Herod's Gate is the opening to the Walls area and
what a spectacular gate it is - you'll see!
|
A little closer and here we are at Solomon's Jewels, a series of
lakes in the high plateau.
|
 |
 |
|
These were
the only clouds we saw the entire day and after the sun was
fully up, even they disappeared. This is another of
Solomon's Jewels. |
Looking
back the direction we'd come toward Clumnar Bluff. That's
it with the slanted top WAY off in the distance.
|
 |
 |
|
The ground
was still frosty almost everywhere as we walked in. By the
time we left, it had melted in the sunny areas, but even on the
highway, it was still there in the shadows. The ground in
the high plateau is covered in delicate mounds of vegetation.
Here are some cushion plants and wet heath that make up the
bolster moor. |
The walk
along the bogs seemed to take us a long time and Herod's Gate
never got any closer....
|
 |
 |
|
...until we finally found ourselves inside the gate and in one
of the most delightful places we have every been. |
This is the West Wall. At the left end of the wall, the rock face
turns sharply to the south and that rock face is known as the
Wailing Wall. |
 |
 |
|
The
large mound in the foreground is The Temple. It is almost
round in its plan view. The rock face behind it and to the
left is Mount Jerusalem. |
Looking back through Herod's Gate, we were amazed to be able to
see Cradle Mountain on the right and Barn Bluff on the left.
We had been to Cradle with the kids in January and for three
days we waited for a clear view and never got one.
|
 |
 |
|
The water that accumulates within the walls leaves by Wild Dog
Creek. We could hear the creek for more than an hour as we
got closer and closer to Herod's Gate. |
As we
walked out, we could still find frost but the colors were
stunning and we just reveled in our good luck with the weather.
|
 |
 |
|
As the sunlight got lower and lower, we slowly made our way back
down the mountain track nursing our sore knees and joints and
hoping we'd be able to walk the next day. Scenes like this
helped. |
By the
time we were driving out, a nearly full moon was rising over
Lake Parangana. |
 |
 |
|
The Valleys were already getting dark.... |
... but
the sun and blue bird clear sky still shone on the Great Western
Tiers as we drove back toward Mole Creek for the night.
|
