This past weekend I did a hike up this rather large hill called Mt. Warning. I was informed it's called Mt. Warning because it was the tallest mountain-hill in the area and was used as a sign to sailors off the coast that there was dangerous coral reefs in the area. So if you saw this mountain-hill, be aware. Pretty interesting stuff.
We departed at night to climb the mountain-hill (Im just going to call it a mountain because that sounds more bad ass) at around 2:00 am local time but left Queensland at 12 am. You see, Queensland is the only state in Australia that does not have day light savings time so as soon as you cross the southern border into New South Whales, you lose an hour. I don't know, I don't make the rules, thats how it goes.
In the all the hike was about 4.4 k's to the top which is roughly 2.730332 miles..... yea. At first, I figured this will be some kind of nature hike. Cute. Get some cool photos of the area and just kinda enjoy myself. I was.... mistaken. This turned out to be borderline climbing. The path up to the top was pretty laid out and not so difficult... after the first 2 k's. This is where the fun began.
The path started to become very jagged and difficult to walk along especially when the
individual in front of you is holding the flash light, which you do not have. After this, you cannot see the one rock thats sticking in an awkward way that you would have never thought could form in such a way.
After about another 1.5 k's, we got to this sign:
I guess you're not suppose to go pass this point if there is a thunderstorm. Well that wasn't the only interesting fact or observation... there was chain that went completely vertical up the mountain with rocks to help give foot holds and what not. This was fun, but in the dark with a half-assed flash light, it was a challenge.
My buddy Aaron and I climbed what seemed to be a 75˚ incline at times with this rusted chain bolted into the side of the mountain. All together, it was a good time and you felt like you accomplished something when you got to the top.
I got to the top thinking, "wow... yea.... Hell YEa!" But to my surprise there was a guy with a portable barbie cooking up kangroo sausages and all this other food. I walked over and said, "How the hell did you hike up that with all this??" "Ahh I know mate! It was such a bitch, but I
guess I do it every semester. So yea, I get to come for free. Pretty sick right huh?"....... yea. I suppose.
The whole point of climbing at night was to sit and watch the sun hit the first part of the Australian continent. Byron Bay, in which the Mountain is located in, is the most eastern point in Australia. Pretty cool right? Yea, I know. The sun rise was pretty amazing and I had plenty of good buddies to watch it with. I was glad to have gone on the hike. It made me feel accomplished and I had finally seen some nature-istic sites in Australia that I was actively engaging in, as opposed to just seeing them from a distance.
Here is approximately what I saw:
-I had this song (right click 'song' and select new tab or new window to play while scrolling) playing in my headphones the whole time while I watched:
The sight was something I will never forget.
The decent went much quicker than going up but the sight down was even better. I have never seen anything like it in my life. The landscape was absolutely stunning with rolling hills and fog still covering the lower portions of surround hills and mountains. Truly a work of beauty.
(And no dad, these last three shots were not taken from my camera but my buddy Aaron's super nice xxjjkxkj4779 Cannon (I am being a smart ass with the label, I just know it's a cannon.))
Yay Exploration Society!
This place is starting to grow on me.
Tomorrow I go to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. Hmmmmmm this should be interesting. O and for all of you whom I talk with back in the states over skype or internet chat, Yes, I know what time it is back home. Thats kinda why I would be speaking with you at the moment : )
Miss and love all you guys. See you in 3 weeks.
-Kolin
PS, I am going to New Zealand. OOOOOOoooooo
