After breakfast, we popped into the local store to purchase goods for this evenings dinner, one of Johns specials, Spanish Omelet. We came back, kitted up and drove to the starting point of today’s hike, climbing up Mount Isabel the highest mountain above Hanmer Springs. The walk starts at 450 meters and peaks at 1490 meters. The sun and showers were trying outdo each other at the beginning of the hike which, almost from the start, was steep. As the hike continued the path became very steep. When we neared the top of the mountain, the wind took us by surprise. As we reached the top, the wind was almost unbearable. A constant force which almost blew us off our feet on many occasions. We found a small space on the lea of the plateau, where we escaped the wind for a spot of lunch.
As we began our return hike, we came across another couple of Brits who were also sheltering from the wind. They had planned to take a different route down, via the top ridge, however, when we looked behind us they had decided to follow us. The wind was now dangerously strong and we all hiked as quickly as possible to get off the top. We took the waterfall route home, a steep route through the forest. The waterfall itself was worth the walk.
We then walked along a gravel road back to Brian, our car. The perfume from the broom bushes was amazing. It smelled of peaches and nectarines and was the deepest yellow we had ever seem. At times, the broom reached up the mountains, as far as the eye could see. Some of the branches were so full of flower they looked like they would break.
The hike took 5 hours and 15 minutes and the rain had kept off for most of it. At times the sun was quite warm but the wind was always there to take the edge off.
We popped back home, showered and relaxed.
No comments:
Post a Comment