He assured me he would be fine, upon doing a quick search myself I realised that it wasn't even as high up as Mt Gibraltar and felt dumb for even asking.
29/2/2020 - Part 1
The day arrived and Tristan stopped to pick me up. We both again enjoying the scenic views on our way out towards Macquaire Pass, admiring the farmland and both talking about how we'd love to just go and explore it, while also talking about how cool that one of the farms 'Lothlorien' took it's name from The Lord of the Rings. After reaching the top of the pass we decided to take the tourist road, which I think was the slower but more scenic route, but I really had no idea where we were going.
As we passed through Moss Vale, Tristan became perplexed as to why all these trucks and people were pulling in at a sports ground as we entered the main part of town I had already looked it up learning that there was a convoy going on. Tristan used the opportunity to pull in at a McDonald's drive through for a coffee and somehow we got on to the topic of how I had stayed somewhere in the southern highlands with my family while I was younger. I mentioned I spent most the time playing table tennis there along with Children of Mana on my Nintendo DS (I also distinctly remember listening to Slow Cheetah by Red Hot Chilli Peppers on repeat on the drive up). I mentioned that there were glow worms nearby and there was a walk you could do down into a canyon through what I remembered as lots of pine trees. I recalled my Dad and 2 younger brothers going down and them both coming back with ticks stuck in their heads. Tristan had no idea of where I meant as we continued driving our way to Berrima. I did a quick search through my facebook as I could recall having a photo out the front of the place we had stayed.
After finding the image Tristan said he new the place, and I quickly got on to Google Maps and found a massive area full of hikes including Fairy Bower Falls and Dimmocks Creek Walking Trail, telling Tristan we would have to bust some out in Winter (when it would be less likely to get ticks).
We approached Berrima, being stopped by a small freight train and Tristan talked about work he had done around the area and I mentioned that I had come to Berrima once before on Australia Day to see a friends citizenship ceremony.
As we passed through Berrima I mentioned to Tristan about his favourite pie shop, that he had mentioned when we visited Belmore Falls (in a subtle attempt to have a stop in on our way back to give it a try).
He mentioned it had recently changed owners, and now wasn't anywhere as good. Saying that it made him want to cry.
We took a turn onto the road to take us out to Wombeyan Caves. Tristan said he had never been while I talked about camping out there when I was a kid with my Dad and brothers. I remembered the bat caves and the giant water spiders when we swam in the creeks. I mentioned having giant gummy spider lollies and it was a fun warm memory and I thought of how much fun I had had being a kid.
We turned off on Spring Hill Road, at one point coming to a big muddy puddle on the dirt road where Tristan stopped and put his 4 Wheel Drive on as a precaution. We made it through and turned to head up Mt Jellore Lane.
The road diverged at the end, splitting left and right with no sign posts, with Tristans phone telling him he had arrived at his destination. Tristan looked like he had no idea which we to go.
"It's probably left." I said, with absolutely no idea.
He had a quick look on his phone and we turned right down a fire trail.
The road seemed endless as we drove along. We kept an eye out for any walking tracks all the while looking at the utter devastation brought upon by the bush fires.
The road continued up and up and we began to question whether the road was the track, and if we were just driving it instead.
"If this is the walk," I said. "It's shit as fuck and I'd rather just drive it."
We stopped as the road began to go down again as Tristan said he needed a smoke. I hopped out and began down a path that I thought might be a track. It turned out to just have been from water during rains.
I thought we were driving our way up Mount Jellore and I looked at the little hill to my left and asked if we could at least walk up that, feeling super disappointed, Tristan agreed and started to put his shoes on. As I went to head up Tristan called for my attention, pointing directly ahead of us we could see a pretty cool looking mountain through the trees. Our disappointment quickly turned to excitement and we jumped back in the car and continued down the road. Tristan assumed that this dirt road must have been part of what made the walk 10km so said we probably wouldn't end up walking that much, but I didn't care I was keen to get to the base of the mountain.
The road continued to get worse and worse as we went along, Tristan having to leave his car in 4 wheel drive and at a couple of sketchy spots we actually had to get out and look to see if we would be able to continue.
Eventually after ages of driving we began to realise the road wasn't taking us to Mount Jellore. Tristan quickly looked it up on his phone finding the the dirt road did one massive loop, and that apparently the mountain was across a river/creek and that it had been the left turn at the beginning that was the right way to get us there. We began the drive back passing some boulders. I quickly asked Tristan to stop as I thought they looked cool. He commented saying they could contain aboriginal stuff as they were north facing. As we got out to have a look we didn't see any aboriginal stuff but we gave them a climb to satisfy some of our cravings for adventure being in the car for so long.
The drive back seemed to take less time, and soon we reached the fork in the road before we began down the fire trail. We followed it for no time at all before it stopped at someones private property. We were both annoyed that we had been unable to complete the walk, with Tristan telling me he would do some more research and that we would definitely come back and do Mount Jellore.
Tristan decided to stop in at Welby Weir to show it to me on the way back. It was a beautiful spot and it just felt good to be outside and experience a location I had never been to before. It reminded me that sometimes it can be little things that make you feel happy and youthful.
While having a look around the Weir I noticed Tristan had put on a broad-rimmed hat.
"I should have wore my Akubra" I said. Having gotten really badly sunburned not long before while doing the Kiama Coastal Walk again with my Wife and Dog.
Tristan agreed that I should. But I commented that I never know when to take it on walks as walks through too much scrub or walks that get high up and windy make it difficult to take as I can't just throw it into my backpack.
We had ended the day in failure, but we decided to make the most of it, stopping in at a brewery neither of us had tried in Mittagong called 'Eden's Brewery'. We both got a beer on tap. Myself getting a choc peanut butter milk stout and Tristan getting a Pheonix D. Knottbusser. We both thought our beers were delicious and grabbed a bottle of Birch Wit each to have at home that night.
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| Belgian Wheat beer inspired by Sunflower Fields. Along with traditional wit ingredients of orange peel and coriander seeds this is also brewed with Sunflower Seeds. |
While waiting for our next trip up to reach the fabled Mount Jellore I competed in the Shellharbour City Festival of Sports Dragon Boating. Coming second overall in the major community race.
COVID-19
After writing the previous section of my blog, and eagerly awaiting a return to finally reach and climb 'Mt Jellore' the corona-virus pandemic began. It seemed like a joke at first, the world was going crazy, all the toilet paper was gone, and people were wearing masks. Then in the blink of an eye life changed. More than 10,000 jobs lost in and instant. It was like the world had become an insane and surreal film. While many were still out hiking (though many probably shouldn't have been) Tristan and I agreed we wanted to do the right thing and postponed it, as much as it killed us. It was annoying to see those so self entitled they couldn't wait and I saw the debate cross over onto hiking groups with some outright banning people for having the 'stay home' mentality towards those posting about their hikes. It has been a rough year for everyone and I found myself to not be an exception. Although both Tristan and I were lucky to maintain jobs during this pandemic (neither of us in a work from home role) it was mentally rough working 5 days a week, (practically alone, in my case) and not be able to get out and do anything. But there was more tragedy to follow. My Auntie Margaret, who I had not seen since I was a young boy was found dead in her apartment, body apparently riddled with cancer. While I hadn't seen her for so many years (due to an estrangement with my Father) it was still a sad thought, as I had fond memories of her visiting when I was a kid and bringing her Playstation over (I had grew up with a Nintendo 64) and I always loved being able to play a game of Crash Bandicoot or Spyro.
There was also the uncertainty of a planned overseas holiday. Early in the year my Wife and I had booked a trip to Japan, that we were both beyond excited for. I love travelling and I have been desperately wanting another overseas trip for years, our last trip to Europe seeming like a life time ago, and we had only been on 2 cruises since then. So knowing that will probably be cancelled and unable to go ahead was another crushing disappointment, as well as the uncertainty of a refund, all things weighing on my mind.
Too keep piling on the negatives my Dad's dog Felix of more than 14 year had to be put down. Really upsetting my Dad, and myself as he had always been a really good boy.
I tried my best to stay positive through it all, unsure how it would last I finally wrote about my Road Trip in 2009, at least as much as I could remember, something I had wanted to do for a while. As the days went on I even began to consider writing about my trip to New Zealand in 2007, but never got around to it.
Keeping ourselves amused Tristan and I both ate the world's spiciest gummy bear.
Then the government began lifting restrictions, (barely, let's be honest) but the whole of Australia seemed to be going back to normal and acting like everything was fine, the shops were packed and crazy, with no social distancing going on, and it almost felt like it was all for nothing with both Tristan and I pondering whether or not there would be a massive second outbreak. However with things beginning to open back up, and realising that we were more exposed to other people during work or even shopping, we decided that we would go and complete our mission to find and climb Mt Jellore, and so with the legal go-ahead we booked the day.
16/5/20 - Part 2
Tristan arrived at mine a little after 8:30am, and we made our way toward Macquarie Pass, and back up to the highlands once again. I pointed out the huge amount of cars parked at the bottom, both on the Jump Rock side and on the cascade falls side. As we made our way up further I was shocked at how busy Clover Hill was too. "So much for social distancing". I said to Tristan.
We began discussing corona-virus and our workplaces, and our thoughts on a second wave outbreak. I told him about my Auntie Margaret, Japan and Felix and how I was excited to finally summit Jellore, pointing out just how long it had been since our first attempt. Tristan mentioned something and something I had wanted to do but forgotten occured to me. "Damn!" I mumbled."What?"Tristan asked.
I told him that almost a year ago while at work I had stumbled upon a thing called a NSW Rock. That children, and maybe adults too, paint and hide all over the place, as a sort of fun hobby, asking people to take photos to upload to their facebook page and rehide for someone else to find. I had found the concept cool as I always loved collectathon video games like Banjo Kazooie, or The Legend of Zelda. I said my collection was getting a bit big as I had been taking them home with the plan to leave them on top of some cool mountain like 'The Castle' if I ever went back. But now my collection had grown and I really needed to start getting rid of them so I planned to start by placing my least favourite, and most recently found as the paint had began fading by the time I found it, on top of Jellore. However I had completely forgotten to pack it.
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| The one I had planned to place on top of Mount Jellore |
Finally we continued on as I smashed my roll (it technically my breakfast), and I spilt breadcrumbs all through his car as we proceeded down Wombeyan Caves road. Tristan all the while explained about how we were now in High Range, telling me all about how localities worked up in the Highlands. He pulled of just in front of a farm to quickly check his GPS uncertain if we had just went past the turn off. It turned out we had and he made a U-Turn and we headed up Black Spring Road, which eventually lead us to Soapy Flat Road, within Jellore State Forest.
I was excited. After the fiasco of our last attempt we at least new we were in the right location.
As we proceeded through we noticed that there were a lot of cars around and many people dirt biking, and it actually seemed to be a pretty popular location. We continued down the main road noticing many roads going of to various sides, but with an idea on the map about where to start.
As we continued down we came to an area that seemed just outside a property with many burnt out cars. I mentioned that they were all probably stolen and told Tristan the story of how my Dad's 4-Wheel Drive had been stolen from out of his driveway when I was younger and that he eventually received a call that it had been found burnt out in some bushland down near Nowra, and the only reason they were able to contact my Dad about it was because his business cards were thrown around all on the ground around the burnt out vehicle. It was upsetting as we had enjoyed going 4-Wheel Driving with my Dad, but financially it had sucked as my Dad had not insured it.
We drove down a couple of different dirt roads heading towards Mount Jellore, the main one now gated off as 'private property', and most of them ended up becoming too rugged for his car to continue.
We pulled up along the side of Soapy Flat Road and decided to set off and follow our first path in the direction of Mount Jellore.
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| Both wearing our Akubra Hat's as we had discussed last time |
Tristan looked at my Akubra, and the feather stuck in it. I told him of the hat's origins and he told me to look up 'Powerful Owl Feather'. I did and it matched the feather that was in my hat.
We made our way down the path to Jellore, and I wasn't sure whether I should have left my jumper on or not, but it was particularly cold. I thought I might regret it but was cold enough to keep it on anyway as we followed the track.
Lots of different tracks split off but it was easy to tell which ones were just dirt biking tracks.
After a decent time walking we came upon another dirt road one heading left to Jellore and the other heading right. Tristan seemed antsy and often kept checking his GPS wanting to know where he was and which direction to head in.
As we continued down we realised that this was the dirt road that had been gated off up on soap flat road as we came to another gate letting us know we were at private property. Tristan questioned whether it was legally put up, saying lots of people up in the highlands just do things like that. Whether or not it was we saw our path heading to the right of the private property and continued along.
Not very far it to this turn we realised this was a dead end and there was no path here. The anxiety began to settle in, and we began to question if we would reach Jellore, as the only sure fire path seemed (according to the map) to be through that property which Tristan had vigorously warned against saying he wouldn't be surprised if we got shot.
We marched back to the main road, a little deflated and drove along to the next dirt track before jumping out, I removed my jumped and Tristan stripped from his jumper and track pants into a pair of shorts and we headed down a path, again to yet another dead end.
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| Mount Jellore, barely visible through the trees in the distance |
This time instead of heading back to the main road, we knew there was another track that had branched off from this one, so Tristan made the call and we decided to bush-bash our way through the scrub onto the alternate track.
We quickly came to the other track and felt a glimmer of hope that this was the right way as the sun seemed to brighten, as if revealing that the path was the correct one.
We continued the road along, realising that we must have been down one of the road in which Tristan's car had been unable to make it due to the rugged nature of the road.
As the road began to take sharp turn downhill into a incredibly rugged patch of dirt road, I pointed out to Tristan all the brick laying of the place to our right, some buried obviously from a structure that had long since collapsed.
We reached a spot with our clearest view of Mount Jellore yet, validated that we we indeed finally going the right way.
We continued along the track that continued downhill, steeper and steeper. It began veering off to our right, away from Jellore. The anxiousness began to build again as I openly questioned whether the path was right. Tristan opened his phone again, having a look at GPS getting annoyed that I was walking a bit further down the track to see which way it was heading, he called me back with a bit of frustration to look at the map with him. I told him that the path ahead continued veering right, and heading again uphill away from Jellore, not like any of the map locations towards it we had seen. We began the slog back uphill huffing and puffing, not knowing what or best bet would be. We stopped at the spot where we had previously had our clearest view of Jellore. Tristan kept checking his map. I decided to open up my Snapchat map, to see where that placed our location. We agreed that all the paths to Mount Jellore other than the private road no longer seemed to exist and questioned when they had been made and if the path had simply grown over. I asked if maybe the people Tristan had heard about doing it had taken the road that was now a private road, he said it could be the case. I attempted to show him where we were on the map, and we agreed there would likely be another path we hadn't taken off to our left (our right if we faced away from the mountain), rather then waste our energy walking back I tried to convince Tristan to just cut diagonally through the bush for a long period of time and reach the part of the path that was after the private property. He was edgy and stressed, and he asked that we cut a bit less towards the mountain and meet up with the path a bit earlier. I agreed and we began bush-bashing our way through the scrub yet again, hoping we wouldn't be the sort of fools who get lost.
As I cut through the scrub Tristan asked me where I was going. I told him I was taking the clearest way through the scrub. He asked that we take a more direct and straight line through. I agreed and we proceeded through the bush. I then began asking Tristan what he was doing, and he turned off from following a straight line. He told me he was going to markers that stood out, I pointed to a termite mound and inquired if we could head towards it next. Tristan told me to lead the way and we trudged through, making our way there. As we walked Tristan pointed out a particular purple flower and I pointed out another bush with strange yellow flowers.
We came to a clearing filled with ferns and Tristan proceeded to, with a burst of energy, run through.
As I caught up with him he was stopping for a breath and I proceeded onwards slightly uphill, pushing my way through the scrub. Tristan called me back once more to look at his phone as his GPS had not moved since we left the track, other than saying we were now a little further away from Jellore.
I proceeded to explain that we were heading the right way, pointing to Jellore, and saying where we were. I said the reason we were further away from it is because we were heading on a diagonal angle and thus getting further away. Tristan continued to question it, with his temper rising, asking me to slow down while I explained it, saying that he didn't know where we were, and that the GPS might be wrong the whole time. I continued to repeat what I had said and his anger continued to rise. I tried to explain it slower, but I was only repeating the same thing and it came of as facetious, causing him to get more angry and snap at me. I tried again, this time in a different method, using my hands saying the way we were going. We eventually came out of the bush into an area of trees right by a burnt out car.
We saw that through this area was what looked like an actual walking track with ribbons around trees as if marking the direction to go. It was the first real clear sign we were headed the right way.
Tristan then apologised to me about losing his temper. Telling me about some personal stuff he had going on in his life, and he probably wasn't in the best mind frame at the time. He also proceeded to tell me he was really awful with directions and he liked to know where he was going and thus really liked a map or someway of knowing the trail. I told him it was fine and I probably didn't explain it in the way that he would like as is the problem with communication, the way I think is effective and clear, and concise might not be that way to the person I'm communicating too. He agreed explaining you can only really explain things in the way you'd like them explained. All steam blown off we set off along our first hint of actual track (although I've said that before).
Although we were that little bit elated, it was also getting late in the day, and Mount Jellore was still so far in the distance, the one thing giving us hope was that prior to leaving the path to bush-bash the GPS had said that a long way back to soapy flat road all the way along it back to the private property and along that all the way to Mount Jellore was around 3 hours and 11 minutes. That was a small piece of optimism. However we agreed had we not reached the summit by 2, we would turn back as we didn't fancy being lost in the dark.
The trail took a turn downwards into a gully and we noticed a rope tide against a tree for people to use. This validated us further that we were on the right path. I didn't think the rope was necessary and didn't use it, however Tristan thought it was cool and wanted to use it.
As we proceeded up the other side I noticed yet another rope. Tristan began to ask why I didn't come on this hike with my Dad. I told him that it was his suggestion, and that we had started it together and needed to finish it together. He joked that he didn't need to finish it with me as he puffed his way up hill. I laughed but told him he would feel like it was all worth it when we eventually reach Jellore, even if it took us a third attempt. I commented that I should probably start hiking with my Dad again, telling Tristan that I hadn't hiked with my Dad since his rock climbing accident. I said I would probably start out on long but easy hikes with him, not super adventurous ones like this. Tristan joking insisted that he go on those walks with me and I instead take my Dad on these ones.
We reached a rocky mound and the path lead us to our right and we continued along it, now both certain we would not make the distant Jellore any time near 2pm.
We soon climbed up to our left again, ending up on top of a rocky outcrop with a good view of Mount Jellore, still so far in the distance. We agreed to end out adventure here, though I was sure we were on the right path we would just need to come back a third and final time to finally accomplish our goal of summiting Mount Jellore. We took a defeated photo, while acknowledging that we had at least enjoyed the adventure.
Tristan pulled a beer and a cider out from his bag, that he had brought to celebrate reaching the top. Instead they were condolence beverages. He asked which one I would like and I chose the beer.
We quickly quenched our thirst and proceeded to look around longingly for any clear direction to continue onwards for next time.
We we unable to see any and Tristan began saying he believed the markers were unrelated to the track and that they could be for anything, noting that the ones going left after we reached the outcrop changed colour, and he said he believed they were probably just marking mountain bike trails. Tristan asked that we be silent for about 20 seconds and so we both stopped and looked out towards Mount Jellore. As we were silent, there was a bird chirping quietly in the distance, and the wind picked up a little blowing over us and gently rustling the leaves in the trees. It was a calming and oddly spiritual moment. Afterwards I talked about the concept of 'bush bathing' also known as 'forest bathing' overseas.I asked that we explore a little down the track heading away as there was no other clear direction in sight. As we headed that way I pointed out a cool stone block reminding me of 'Drawing Room Rocks'. Tristan told me he had never been, and I said I would have to take him one day.
We dubbed the rock 'The Sacrificial Alter'.
Which upon closer inspection turned out to be a super fitting name as Tristan pointed to a blob of red on it that looked liked blood. As we inspected it it was simply tree sap, but still made the title seem very fitting.
As I proceeded down the track it was 1:50pm almost reaching our 2pm turn around deadline. Tristan just said he wanted to sit and be in nature. I let him be and decided to jog on down the path to get as much exploration in as possible.
As I continued running along to my shock I came out onto a dirt road. This was it! This was the road that continued on after the private road and the track we had followed was made to bypass the private road. It was the only explanation that made sense!
I ran back to Tristan, yelling about what I had found and explaining that, just like on his map, this road seemed to follow along the ridge-line towards Mount Jellore (like his original map had showed) and the other headed back the direction of the private property.
I looked at the time, and it was just past 2pm and we began making our way back. I discussed that once we made it back to the burnt out car we just cut uphill and continue straight until we hit soap flat road that way next time we could easily cut through and we wouldn't need to do the bush bashing. He originally agreed, but on the walk back we went around in circles changing our minds on whether or not we would just go the direction of the private property road but just follow alongside it in the scrub to not be seen. I began to change my mind, as I didn't want to risk another failed endeavour to Mount Jellore.
"I think we should just follow the private road through the scrub". I conceded. I didn't want us to trek through the bush again and follow that road only for it to not even lead to the mountain. I didn't want to risk it.
"If we follow the private road, and we pass this bit at least we know it was the right track. Plus, if we follow the private road at least we will explore a new area."
Tristan agreed, and in my head I hoped that our third trip wouldn't end with one of us being shot.
It was a long walk back and Tristan asked me how my calves were.
"They're fine, but the little bit of skin on the outside of my big toes is really hurting like hell". I said as we were reaching the hill with the rope.
We finally made it back to the burnt out car and walked up the hill.
It came to a clear dirt path opening and we followed it along. I felt a bit of annoyance, "If this leads directly onto soapy flat I'm going to be pissed" I thought.
After a while the dirt road pivoted right and was taking us away from the direction we had bush bashed our way from. I tried to convince Tristan to cut directly through the scrub ahead of us, assuming if we bush bashed straight ahead we would reach soapy flat road. He didn't want to saying we agreed to follow the path. I counter acted that by saying we agreed to cut directly up from the burnt out car. Tristan seemed exhausted and frustrated with me, saying we should just stick to a path that would eventually end up on soapy flat road. I again gave up and followed along the dirt path feeling like we were walking away from the direction we had come. We eventually came to a campsite, which we assumed belonged to some of the dirt bikers (although now, in hindsight, could have belonged to campers who were going to do Mount Jellore), we were quiet as we passed until we were out of the way to resume speaking. We could still hear the dirt bikes ripping around and we reached another dirt track heading left out towards soap flat road. As we followed it we spotted a car before Tristan pointed out 'Hey, that is my car!". Perplexed I looked down the dirt track behind us.
"How ?" I asked. "We bushed bashed all the way through so that means the path we took must have taken as all the way to the right, far away from the way we were meant to go. It was yet another saga in the journey to Mount Jellore, and I told Tristant that we should head to the brewery and I would buy us both a beer.
We drove out to Eden Brewery, part of the Mount Jellore tradition. As we arrived we had to wait in line social distancing. It was take away only so we each got a bottle of the 'Ration Beer' heading back out to his car and using the seat belt to remove the lid.
"So, what are you doing tomorrow?" I asked Tristan and he rolled his eyes. "How about next weekend?" I instead asked.
"How about we give it a fortnight." He said "Just in case I'm moving next weekend".
I agreed.
We made our way home and thought that it had been a fun day, but still felt a bit of deflation about not even reaching Jellore. It was beginning to become my White Whale. As we drove home we both yawned, exhausted after a full day.
"I just really want to get it done before there's a second wave outbreak of Covid." I told Tristan. "If that happens, I might have to write another blog in the meantime, like that New Zealand one" I joked.
He dropped me at the front of my place and thanked him for the day.
INTERLUDE
During the time between our next attempt at Mount Jellore, Tristan and myself attempted yet another spicy challenge, the Toe of Satan:
Tristan moved living spaces, and I ended up posting yet another blog in between attempts.
I messaged Tristan again while he was moving, turns out he had caught a really bad stomach bug, but ended up good and ready to go and locked in the day. I had asked about trying to get there a bit earlier and Tristan agreed, however I ended up tired and exhausted from work and staying up much too late binge watching Season 2 of Ramy on Stan and as I stumbled to be I set my alarm for the wrong time and ended up sleeping in.
6/6/20 - Part 3
Waking up late I messaged Tristan, annoyed with myself and knowing the long weekend traffic was going to be shit I drank my coffee with negative mindset, thoughts focusing on the negative 'what if we don't make it again'. I finally got ready, well past the time I was meant to have left, and set out on the road to Tristan's new place, finding that the traffic wasn't all that bad and most of the people travelling had set out on Friday.
I pulled up on the street, not sure where Tristan's was, finally I saw him coming out of the driveway, I grabbed my backpack, locked up my car, and jumped in with him.
We talked about all sorts of things on the drive up, once again discussing whether we would go back the way we had discovered last time, or risk trying the private property. Tristan called it and said we would go the way we had discovered last time, which I was glad of because I was certain it was the right way.
As we arrived in Jellore State Park once more looking for the right dirt path to drive down we thought we recalled where it was and began driving down. As we continued down we started passing a four-wheel drive with a man and a woman in it, we waved but then suddenly Tristan stopped the car. I had been looking ahead along the dirt path and turned to him to see why he had stopped. The man had come over to the window and Tristan wound his window down.
"Hi, sorry," the man said. He explained he was looking to get to Mount Jellore.
"That's where we're going." I said to him, we explained we had tried twice to even find the way, but thought we had discovered the right way now.
He asked if they could follow and we said sure. We stopped and waited for them to start up their car and continued down the dirt road.
We came to a fork in the path and were debating which way to take as it all looked the same as was so easy to get lost. Tristan again made a captain's call and continued straight rather then veering off to our right.
"We're did they go?" I asked, looking back and now noticing they weren't behind us.
We continued down the road very slowly until Tristan saw some soft sand and pulled over and began looking at topographic maps and he was sure this was the right way.
Soon the couple pulled up next to us and we talked to them a bit more explaining our two failed attempts and how the correct road was along that private property. Tristan explained he wouldn't risk it because he knew what people in the area could be like from working up here.
The lady explained she had a hiking book about the walk saying where to go and believed we were going the right way. I said we hope so, but tried not to add to much emphasis in case the way we were taking turned out to be the wrong way, we didn't want to be responsible for leading them astray.
They soon set out along the sandy path while I applied my sunscreen.
Shortly after Tristan and I began up the sandy path and saw a big rocky hill in front of us, with directions both to our right and our left. We told them it was all guess work from here and stood discussing which way we had come out from the previous time (as we had only come out this way, finding the track by bush bashing). They headed right and we headed left.
We soon passed around the first rocky boulder and there was yet another one that I said we should go over for the high view. As we walked towards it we saw a sign laying on the ground.
We continued over it looking around for the rocky section we had walked up when we had come back last time. I thought it was right but we walked to our left for a view into the valley and a view of Jellore in the distance.
Soon the couple had turned back and come around to were we where. We talked a little more before trying to look around for a path down into the valley, as we walked to the right we found the rocky section leading down to the burnt car and got excited, we had found our way there very fast and we ran down in excitement, trying not to trip or lose out footings on the rock. As we arrived at the bottom Tristan looked at me.
"I've lost my phone." We then began wandering back up looking for it as the couple made there way down. I tried calling it hoping that would help him find it. Soon he picked it up and we continued down quickly re-finding the path and noticing markers I had recognised from last time.
We made our way down through the gully down the rope section again, Tristan getting puffed and saying he needed a break.
"Have a break at the top." I said.
He got angry. "Dude, no, I need a break now." He complained to me that I get too determined which he said was both admirable and super annoying. We continued our way up, reaching the track towards the road along from the 'Sacrificial Alter'. Tristan needed a drink break and we stopped again. The couple soon caught up with us, excited and sure they were going the right way mentioning all the plastic markers tied around trees. I commented that there hadn't been anywhere near as many on our previous trip he, so someone must have come through recently. I pointed ahead explaining where the road was. The girl had her face in the book and agreed that was what it had said. They began walking ahead of us and soon Tristan was ready to go and we reached the dirt road. The man said that they'd just need to remember where on the dirt road to walk back in and Tristan pointed out there was a random boot left on the road marking the way in. To me he called a 'portkey'.
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| The Couple |
We continued along the dirt road, feeling for sure we were finally on the path to Mount Jellore.
As we continued along Tristan and I talked among ourselves whilst the couple did the same. He commented about containment lines put in to fight the fires, all the while telling me it was information for my blog while I assured him that I would 'probably forget' the information.
We soon reached a dip in the road, and Tristan and I ran down it coming past the couple. Who joked about us rolling down. I mentioned to them that last time we did it Tristan had dropped his phone. The man laughed saying he saw it. Part of it was selfish reasons so I could take photos ahead without having them in the way. Tristan asked me if I would write a hiking book. I told him there was no point, that I already had this blog, and that rather than being a 'guide' which you would need to constantly update, my blog while part guide, was more about the experience and my personal adventures.
The road was bending and winding and I commented at the contrast coming from burnt out forest from the summer fires to areas with great regrowth.
I pointed it out to Tristan who said he hated seeing stories about it. Calling them 'positivity pieces' and pointing to the opposite side that was still completely burnt out. Saying he cared about nature. I said that it was just showing how resilient nature was, and that no matter what happened it would always continue on and come back eventually.
The path turned right to a hill and we began trudging up. Tristan turned to me and told me he was going to take a break at the top. We reached a point where it plateaued before continuing up again and he assured me 'this was the spot he had meant', not realising it continued up further.
The couple reached us again and mentioned the hill. I joked saying 'and we haven't even reached the mountain yet'. Tristan told them they could go ahead take some photo's and send them to him and he would just claim to have climbed it. They laughed and continued ahead. We continued up the rest of the way getting our first beautiful view of Mount Jellore right ahead of us.
"You guys finally made it". The couple said to us knowing how satisfied we must be. We agreed as they stopped at the base looking upwards as they sat to eat cake. I asked them where they were from. The man explained he was from Mittagong while the lady was from 'up north'. They mentioned that they had met doing 'Gerringong Falls' and she had scrambled out of the bushes a bit lost and that's how they had met. I asked if they reached the bottom, he mentioned he had but she hadn't yet. I mentioned it was an amazing walk, and left them to enjoy their cake as Tristan and I proceeded up the mountain.
We looked at in from the bottom, a massive cliff on the right hand side and a trail leading away to our left. Tristan and I decided to dive head first into it, and began making our way up the loose topsoil sloped commenting on how decimated the mountain had been by the fires and what sight it would have been to see an entire mountain on fire.
The higher we got the steeper it became and the soil and rocks weren't holding their footing, often when Tristan stepped rocks would go rolling down beneath him.
"This would be easier if I wasn't so fat." He said. "You're not fat, you're just a big boy." I replied.
"I'm not a bully!" He protested, completely mishearing what I said.
We often grabbed on to trees to try stabilizing ourselves and making sure we didn't slip. It was a slow grind and the trees kept leaving our hands stained with soot.
I reached about half way, just a bit in front of Tristan when I turned around to admire the already amazing view, commenting that I could still see the couple sitting down. I gave them a wave and sat for a drink to wait for Tristan to catch up.
"We will have to come down at a snails pace." Said Tristan as we slowly made our way up.
"We're already doing a snails pace." I said, saying we would have to go even slower down.
We soon reached a section of boulders I told Tristan I was going to climb over. He told me to be careful and not do anything stupid. I told him it was ok, falling wasn't my fortune that it was my Father's.
After I had made it over the boulders Tristan caught up and asked me to move aside. He began scuttling uphill on all fours like a lizard. When he stopped I asked "Was that any easier?"
He didn't hear me.
"Did that look as stupid as it felt?" He asked.
"Definitely."
A few more steps later and we came across the path that must have started at the bottom and wound its way up the mountain.
"You mean we could have taken that the whole time!" Tristan bemoaned.
I told him we had taken 'the fun way' just like at 'Belmore Falls'.
We followed the track along getting glimpses of stunning views through the trees and I felt like the path felt like something oddly 'Japanese' or out of an anime, I don't know why and find it hard to describe.
As the path turned and headed straight up I saw something which I said to Tristan looked like a 'satellite' and I took a few steps closer. "Or a sign."
We reached the top revealing itself to be a trig station. With a plaque about Mount Jellore.
We once again stopped to celebrate, about to open up a can of beer as the couple reached the top. We talked for a bit and the man commented about how cool it was we had beer and how Mountain Goat was the perfect beer brand for on top of a mountain. We talked a little about ourselves, how Tristan and I had met each other working in Bush Regeneration and started talking a bit about hiking, The walk to 'The Castle' came up and the lady was excited asking me for information about it. So they went off to explore and Tristan and I sat to have our beer. I ended up taking a 'non product placement' photo of him which he said he would post on his instagram and tag the company in.
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| If only we got payed for this sort of thing |
We walked around the top looking out over vast expanse of burnt forest. On the right. I mentioned to Tristan I had being watching 'History 101' on Netflix talking about how it delved into the history of individual things like Robots or Plastics. We then began discussing the banning of single use plastics and in the middle of doing so stumbled upon a burnt out plastic bottle that we packed with us to dispose of. Noticing right next to it a survey mark in the ground.
"Have a look at this." Tristan said, showing me his phone. He had placed a tracker on that had tracked where we walked 'filling in the blanks' when his phone had lost reception.
We walked to the other side and where greeted with the most amazing views over Nattai National Park.
The couple was sitting here enjoying the view, we apologised for continually disturbing them. They laughed and told us it was ok, with Tristan commenting and telling them they had found the spot 'with the best view'. We continued down the mountain from were they where and sat gazing at the beautiful expanse. I commented that I would love to just go walking off in there following the valley along.
Tristan pointed into the distance saying that the mountains far out, barely visible to our left was the great dividing range. We sat here while I ate my vegemite, tomato and cheese sandwiches, and the wind blowing over us was absolutely freezing, Tristan commenting that it felt like it had come off snow. We sat for a long while appreciating the view, before, freezing, we agreed to head on back. We past the couple and said good-bye. Tristan asked if I had brought the NSW Rock.
"Oh yeah!" I said, remembering I had actually packed it this time. I took it out and placed it at the base of the trig station with all the rock. Telling Tristan that hopefully someone wouldn't be pissed with me for the 'take nothing, leave nothing' hiking rule.
I took a photo of the ground cover asking Tristan if he knew what it was. He didn't but he said if I took the photo he would find out for me.
We headed down, this time following the path, which turned out to be a much easier route.
"That couple was really nice." Tristan said. "I wish we had got their names."
I agreed.
"It was cute the story of how they met each other at Gerringong Falls." He said."Yeah, maybe one day she'll get to the bottom, she was pretty psyched about The Castle too."
"Should have name dropped your blog dude." Tristan told me.
"Nah I'm way to awkward for that. Maybe they'll read it one day and be like, hey, that was us!"
As we got closer to the bottom we heard voices and stumbled upon a group of four, 2 men and 2 women. They asked how much further and how long it took to the top. We explained that we had taken 'the dumb way'. They told us they had driven in past our cars and parked just at the top of where the rocky slope down started. We told them about our previous two attempts and wished them a good day and continued on home.
As we reached the 'portkey' boot Tristan was adamant I touch it. So if it teleported we would both go.
"I don't want to touch that filthy boot."I told him, but he picked it up and made me tap it with a finger.
As we made our way down once more past the 'Sacrificial Alter' I noticed a beautiful cluster of mushrooms.
We finally made it back to the car, finally finishing the adventure that had taken us so long to achieve. But we had one more tradition to end with, so once more we headed back to Eden Brewery, getting a schooner each inside (as Covid restrictions had lessened and we were allowed inside). I was able to get the Black Ash Porter I hadn't been able to get last time due to being take away only. We also grabbed one each for the road (Tristan for at home due to having to drive) of the Phoenix D. Kottbusser.
It was an Odyssey to get to, but we made it there in the end. Both satisfied, particularly Tristan who told me "I wouldn't have come back a fourth time." While we both looked ahead towards the future, for new and exciting adventures to come.
Thanks for reading! - Steven
