1/08/2020
Russ and meeeee
I’d been a bit crook and carrying another minor but annoying injury so amid offers of epic adventure stuff I opted for the easier one.
I meet Russ in the Wolgan and we set off for a fantastical slot not too far yet not too close to the camp ground
After dodging the stinging nettle (mostly) a quick march up the steep slopes brings us to a breach in the lower cliff line with a little tunnel like arch for an entry way
Like a lot of the Wollemi the Gospers Mt fire has ripped through here. You see more and the walking is somewhat easier but it’s still a bit depressing.
I struggled to keep up on the ascent but am keen to push on
In normal times the gully between the lower and upper constriction is a glorious lost world. Now it’s black and charred, yet still somehow grand
Further up the Mother of Slots awaits us and I’m pleased to see the confines have been spared the wrath of the inferno
We phaff about with some photos and then make our way up
Toward the top there is a boulder choke. There are a couple of ways to get over. The easiest way up is to crawl into a little cave and twist your way up a short chimney to get on top of the first boulder.
I squeeze in and worm my way up. I have my foot on a chock stone as I propel myself up and out. The chock stone moves.
Then dislodges altogether.
There is a rumble and a tumble I hear the rock bounce down in a shower of smaller stuff. I hear Russ grunt and flee.
Two things go through my head.
First Russ’s safety. It was a large rock and there wasn’t much space plus I wasn’t sure if he had already followed me into the cave.
Mate are you Ok?
Yeeep.
You sure?
Um, Yeah.
Second thought. Was that wedging up the massive bit of rock above me? I claw may way out from between the two boulders as fast as possible.
Looking down Russ is fine. I can not see sign of the rock I dislodged. How did it miss him and how did he not take a tumble fleeing out of it’s potential path I don’t know.
We are both a bit lucky. I’ve been up that way a few times and that chock stone has always been solid. The extremes of wet and dry had loosened something
Our plan was to try and make our way around and down another slot I knew of.
We traverse around the base of the upper cliff line, only to find ourselves stuck on a tier bisected by slots and mini canyons all with tricky drops. We double back looking for a walk down, we had a short rope but weren’t sure if we descended we would just be stuck on another tier with 100m of cliff line below us
We pick a spot to enjoy lunch with stunning views.
Should we push on or go back the way we came?
Most people who know me would assume me to say push on. I’m happy being lost in head high scrub and exploring ways forward. But today was not my usual day. I was feeling drained.
For probably the second time ever I concede my goal and we head back the way we came.
Party size 2
Time: a couple of hours
If you are feeling down remember that weird Beatles song. The sun is up. The sky is Blue. It’s Beautiful and so are You. Dear Prudence
sleepwhenwearedead 