(50th Post Special) My OB Australia Journey - Mount Warning

“Hey guys, we’re doing a summit climb tomorrow. Be ready for bus pickup at 3am.”

Erm, what?? We are doing a summit climb on the 2^nd day of programme?? Talk about Expect the Unexpected! This wasn't particularly good news as I couldn't sleep at all on the plane the previous night. 

Mount Warning – a 1159m high mountain in New South Wales formed from a volcanic plug, overlooking the eastern coast, Byron Bay and the Indian Ocean. It was known as Wollumbin by the Bandjalung aboriginals and it was a sacred mountain, used for many of their rites and ceremonies. Many years later, Captain James Cook sailed to Australia and named it Mount Warning as it served as a warning to sailors of the perilous rocks ahead. The first summit climb by westerners took 3 days, but now tourists can hike up in about an hour.

After an hour’s hike in the cold, we were at the summit with stronger and colder winds. Why do people wake up so early to hike and suffer in the cold? They could be sleeping or having a hot coffee where it’s safe from the chills. These pictures will give you the answer.

The first rays of light from the eastern-most tip of mainland Australia, Cape Byron

Egg yolk for breakfast? Photo by Jon Leong

Video by Jon Leong

Now you see me....

Now you don't!

Photo by Jon Leong

Video by Jon Leong

Finally bright enough for a group shot

So there’s this interesting bloke, I think he’s Aussie, who camped at the summit the day before, presumably so he could just wake up and see the sunrise. And….creative way to keep warm, mate! 

Climbing Mt Warning on early in the programme had its beauty. For the rest of the days wherever we were, be it hiking, biking or canoeing, we could see Mt Warning from almost everywhere. Having summited  Mt Warning before, it gave us a sense of familiarity and gladness to exclaim “Ahh, look there’s Mt Warning!”

View of Mt Warning, 4 days later

The other benefit was that it made me discover that the soles of my Salomon X-Scream Citytrail shoes were falling off, so I could change to my (older version of) Salomon X-Scream Citytrail shoes, which although was older but was holding up better.

Next: Rising of the Blue Peter