I arose just a little too late to get the best of the mist effects on the lake, but it was very beautiful with the reflections in the still water and ethereal wisps of fog.
Of course, the mill-pond calm did not remain so for very long since both my brother and I are veteran rock skippers; unfortunately there was a shortage of good skimming stones.
We hoped the final leg of our journey would be an easy one, although there was still the occasional demanding section, with Ethan getting bogged almost to his knees, and the supposedly gentle, almost level route being a little more undulating than we’d expected.
We made good time, though, with larger pools breaking up the valley to mark our progress, and distant Clumner Bluff showing us the direction.
I don’t think I’ve shown you a full cushion plant (there was a close-up from day one), but you can see why they are so named.
Eventually we reached the last of the lakes at the top of the valley, Lake Loane, and completed our circuit as we rejoined the main Walls of Jerusalem track just above Trapper’s Hut. It was then just a matter of keeping momentum and knees under control as gravity assisted the descent to the car park: not the easiest down-hill, but definitely easier for me than going up!
The car was a welcome sight, along with the chance to change boots for runners, sit down, and travel at more than 3km/hr! That said, however, the walk had been a wonderful escape and we had been blessed hugely with the magnificent weather. It is very rare indeed to have four straight days of clear skies and warm temperatures in the highlands of Tasmania.
(Photos of boggy Ethan and the expeditioners in the car taken by David.)
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