Whilst in Murwillumbah we spend a day ascending and decending Mount Warning (not at sunrise Mr Wilkes, it was too cloudy). Mount Warning was named by Captain Cook as he sailed past as it was the highest point around and was to serve as a warning to other sailors that there are shallow reefs around. Before this it was known by the Aborigines as “cloud gatherer”. During the winter months Mount Warning is the first place in Oz to be touched by the rising sun each morning.
We heard mixed reports as to whether the Aborginals liked you climbing the mountain. It is a sacred place to them and used to used as part of a ritual process to turn boys to men. Some written evidence stated that they did not like it. Everyone we spoke said it used to be problem but is fine now and others said that they would allow you to go up if you paid them. After much deliberation we decided to go up.
It took us 1 hr 45 mins to ascend and 1hr 30 to descend. On the way up it was sunny and very hot. It was mostly track so fairly easy going. The top 500 metres was a definate scramble.
The scramble to the top of Mount Warning
Once at the top we enjoyed the view for about 5 mintues and then the clouds came in! It was amazing being in the clouds, they were actually passing between us as we sat at the top eating our sandwiches. After a while we noticed that the hair on Ruth’s head and another girl that was up there was starting to stand up and heard rumbles of thunder in the distance. We felt that it was time to get off the highest metalic platform for miles around.
The view from the top of Mount Warning
We were right to do this as shortly after we were down from the top and still making our way down the scramble it started to thunder heavily. The way down was very wet and so different in atmosphere to the way up. It was brilliant to see and hear the contrast in wildlife and atmosphere because of the different weather conditions.
The next few days our legs, especially Ruth’s, were a bit sore but it was well worth it.
