The trail head

The gents at the start of the hike

We set up camp by the river at Acacia Flats for three nights. This was my first overnight hiking trip since last summer. This year really got away. It was so good to be back in my tent…

No phone, no internet, no computers, no traffic – nothing but the sound of cicadas for 72 hours

The view from our picnic blanket

We had the perfect swimming hole right at camp

With views to the Fortress in one direction…

… And towards Mt Banks and the Walls in the other

The boys are masters of relaxation

My pack weighed 21kg descending into the valley, but the extra weight meant we had some fresh food for the first two nights – including taboule, as evidenced in this poor attempt at a group shot

On day two we walked to the Pierces Pass junction for lunch and a swim – it didn’t look far on a map, but it was hard work because our legs were stiff from the previous day’s descent

The Blue Gum Forest is nothing short of spectacular

Their pale trunks shoot straight for the sky

Stunning specimens

It’s a bit of a jungle down there, with even the ferns and native raspberry cane (edible?) towering over your head and scratching up your arms and legs – but it’s great to see so much regeneration after the fires of recent years

We counted at least 4 ideal swimming spots in the 4km stretch between Acacia Flats and the junction to Pierce’s Pass, all with beautiful escarpment views

This was our swimming hole and chosen lunchtime destination

Lee striding out – almost back at camp after our 4.5 hour sojourn

On day three we explored the valley floor in the other direction, this time walking to Junction Rock with views to Pulpit Rock (just visible here at the end of the ridge), Evans Lookout and the Fortress

Lee in camouflage

A clearer view of Pulpit Rock

The Fortress

This is not a great shot, but if you look closely there is a snake slithering through the greenery to the side of the trail. Kevin gave this little dude a bit of a fright when a stick he stepped on came into contact with it, so the snake’s sitting quite high in the foliage here, keeping a careful eye on things

This is an even worse shot, unfortunately, but Kevin’s second snake encounter for the day came when he found himself face to face with this diamond python while filling a pot at the water’s edge. You can see the diamond pattern to the left of shot

Some of my trusty camping kit: jet-boil stove, camelback water bottles, sea-to-summit plate, cup and bowl set + food bag, Teva camp sandals – and I never leave home without a book – here I am reading David Mitchell’s Black Swan Green

The walk out took us two and a half hours. It is a constant uphill climb, which I didn’t have the energy to photograph until we were almost at the top. You know you’re near the end, though, when the handrail appears. You also know the steepest section of trail is yet to come…