Currently reading: Sir Isaac Newton – Opticks | David Foster Wallace – Infinite Jest (in it for the long haul…)
My working weeks are pretty full on at the moment as I ramp up for the final months of thesis life, so I’m trying to get as much hiking in on the weekends as I can. This morning I revisited the Grand Canyon in Blackheath, a walk I haven’t done in its entirety since 2001 or 2002. There is some overlap with the Evans Lookout entrance to the Grose Valley via Rodriguez Pass which I’ve hiked more recently, but it was lovely to make the canyon loop the point of focus and to see the impressive work that has been done on the trail since my last visit.
Grand Canyon loop track car park – The signs say 3-4 hours but I completed my circuit in under 2 – there are lots of stairs but it’s totally manageable
Linking track to Evans Lookout
Stunning view from Evans Lookout straight down the Grose Valley – I was camping in the midst of all those gorgeous trees a couple of weeks ago
The descent to Grand Canyon begins
All manner of eucalypts
Into the lovely shaded realm below
Otherworldly
I have the best backyard
I passed a wise gentleman who reminded me to take in what I was seeing and not be in too much of a hurry
But those steps were beckoning me ever onward
Approaching the junction – Grose Valley to the left, Grand Canyon to the right, Evans Lookout behind
Bridge over troubled water
The stairs are my yellow brick road this summer
A sense of the canyon formation
Water dragon – I freaked the little dude out so had to zoom so as not to disturb him any further
Climbing out of the rainforest and back into open eucalypt forest
Love our rugged terrain
After ascending a short distance, the path hugs the canyon wall for about a kilometre or so
With occasional glimpses of where those stairs will eventually take you
Still lovely and shaded for the most part
Especially through these stunning cut-ins
Then back into the rainforest once more
Lush giant ferns and cool ambient temperatures even while the thermometer climbs on the exposed ridges above – I stopped photographing at this point and focused on the climb
I think this dilapidated old building is on a property that is currently for sale (but if it’s the listing I think it is, the asking price is pretty steep…)
The Grand Canyon loop is truly a first class walking track and it’s no wonder it draws thousands of visitors to the Blue Mountains every year.
Loving my mountains life…
Booknboot xo
Books Completed: Jeff Greenwald – Shopping for Buddhas
Booknboot 