At the mountains of madness

Long has it been since I visited Grampians.

Last time was around 2011 I think. I had gone back then, with a whole slew of friends to climb on the walls in Summerday Valley in Grampians. I returned with memories so cherished they are with me still.

This time, a chance holiday and an impromptu plan meant I returned with my family. My climbing has gotten better even if my planning as not. Last few days of school holidays were turned into a planning climbing holiday which ended up being a hiking holiday due to the eventual wet weather.

I have always loved mountains. The size and scale of something that vast, standing unmoving before you with a mute challenge is soul stirring. Meant for me are not the gorgeous beaches of Australia. Give me shaded forests and windy roads, slippery trails and crooked streams of the mountains. Chief amongst them, Grampians.

The two and a half hour drive to our homestay was fun and filled with songs. I have learnt to keep a playlist handy for my son who oscillates between wanting to hear random kids tales and music from Lord of the Rings, in particular the score called “The Bridge of Khazadum” . My wife has learnt that once we start on the history of Balrogs, its best to tune us both out.

Last time, I had stayed at the Stapylton camping grounds in a tent. This time we chose a small cabin at the Halls Gap Holiday Homes. We chose wisely. This was the first overnight trip to the mountains with my family. Reel them in slowly I say.

We didn’t have much planned. I wanted us to try a bit of climbing. The weather decided I was being silly. I argued mightily. In the end, surprisingly, the weather won. So a climbing trip became a hiking trip. I was still happy. As long as we were on the mountains, we were happy. Day 1 was mostly walking about town and seeing what was happening food wise. Its amazing how a 6 year olds lack of appetite vanishes when confronted with ice cream. I lay no blame. I understand.

Late that night we decided upon waterfalls. I had not seen the waterfalls that were around. So we decided to combine our love of going up and down a mountain with somehow seeing water obey gravity. The kangaroos that were everywhere around us spared us no second glance. We were not the first trespassers into their domain and probably wont be the last. They deserve better neighbours than us.

From Clematis Falls to Silverband Falls and from there to Lake Bellfield, day 2 was filled with fun, chips and a lot of walking. We capped it off with the Boronia Peak trail and thought about going to Mackenzie Falls, but making a 6 year old do a total of 20km in total seemed cruel. We abandoned that and came back home. Suddenly, the 6 year old had enough legs to do pedal carting. Who says miracles don’t happen!!!

Day 3 say us enjoy gorgeous Mackenzie and Fish Falls and from there the very quaint and neat Halls Gap Zoo. I like Wombats the most. I think if I ever had a spirit animal, it will be the wombat. Not sure why, but it is what it is. That ended our 2 night sojourn into Grampians. We scoffed down some coffee, bought more chips for the road and then went on our merry way back.

I already miss the mountains.