After studying the weather forecast, I decided today was a good day to go wandering at Cradle, to find some photos for future projects, and do some training in my favourite place before flying off to walk on the other side of the world.
The mountain's mood was serene but shy and slightly dark. Glacier Rock with low misty cloud. No rain, a gentle breeze and Cradle stayed hidden all day.
Wombat Pool - where I have never seen a wombat.
An ever-green pine and deciduous trees by the cliffs of a snowy Norwegian fjord? No - a young pencil pine and leafless deciduous fagus trees by Crater Lake with waves of sound from the melodious falling water of Marigold Creek tumbling down the sides of Crater Peak into the lake.
I paused to eat a sandwich and drink coffee near Crater Lake boat shed with its newly repaired shingles.
Reflections on Crater Lake.
Continuing down to Crater Falls. Some random person. There were a few other people enjoying the beauty.
Roaring water at Crater Falls
A 30cm waterfall beside the track. Small things are as beautiful as big things.
Downstream from Crater Falls. Fast flowing water. So pretty with snow decorating the mossy forest.
Down to Cradle Valley
Gotta scratch that itch! Ah - that's better. I saw twenty wombats today! No kidding, they were everywhere, munching away.
At Ronny Creek, I stopped to eat.
What ya got there? Are you gonna share?
If I just sneak sideways, she won't see me.
A little bit closer.
Darn. The banana has already been eaten.
Oooh, maybe I'll get the egg.
Oh, what? Not sharing? But, but....I want some!
No! Read the sign! It says, "Feeding wildlife can turn an animal into a pest."
I then walked the 6 km Cradle Valley Boardwalk back to the interpretation centre, briskly to get my heart and breathing rate up, for training purposes.
Until I came to this:
A pencil pine, hundreds of years old, snapped off and thrown across the boardwalk. Imagining the force of wind required to do this is quite scary. As I walked I passed literally hundreds of eucalyptus branches torn from trees, and dozens of gum trees with their tops snapped off. Winter can be wild here. But I do love it!
20 wombats!
