My first bushwalk - in my "happy place"

It has been nine months since the fall - my fall, on a mountain, the one that ruined my leg. But, yesterday I did my first 'real bushwalk' in nine months. I walked around Dove Lake at Cradle, in the snow, and it was magnificent! Normally, this is only a very short easy walk for me, but I was unsure how my hamstring deficient leg would cope, especially with the steps and hill on the western side of the lake.

 Our cabin, hidden in the bush was called "Pademelon" and there were paddies nibbling bark and lichen among the trees. We enjoyed a cosy evening, with a dancing fire while snow silently transformed the landscape outside.

 We woke to snow outlined leaves and trees, and about four inches of snow on the car.

 

 The Alfred Hitchock-ish, a la "The Birds", view at breakfast. The currawongs waited and watched our every move through the kitchen window.

This large fellow had a deformed beak - an extra, extra long top hook.

The Dove Lake circuit is one of the most popular walks at Cradle. It would be interesting to know how many thousands of people walk it each year, attired in every thing from solid walking boots and wet weather clothing (Sheryl and me), to pink slippers and a white overcoat. Yep, that is what we saw yesterday. No thongs though - at least there was no one stupid enough to think that thongs would be suitable walking attire in the snow, as they often do in summer at Cradle.

We waited over an hour for a shuttle bus as the road was closed to all but 4WD vehicles, but silly people in ordinary cars ignored the signs. Grrrrr. Amazingly there were no accidents. We had an interesting conversation with a ranger about the overwhelming visitor numbers, over stretched transport services, the congested road and how they are really hoping the new visitor centre which looks like it will finally start construction soon, might make life better for staff and visitors alike, as the current temporary buildings which were supposed to used for only two years, not ten; just cannot cope.

It was snowing when we arrived at Dove Lake. It snowed off and on, as we walked. The sun managed to briefly sneak through the clouds a few times.

 Snow crystals on yellow gum.

 A brief view of Little Horn.

 Snow sprinkled myrtle.

The elegant curves of Pandani

 Bird's eye view of the same pandani

  Curving gum with snow

Sheryl walking near the end of the lake. We only saw Cradle like this for a few minutes.

 The perfect picnic spot at the end of the lake. We did not make the snow people. If you look closely you will see the one on the left is a snow woman with a top hat! (Thanks to Sheryl for the photo)

Cascading icicles

 I made it to the top of the hill with only a little stiffness in my leg! And a few twinges later during the night, but I am very, very happy, and relieved, with my hamstring performance. Next time, I will try a bigger hill and/or a longer walk.

 It was snowing when we arrived back at the carpark and queued for another hour to get the bus back!

I hope the new developments solve this problem. Gustav Weindorfer may have called Cradle Mountain the place where "time does not matter", but when you have limited time to enjoy this special place, time does matter. Time spent standing in a queue, is time wasted.

Unwanted souvenir

The latest travel accessory, the unwanted souvenir, aka the leg brace that the French doctor insisted I buy. So elegant, not. However, it did help. I am home now, in the process of repairing the damage done by my wanderment with mountains.

Joel took me straight to the hospital when I arrived back in Devonport, nine days early. I have had xrays, ultrasound and MRI scans, to assess the damage done.

All three hamstring muscles have been torn off the bone on my right leg, so I did a thorough job. No wonder my leg kept collapsing as I was helped down the hill. I will have 6 weeks at least off work, and not allowed to drive. The treatment is rest, ice and physio.

Fortunately I am blessed to live in Paradise. Some views from the house:

I can hear the creek running strongly down among the trees, but I can't get down to see it. Over a dozen different types of birds live here. Many of them do come up around the house.

 At least I can watch a mountain - Mt Roland.

Mont Blanc update

So, it is now day 5 of our Mont Blanc hike. Tomorrow is the last full day of walking which ends back in Chamonix.

Here are a few not very good pics of my trip which ended up being very different to everyone elses.

As I was being driven by a rather hunky young Englishman, in a van with our bags to the accommodation for each night, I did get to see some incredible mountain scenery, including the desolate, dramatic St Bernards Pass which is where Saint Bernard started training the St Bernard dogs to rescue people, and I was driven through the 11.5km long tunnel  beneath the mountain range, under Mont Blanc, connecting France and Italy.

I saw views of the Swiss valley where Martigny is situated on the wide valley floor with many vineyards on the slopes that we drove down and up.

I sat outside the Hotel Lavachey, in Lavachey, Italy. The river and pine clad mountains reminded me of Canada.

Our first Swiss hotel in Champex - so cute.

This is part of the view from the hotel. I can almost see Heidi on the meadows down there!

Champex Lake, 100m from the hotel - aqua coloured in the sunlight. (Thanks for the photo, Sheryl)

 Reflections on the lake early in the morning.

 The second Swiss hotel in Trient, was rather ordinary, but the view was pretty.

This is what happens when thunderstorms are predicted and your guide, very wisely, won't take you on the planned walk. This is waiting for a taxi to go from Trient to Argentiere, tonight's accommodation.

Sheryl and I have views of two glaciers from one window, and... 

 ...one glacier from another window! This is the Argentiere Glacier, the one I sat beside last week and listened to. (See previous post "Listening to glaciers."

The others have shown me photos from their days of walking. I missed out on high mountain passes and lakes, pack mules, more cows with musical bells, pine forests with fungi and lichens, and great weather, up until today.

Now, I am in our hotel while some of the others are hiking to the Argentiere Glacier. In a few minutes, I will meet Pete, Loretta, Sheryl, Mick and Marie at the lovely cafe we found here last week.

Tomorrow, while the others hike to Chamonix, I am going to the hospital to see a doctor about my leg.

Not quite as planned

Things are not quite going according to plan.

The around Mt Blanc hike begins:

After a short bus ride we commenced our walk at Notre Dame. There was a cute little church, nestled in a deep wooded valley.

We walked for a while up an old Roman road, which was quite steep.

Then the road levelled out a little through meadows as we passed by a farm house. Check out the size of the cow bells! It was as though they were playing a lovely melody for us.

Then the track took us steeply upwards past meadows of alpine flowers.

Looking back down to the cows' farmhouse in the far meadow.

Marmots! These giant guinea pig-like animals (or obese otters) make a loud squeaking bird-like sound to warn each other of danger. We heard them before we saw them.

The track kept going up.

And up to our morning tea stop.

Lunch was on top of a pass.

Looking down to a flock of sheep penned, possibly getting ready to be taken down low into the valley before the winter snow.

Our guide, Dave, telling us we have to go just around the corner and up a little bit more up to another mountain pass.

A little bit more up!

Coming down the other side, on the last kilometre of about 20, feeling really good, not even tired, just after this photo, my day came crashing down.

My right foot slipped out from under me on a relatively level section that was so dry and dusty that it was slippery, and I came crashing down. One of our group said I looked quite elegant as I did the splits, but it hurt! I had to sit for a while before I could stand and my right leg would not move properly, giving me very sharp pain in the back of my thigh and collapsing under me. Pete, Mick and Dave took turns holding me up, and I used Marie's walking poles as well. It took a lot of concentration, and the men saved me from falling again, numerous times. They were wonderful.

Happy pack horses, Marie and Sheryl carrying packs for me, Mick and Pete.

Our very comfortable accomodation for the night was in a remote valley, and was full of hikers. They gave us an excellent meal.

So, it seems that I have either torn or pulled my right hamstring. I have gone from feeling like a mountain goat, to feeling like a half squashed slug. I can put some weight on my leg, but I cannot walk normally, even on a flat even surface. But it is improving with ice, rest, voltaren tablets and voltaren gel rubbed into the muscle. I have now had two rest days while the others walked over more mountain passes. I was transported in the van with all our luggage to the evening accomodation. It is possible that I may not be able to walk any more of the Mont Blanc circuit, unfortunately. Not quite according to the plan!

We are now in Switzerland. Today I was driven through three countries in an hour and a half - Italy, France and Switzerland!

Chamonix

A few photos of where we have been staying for the last week - seriously cute.

Mountains in every direction.

Look Ruth, so many macaroons.

Tomorrow we commence our 6 day, 100km, guided trek around Mont Blanc.

I am not sure what wifi or phone signal we will have, so there may not be so many blog posts over the next week.