Blue Mountains Redux

The last time I went to the Blue Mountains it didn't turn out so well,  as I was suffering horribly with a case of Montezuma's revenge. This time all the internal processes were working appropriately and I had a much better time.

I took off early in the morning from Central Station for the nearly two hour train ride to Wentworth Falls. I arrived at the station with the hike directions I had printed out months earlier. They were useful for the first 10 minutes and then I might as well have thrown them out. Not far into the hike I hit a detour and from there on the directions didn't always make sense.

What I loved about this hike was that it followed a pretty stream downhill, being joined by other little streams and gradually heading down into the valley.  There were many small waterfalls and cascades and few other hikers to spoil the tranquility. I continued down into the valley  eventually arriving at the top of Wentworth Falls. Of course you can't actually see the falls from the top. From there the wicked and mis-named Giant Stairway begins.

When they say "giant stairway" I think they meant to say GIANT LADDER, as that is how steep it is going down the steps carved into the sandstone. I have pretty good knees, but soon they were complaining about the abuse. After several hundred giant steps down, clutching the available railing on one side and the wire rope on the other, I made it down to the Middle Pool of the falls. There was a fantastic view from there. Maybe even worth what followed...

I took some pics and then went to continue my trek down into the valley, where I planned on taking the "Scenic Railway" back to the top. I had zero intention of climbing UP those steps. Then my plans were dashed by a little sign that said "trail closed due to landslide". There was no other way out, I had to climb the Giant Stairway to continue my hike. Suffice to say that going up was much more difficult than going down. So much for well-laid plans.

After getting back to the top and having

a well-deserved break, I continued onto the Undercliff Track, which is exactly that...a trail that goes around the rim of the valley under a series of cliffs. I passed more streams and views of the valley  eventually stopping for lunch at a beautiful overlook, where I was joined by several lizards hoping for a handout. They seemed especially fond of the piece of a plum I threw to them  though they had a tussle over ownership of said plum.

I continued my hike up the side of the valley, passing some of my favorite "corn on the cob trees" and eventually made it back to the top and the final mile or so to the train station. The hike was just a bit over 10 miles, plenty of hike for me!