#CradleMountain

Climbing mountains is apparently something I do on a regular basis now so I thought I was prepared for climbing up to Marion’s lookout to see the top of cradle mountain in all its glory!
I was wrong.

I felt like my lungs were going to burst as I climbed each step, my chest burned and my legs were led pulling me slowly up the stairs. The view was incredible though, two lakes lay beneath the mountains both pristine and clear. The trees had started to turn yellow and orange in the autumn weather and they made a stark

contrast to the grey of the rocks behind them. Similarly to the Toringa crossing in NZ we had to use chains to pull ourselves up the rocks near the top of the mountain. I was now stopping every ten seconds to catch my breath which was probably really annoying for Jack who had to follow behind. Old people passed me by looking like they were handling the mountain with ease and the rest of the group weren’t complaining about death at all so I just felt feelings of shame and embarrassment as I clambered further and further up.

Once at the top, it was all worth it. The view was incredible...

We headed down the steep way and I screamed on average every 30 second’s as I felt my feet slip and slide on the rocks.
“I’m okay!” I shouted for the sixth time despite the fact that no one actually asked me.

“Okay guys, just a 15 minute walk to the ballroom forest.”
Fifteen minutes passed. And then I saw them. 50 gravelled steps sat before me, I could almost imagine them grinning at me. “Um...are you kidding!” My legs pleaded with me to turn back! “You’ve got nothing to prove, no one will mind! There’s hummus in the bus!” I really wanted hummus! But no! I must go on. We walked and climbed and walked and climbed, went downstairs, upstairs, downstairs again! Where is the f@&;’ing forest?!! My stomach was shouting at me now for hummus, my legs aching. An old man stopped to let me pass ahead on the path. “Are you hurrying?” He asked me crossly!

“I’m sorry! ...Mountain!” I pointed upwards my finger barely capable of lifting.
He rolled his eyes and then attempted friendly conversation as I practically crawled towards where he had stopped to let me go.

The forest was not worth the pain! I knew there would be trees and trees are lovely but not an extra hours walk on an empty stomach and decimated legs lovely!

I took a photo or two and then we left, more stairs! More fear of death! I’m not entirely sure how I didn’t have a heart attack and die, but I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that I made it to bus and destroyed my hummus within seconds!