Penguin Cradle Trail October 2021
Posted: Tue 05 Oct, 2021 1:32 pmJust rolled off the PCT, Southbound over the first 5 days of October.
This was my second time thru hiking the trail, the first time nearly 5 years ago.
I'm pumped to say that track signage, conditions and alignment have been massively improved compared to earlier years but not at the expense of a truly wild experience.
The new re-route that cuts out Walloa Creek and the pine plantation pushes you down, down, down a super steep hillside straight into Wings Wildlife Park which worked out fantastic as it bowled me in right on 10am, opening time for the cafe.
The track alongside Leven River is unrecognisable thinking back to the impediments the 2016 floods left the trail in. Smooth and fun wandering next to that lovely river.
The scorparia I remembered up on the high plains between Bare Mountain and Four-ways has been burnt out?
Definitely didn't miss ripping through chest high pricklyness but not sure if a lightening strike banged that lot out.
The dense scrub leading into and out of Four-Ways campsite has been chopped back allowing far easier access.
Thank you very much NWWC volunteers, much appreciated!
Legends. Seriously.
The trail still kicked my butt numerous times with the climb up out if the Leven River and down to the gorge and the belting rain and crazy strong winds making things on Day 4 feel much like type 2 fun.
Just my thoughts before they get murky.
Solitude. Swimming in the Leven. Slipping and falling continually between Paddy's Lake and Cradle Village due to the dumping of rain churning down the trail.
No huts meant no people and another raw experience.
This was my second time thru hiking the trail, the first time nearly 5 years ago.
I'm pumped to say that track signage, conditions and alignment have been massively improved compared to earlier years but not at the expense of a truly wild experience.
The new re-route that cuts out Walloa Creek and the pine plantation pushes you down, down, down a super steep hillside straight into Wings Wildlife Park which worked out fantastic as it bowled me in right on 10am, opening time for the cafe.
The track alongside Leven River is unrecognisable thinking back to the impediments the 2016 floods left the trail in. Smooth and fun wandering next to that lovely river.
The scorparia I remembered up on the high plains between Bare Mountain and Four-ways has been burnt out?
Definitely didn't miss ripping through chest high pricklyness but not sure if a lightening strike banged that lot out.
The dense scrub leading into and out of Four-Ways campsite has been chopped back allowing far easier access.
Thank you very much NWWC volunteers, much appreciated!
Legends. Seriously.
The trail still kicked my butt numerous times with the climb up out if the Leven River and down to the gorge and the belting rain and crazy strong winds making things on Day 4 feel much like type 2 fun.
Just my thoughts before they get murky.
Solitude. Swimming in the Leven. Slipping and falling continually between Paddy's Lake and Cradle Village due to the dumping of rain churning down the trail.
No huts meant no people and another raw experience.