Talking to my companion and pointing out various plants and birds, I missed a turn and wandered from the track. When I took stock of my surroundings again we were down on the creek bank instead of up near the ridge top where the main track runs. The small pad we had been following quickly petered out and we were pushing our way through fallen timber, thick scrub and debris left from recent flooding. I was not overly concerned as I knew the main track passed close to the creek bank a kilometer or so further ahead and we only had to follow the bank to pick it up again. A look at my map confirmed this. After about 40 minutes of effort and several cuts and scratches we reached the track again.
No harm done apart from me having to admit to by foreign visitor that I had misplaced the track and our easy walk would now involve a bit of a scramble, but It made me reflect on how easy it is to become lost. I have walked this track on several occasions and I would have laughed at the possibility of losing my way, until today that is. I will be less judgemental from now on when reading of lost bushwalkers.
