Friday evening I fell asleep on the sofa watching a boring movie, I woke up in the middle of the night (so that’s Saturday morning) and remembered that I still had to plan a trip for the weekend! So I went online and searched for something decent and in the end decided to go to Black Hill Hut. I left early in the morning to get to the View Hill car park which is where this photo was taken, my new backpack ready for its first trip and the Torlesse Range in the background

Just when I got to the car park there was a group of like 15 people with backpacks, I asked them where they were going and they said they were all going to Black Hill Hut, exactly where I intended to go. So I cancelled that plan and decided to go to Mt Oxford instead, I’m on it in the photo, it’s quite steep

Getting closer to the summit it flattens a bit

And then becomes steep again, also with my length I really need to crouch under these trees or I will bump into them

Lots of trees here with this stuff on them. I forgot what it’s called. Is it old man’s beard?

Finally I’m out of the forest and get a look at the summit, it’s still quite a while from here

Looking towards Springfield

I continue towards the top, there is a lot of strong wind

Some sun starting to shine

Another 1 km to go to the summit

Someone else on the way back already

Yay, I made it to the summit, sheltering from the wind here

In the far distance is the gliding club. My backpack is taking a rest as well, it has performed extremely well, very glad with it

The view towards and of Lees Valley

A selfie at the very summit of Mt Oxford

Black Hill and behind the Esk Valley where it’s raining

On the far left Mt Hutt in snow, in the middle the Torlesse Range in snow, to the right the Cragieburn Range in snow

I wonder if anyone is flying today, there is thermal activity but the wind might be too strong

There’s still some snow in places, Lees Valley in the background

I walk back a long way the same way I came

Until I reach this junction where I go towards the Wharfedale Hut

The path to the hut was steep, my feet hurt, the hut was almost full, a nice bunch of people, we have some nice talks and an early nap, the sky looks fantastic

Sunday morning, I am the first one already on the trail again to the car park, I am hungry and left some yummy things in the fridge in my car and can’t wait to get there

The Wharfedale Track itself is not very special, in fact it’s a bit boring, especially when it’s not sunny, there aren’t that many interesting views either

The Wharfedale Saddle, it shouldn’t be all that far back to the car now, only 2 hours and 20 minutes according to the sign

Many little stream crossings like this one

The occasional view, in this case we see Chest Peak in the distance on the right, often our gateway to the north when gliding

Lots of ferns and a bit of sun seeping through

Almost back at the car park, I look sooo forward to some cold diet coke and something to eat from the fridge in my car

And I end the trip with pretty much the same view I started with yesterday. The trip was 30km, my legs and feet are sore from the climb yesterday but it was all worth it and the new backpack is fantastic!