Rats Castle and Wild Dog Tier

[naturelover]

Thanks to the helpful advice from Tortoise, I tried her suggested route up Wild Dog Tier yesterday. I haven't tried the book's route to compare, but it sounded unenticing, with many kms of dull brown-green scenery. This route had a few contours to trip over, some semi-dry myrtle forest - but at least there was forest - and it was wayyyyy faster - I was home for a late lunch (out before lunchtime, but then I had the drive to do). A shorter drive is another bonus. There WAS the hole, and it was scary, but I survive to tell the story. Map of my route, story, pics, and the hole waypointed for those who want to know when trouble is coming, are all in my blog
[url]natureloverswalks.blogspot.com[/url]

I also climbed Rats Castle in the last week, this one with a friend. That story is there with pics too.

[Tortoise]

Thanks to the helpful advice from Tortoise, I tried her suggested route up Wild Dog Tier yesterday. I haven't tried the book's route to compare, but it sounded unenticing, with many kms of dull brown-green scenery. This route had a few contours to trip over, some semi-dry myrtle forest - but at least there was forest - and it was wayyyyy faster - I was home for a late lunch (out before lunchtime, but then I had the drive to do). A shorter drive is another bonus. There WAS the hole, and it was scary, but I survive to tell the story. Map of my route, story, pics, and the hole waypointed for those who want to know when trouble is coming, are all in my blog
[url]natureloverswalks.blogspot.com[/url]

I also climbed Rats Castle in the last week, this one with a friend. That story is there with pics too.

Hi Nervous Naturelover,

Glad it worked out. Enjoyed your report, as always. Sorry about the colander brain - I could have sworn the Big Hole was the one that was marked. (And yes, now that you mention it, it was the pair of holes that made it a bit scary.) Thanks for marking the waypoint - others have asked about it.

I actually really liked the bit along Sales Rivulet - but maybe that was because I was seeing it through the eyes of some young 'uns I'd taken along, who had never seen cushion plants, pencil pines, coral fern, babbling alpine brook etc.

Re Rats Castle - I opted for the more direct route up and back, and never did work out why it wasn't the standard one.

Cheers,
Timorous Tortoise

[naturelover]

If it helps, TT, my husband loved the last of my photos that depicted the area you talked about. I think I was just in a glum mood, and not ready to be easily pleased that day. Do you know, I saw smoke issuing from something small from up high, and was almost hoping it might be my car burning - which would spare me a meeting with the hole