It was roughly about this time last year that I had the opportunity to do something I have wanted to do all my life, climb Bluff Knoll. I have always had a fear of heights and I think I always will, but I wanted to see if I could try to get over that fear for a little while to climb the highest peak in the south west of Western Australia. Bluff Knoll is situated in the Stirling Ranges about three and half hours drive south of Perth where I live. The knoll is approximately 1,096 meters high, about a 1 kilometer climb, however the climb up is over 3.2km. As you can see by the pictures it is in the clouds and they do look fantastic with them rolling off. The top is at the very highest point you can see and the views are spectacular.
Looking down from the peak it's 1km drop, so I could hardly look for too long, as it really killed me! In winter they sometimes get snow on the peak. The day Tad & I climbed the knoll it was in summer, not the best choice but as you can see by the photo below we had a clear sky. We decided to climb it at 6am as it is about 2.5 hours to make it to the top for us old folks! We slept in and didn't start until about 10am. As we made the ascent many people we coming down and were very disappointed the peak was in cloud and was very cold. Fortunately leaving it a bit later in the day we had full views for hundreds of kilometers!
I can tell you it was not a walk in the park, 3 hours to get down and I had sore legs for days after. I was quite hot going up as well being in summertime. I am so glad I did it an now looking back a year later at the photos, I am thinking yeah, I could climb it again .....
one day!
This is the awesome view of the knoll the evening before the climb from the Stirling Ranges Caravan Park. I love the way the sunset light changes the colour of the peak rock!
It was roughly about this time last year that I had the opportunity to do something I have wanted to do all my life, climb Bluff Knoll. I have always had a fear of heights and I think I always will, but I wanted to see if I could try to get over that fear for a little while to climb the highest peak in the south west of Western Australia. Bluff Knoll is situated in the Stirling Ranges about three and half hours drive south of Perth where I live. The knoll is approximately 1,096 meters high, about a 1 kilometer climb, however the climb up is over 3.2km. As you can see by the pictures it is in the clouds and they do look fantastic with them rolling off. The top is at the very highest point you can see and the views are spectacular.
Looking down from the peak it's 1km drop, so I could hardly look for too long, as it really killed me! In winter they sometimes get snow on the peak. The day Tad & I climbed the knoll it was in summer, not the best choice but as you can see by the photo below we had a clear sky. We decided to climb it at 6am as it is about 2.5 hours to make it to the top for us old folks! We slept in and didn't start until about 10am. As we made the ascent many people we coming down and were very disappointed the peak was in cloud and was very cold. Fortunately leaving it a bit later in the day we had full views for hundreds of kilometers!
I can tell you it was not a walk in the park, 3 hours to get down and I had sore legs for days after. I was quite hot going up as well being in summertime. I am so glad I did it an now looking back a year later at the photos, I am thinking yeah, I could climb it again .....one day!
This is the awesome view of the knoll the evening before the climb from the Stirling Ranges Caravan Park. I love the way the sunset light changes the colour of the peak rock!
1 comment:
Wow Julie, what a feat to climb that given your fears, it's gorgeous too!!!
I have a healthy respect for heights :)
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