2021 Three Capes Track
We’ve been offline with these updates for the last few days because while there is phone access, at least with Telstra, to make calls and do texting but once you get past Surveyors Hut there is pretty much no internet access although it will randomly crop up very now and then.
Christmas Day! This is the second day of hiking on the Three Capes Track and very different from yesterday leaving Surveyors Hut around 7:30am. Firstly, today’s walk was 11km with our full packs and a real workout on the legs mainly due to the steep climb up Arthurs Peak and then the very long set of stairs going back down. This section of the trail was unique, something that would be the case in the following days, with the hero of this section being the views and the vegetation as you crossed from coastal forest to heath and back into forest again before Munro Hut. The views from Arthurs Peak were amazing providing views along the coastline to what are the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. From Arthurs Peak we then had a climb up Crescent Mountain, which while taller was an easier ascent and descent. You can tell that this trail has been designed to be done in one direction and I would hate to do the reverse climb! We were surprised when we dropped into the viewing area at Jurassic Crack and looked back to where we had come from and realised the sheer height of Arthurs Peak.
This section of the trail is where all the ontrail artwork starts and it’s good to see that in most cases it’s also functional seating. As mentioned the vegetation changed along the way and between the wildflowers and the views, it was enough to keep this happy snapper actively taking photos along the way.
We were first to arrive from our group at Munro Hut around (11:45am) and had the opportunity to talk with some hikers a day ahead of us to find out about their visit to Cape Pillar that morning. Munro Hut is a real crossover point because the previous day’s hikers are returning from Cape Pillar before heading on to Retakunna Hut and the new hikers, like us, arriving.
Munro Hut is certainly the most scenic being adjacent to the cliffs and having marvellous views down to Cape Hauy and over the ocean. The one drawback about this hut is that the toilets are about 200 metres from the bunk rooms which means you are very much awake by the time you return to your sleeping bag! Apparently this was the first hut constructed along the trail and they were concerned that the smell from the toilets would be an issue. One big upside is that there are two outdoor showers which were much appreciated by all!
The rest of the afternoon was spent lazing around, sun baking, and just relaxing after a hard day walking and so it was another earlyish night for us. Apparently the sunrise at this hut is the best on the trail and we intend to get up just before 5:00am to take advantage of that before getting an early start on the walk to Cape Pillar.
We’ve been offline with these updates for the last few days because while there is phone access, at least with Telstra, to make calls and do texting but once you get past Surveyors Hut there is pretty much no internet access although it will randomly crop up very now and then. Christmas Day! This is […]