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6 Foot Track
Picture this if you will:
- water tumbling down moss covered rocks into pools of water so crystal clear
you can see the rocks on the bottom;
- to see sheer cliff faces which change in colour before your eyes from
creamy sandstone to magical pinks to panoramic purples and reds;
- tall gum trees reaching for the sky for as far as the eye can see;
- grass covered hills for cattle to graze;
- crossing a stream where the water is so cold your toes go numb;
- hills that go up into what appears to be the sky;
- a full moon streaming down on to a campfire with people around telling
stories and jokes;
- lying in a tent and listening to the sounds of the fast river running near by
and the nocturnal animals scrounging around for food.
experiences are rare to come by unless you go out into the Australian bush
hiking and camping. I and 17 others did this, we walked 46 kilometres from
Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, travelling the well known Six Foot Track. The track
was named this due to the fact that it was the original route between these two
sites, it was six foot wide for the carts and horses to travel. It is since
become a well worn track with much of it dirt road for four wheel drive
vehicles, however there are still a number of places these four wheel drives do
not get to.
There were 18 of us as I mentioned, 6 Venturers, 6 scouts and 6 adults (3 of
whom were leaders) and we hiked three days, two nights to achieve our goal. I
sit back and wonder how I can describe to you something that was so hard and yet
so exhilarating all at the same time. I have never before seen so much uphill
track, on the second day after our three creek crossings, we started up the big
one and I never ever thought it was going to end, it went up and up and up. We
all struggled to different degrees but there were two of us who struggled up the
hill that little bit more. The team work encountered by all was something I have
not experienced in a long time between people. We were all they�re looking out
for each other. The six Venturers went on ahead as they had to achieve some
badgework, some of the scouts and adults would lead, but there was always two
people who knew exactly where everyone was at any time. One of these would move
between the group, sometimes in the lead, sometimes at the rear, the second
always stayed near the end so that there was no-one left behind.
We were all encouraged and motivated to keep moving by others who would talk
to us, there were times when a load had to be shared due to an injury - the team
would just jump in and carry extra items without complaint. We had one girl who
was having a particularly difficult time throughout much of the track but she
was encouraged by the other scouts, she was helped by them, carrying her gear
for parts of the walk. She was certainly encouraged by the site of Caves House
when she ran to the finish.
I can only speak for myself when I say, if it had not been for my brother and
for the support of other adults, leaders and scouts I don�t believe I could
have made the distance. I had completed six months preparation, both mental
preparation (I knew I would complete the distance even if it was going to be on
hands and knees) and physical (stepper work, hill walks, long walks, short
walks, treadmill work, stretches, massages to prepare the muscles) - I was as
ready as I could be at that time.
We had many tough times too:
- evening of our first day due to extreme heat, not drinking enough water (I
knew best) and stress for having to cross a swing bridge over the Cox�s
river that was made of wire which was really swinging (especially with a 16
kg pack on your back)
- we had ankle sprains, knee twists, people running out of water before we
could reach camp, stormy weather with very cold rain
- we didn�t reach a campsite and had to set up camp in the bush in the
dark and pouring rain
- we had to cook in tents with great care (those who could),
- we kept an eye out for hypothermia
- there was a hip joint that refused to work on downhill runs
- some fell into creeks and rivers fully clothed with pack on back
- and others.
The excitement, the exhilaration felt of actually
accomplishing such a track far out weighs any of the tough times we had, the
team spirit, the camaraderie, the fellowship � it was all there.
Auntie
Kerrie (AKA Goodah)
Photos (click on the picture to enlarge)
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