Wells Gray: Part 2

This is a portrait of pain. We just finished the first leg of the hike, a 5 km uphill section that almost did me (us) in. Drenched in sweat, filled with pain, needing food and water...we trudged on with thoughts of a high alpine-esque lake ahead.

After the uphill slog in the 450 000 degree heat, we made it to the lake, dipped our melting bodies in the frigid waters and drank in the view. Worth every step to sleep by these shores, and there were quite a few of them to get here!

Posing for a victory picture as the day fades away and we settle into a well deserved sleep...or was this taken the following morning.....by the look of the sun I would say it was the morning. Not too sure....fading memory. Behind us is Philip Lake, further on in the distance is the ridge leading up to Table Mountain (the peak itself not visible from our camp).

Me making dinner the first night with what little energy remained after the slog uphill...I swear it was a 90 degree slope the whole way! Probably not....but it might as well have been the way we felt at this point of the day.

Should I go for a swim?!?

Crystal taking an evening break.

Lunch break on the ridge of Table Mountain, overlooking the lakes below.

Hiking along the snowy ridge of Table Mountain in the steaming heat of the noon day sun. In the distance is Tropy Mountainn, which we hiked up to see the meadow flowers...well, we didnt hike "up" it necessarily. We hiked as far as our feet could take us without snowshoes!

**The hike down from Table Moutain, and from Philip Lake, and the raod access section allowed no photos....nor did we care. Get. Down. Find. Shade. Rest. Flat land....these were the things that mattered more than pictures!**

Crystal at the edge of Helmcken Falls, with the ~140 metre cliff a step away! This was the day after the return from Philip Lake.

Thats me, the human looking things in the foreground. Helmcken Falls in the background....the watery looking thing.
Clearwater River at sunset....

Helmcken Falls, towering in at ~143 metres over aged lava. Bee You Tea Full. This is from the visitors platform, but we were also able to hike in (8 km round) to the other side and get a view from along the rim that you see to the right of the falls....which is where crystals picture (above) was taken.