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Location Date Victoria 
1326326400 New South Wales 1324166400 Australian Capital Territory -
Location Date Mt Skene 1326326400 Mt Sunday 1326240000 King Billy 1 1326067200 Mt Hotham 1325462400 Falls Creek 1325289600 Croydon Hills Melbourne Airport Yarra Junction Claire Ck, Cowombat Flat Firetrail Omeo Big River Saddle Maddison's Hut Site, Mt Bogong Ropers Hut Dibbin Hut Selwyn Ck Rd-Twins Tk Junction Selwyn Tk- White's Tk Jnc Barry Saddle The Viking
Mansfield Mt Speculation Woods Point - J W Scott Reserve Cumberland Junction Home
Wow! Quite a climb that. Couple of sections with about 50m straight down behind you, scrambling up maroon conglomerate slabs!! But here I am on the summit of The Viking. All the effort was worth the reward. It was only as I worked my way out of the trees and saw the panorama before me that I realised I'd spent the last few days feeling hemmed in. I don't suffer from claustrophobia, in fact on the contrary, there's nothing I love more at work than taking the kids caving, but I suffer from the very human condition of loving views! There is something so fulfilling about standing on the summit looking back as far as Mt Hotham and contemplating all the country I've traversed in between. The Alps are a seriously big area from this vantage, yet they cover less than 1% of the total Australian landmass, we live in a seriously huge country!
So today I definitely feel a sense of achievement. This climb had been weighing heavily on my mind. It did not happen easily and was one of the harder earned sections of the trip to date. This of course makes it all the more rewarding. But, as many a mountaineer will attest, I'm only halfway there, with the steep decent to Viking Saddle to come, I remain focussed for a difficult afternoon to follow.
The photo accompanying is of The Razor in the foreground, which I walk past tomorrow, and the peak in the background is Mt Speculation, where a cold cider awaits!!
- comments
Sally Buckland Whoa, now the pressure is definitely on me... I MUST find that cider. I'm off to 1st Choice now. Well done Mart. You know Viking Day was the one that knocked me off the map and sent me home so I'm extra proud of you. I've been thinking of you all day and mentally climbing with you- it's soooo much easier than the physical climb. Love you lots. See you tomorrow. Until then continue to 'Rip it, Roll it & Stroll it'!!! S xo
Gramp. Instantaneous communication today -your blog and photo of The Viking .A great shot.Picked up the purple dot showing deep ravines and razor like ridges of surrounding ranges.Don't be backward in publicly acknowledging your achievement in this endeavor ,it doesn't come without a great deal of effort.
Sime That is brilliant, all the training with Marc had a purpose. No wait, that wasn't training..... Nice work, I'm already missing the weekend catch up and it only a week since we said goodbye. I would suggest your crew has not only increased in size but also got much better looking :)
Sime (mk2) PS, love the purple dot Gramp!!
bits Hay fella, nice work to make into the Howitt Stirling area! Give me a buzz about meeting up
Martie Buckland Yeah will do mate, sorry you missed the 4x4 train to spec!! I'll buzz you in the next day or two! Martie
Mongoose Cheesetops The Viking is one damn good place....up with the coolest places around...enjoy the cider...which one?
Martie Buckland Cheeky Rascal!!! current favourite for sure!