Stairway From Hell

Last Easter I tried to walk up to the lookout behind where I live. I wrote about it in a blog called on the up and up. I had to give up and was laughed at my friend who considered this an easy stroll. Well, I've been doing a lot of hiking since then, so I thought I would give it another go.

The good news is this time I made it. The bad news is - it was absolutely hell on earth getting there. Every step on the way up is just too big to step on comfortably, every step is broken and they are all uneven. They are absolute agony on the knees. I guess it must just be me because other people run up here or walk their dogs up here every day.

Personally I thought I was about to die on this climb. I got further than last time, then was in so much pain I decided to give up and sat down on the steps utterly defeated. I sat there for a few minutes then saw some people climbing up towards me. I was totally blocking their way. I actually felt tempted to just suggest they should stand on me so I didn't have to move, but I didn't. I picked myself up and kept going and thus I made it to the top.

At the top I discovered I had actually gone higher than the lookout and I could see the trail to one of the hardest walks here - the tiger's head. Somehow I don't think I'll be doing that one. I walked down to the lookout and found an alternative route back down so I could avoid those stairs. It wasn't the best day for taking photos, but I took lots anyway as I'm not doing this walk again in better weather or indeed ever.

Those horrendous Steps.

Views on the climb.

On the climb up.

This is where I collapsed and gave up but got up to let people pass then just kept going.

Views from the top.

Views from the top.

More Hellish Steps.

Mountain Path.

Trigonometrical Station and Views.

Trigonometrical Station and Views.

Trigonometrical Station and Views.

Going down to the lookout.

Going down to the lookout.

Near the Lookout.

Approaching the Lookout.

The Lookout.

Views from the Lookout.

Views from the Lookout.

Views from the Lookout.

Mountain Scenery.

Mountain Path.

Stream.

Stream.

Stream.

Stream.

Taking a different route down I ended up on this path.

Back down to civilization and Bouganvilia.

Back down to civilization and Bouganvilia.

Back down to civilization and Bouganvilia.

Back down to civilization and Bouganvilia.