This was my second attempt in recent weeks to try and get some good photographs of Hanging Rock and the cliffs of the Grose Valley near Burramoko Head. My earlier trip to the head had been during very fine weather. Conditions were nice but not atmospheric. This time I walked out from Blackheath in light rain. The forecast for the next morning was “possible mist”, so I was more hopeful.
Like the last trip, it was a pleasant walk out – with a multitude of wildflowers out, including many Waratahs. On the last trip, I thought that most of the Waratahs were looking a little old – a bit past their best. I was therefore surprised this trip to find many fresh ones out. Nice!
Another motivation for the second trip was to see if any of the orchid buds I had seen on that trip had now come out. A few had, but only partly.
My last visit had been on a Sunday/Monday. Hanging Rock on the Sunday had been very busy with parties arriving after sunset. This trip was a Wednesday/Thursday – and was much quieter. All I saw was a single mountain biker.
Again, I camped in the most sheltered spot I could find right at Baltzer Lookout. At first the atmospheric conditions I had been hoping for were not present – it was just dull and grey. No mist or stormy lighting. But gradually towards sunset, things picked up a bit.
Sunrise was OK, but not what I had been hoping for. No valley mist at all. But still, Hanging Rock is always spectacular.
The walk back was also quite pleasant – with many diversions to look for and photograph wild flowers, particularly orchids.
More photos from the trip are online on my website here.
