The Blue Mountains area is a large sandstone plateau, that has gradually been eroded by rivers. So its really a load of valleys rather than mountains. Having said that it is spectacular as the blue-green vegetation stretches away from you. There are lots of dramatic cliff top walks, with waterfalls, lookouts, and even some ladders. The photo above is the view of the 3 sisters rocks, which every visitor to the area must photograph. The legend is that three sisters fell in love with three men from a neighbouring tribe, but marriage was forbidden by tribal law. Battle ensued, and the sisters were turned to stone by an elder to protect them, but he was killed in the fighting and no one else could turn them back. It was a bit of a tourist ghetto, as bus after bus disgorged people, but it had to be done.
We had 4 days of potte
ring around in the mountains with Den and Trev, which were refreshingly cool (some might say damp) after muggy Sydney. Our biggest walk with stats of about 9km was to pilgrim rock, which Carys renamed one sister rock. She was amazing and walked almost the whole way, with a lots of chocolate, stories, and games. Collecting kindling and leaves for camp fires at all the look out points kept her quite busy. We felt a bit guilty afterwards, that we'd made her go so far.
I sure most of you can guess, why we choose this walk to EVAN'S LOOKOUT.
The zig-zag railway was built in the 1860s, to transport people and produce from Blue Mountains to Sydney. There was a slight hitch in getting from the mountain top to the valley, so the engineer designed a series of sloping tracks forming the letter "Z" with reversing stations at Top and Bottom Points so the engine could turn around and move to the other end of the train. It was considered very clever by the Victorians, and a pleasant day out by us.
