Love the title, and the vivid description. I like both versions, but I’m probably partial to the sonnet. I especially appreciate the focus on the terrain’s ruggedness and potential dangers; I think it’s hard to appreciate nature’s beauty in full without that context. Wonderful photos as always!
Cheers James! I wholeheartedly agree with your point about ruggedness, potential danger and beauty; I'm also partial to the sonnet version because this is certainly a love poem (for my country and its relationship to England, for mountains, for heather, for stone and for storms).
This is beautiful Peter! I've been to Tasmania several times but only explored on the beaten track, the western wilds are definitely a bucket list destination!
A friend organised the hike; he was looking for an especially wild, difficult and stunning place in Australia, I think. In his research, he found the Western Arthurs Traverse -- a realm of rugged stone and heather, and subject to frequent storms. He invited me, my brother and a few others, and we had unexpectedly fine weather -- except from evening to early morning. I did come quite close to giving up on the very first day though! It was a long, muddy day with a lot of steep climbing in the afternoon; I'm glad I kept going. It was a spectacular week-long walk.
Indeed, and this one certainly was. The fierce beauty of the Western Arthurs significantly deepened my love and appreciation of the breadth of the Australian wilderness and drew me closer to my country as a whole. It also happened to occur in the weeks between finishing bible college and meeting my wife, while I was trying to decide where to live and whether or not to study at university -- an important turning point that I believe this walk helped me through.
Love the title, and the vivid description. I like both versions, but I’m probably partial to the sonnet. I especially appreciate the focus on the terrain’s ruggedness and potential dangers; I think it’s hard to appreciate nature’s beauty in full without that context. Wonderful photos as always!
Cheers James! I wholeheartedly agree with your point about ruggedness, potential danger and beauty; I'm also partial to the sonnet version because this is certainly a love poem (for my country and its relationship to England, for mountains, for heather, for stone and for storms).
This is beautiful Peter! I've been to Tasmania several times but only explored on the beaten track, the western wilds are definitely a bucket list destination!
They're a must-see! The coolest mountains I've ever walked.
What a classic verse! Wonderfully crafted.
Indeed! Cheers Mark.
How did you come to hike there? Beautiful
pictures and poem.
Thanks Katie! Here's a bit of the story:
A friend organised the hike; he was looking for an especially wild, difficult and stunning place in Australia, I think. In his research, he found the Western Arthurs Traverse -- a realm of rugged stone and heather, and subject to frequent storms. He invited me, my brother and a few others, and we had unexpectedly fine weather -- except from evening to early morning. I did come quite close to giving up on the very first day though! It was a long, muddy day with a lot of steep climbing in the afternoon; I'm glad I kept going. It was a spectacular week-long walk.
That sounds amazing and interesting. Those week long walks are pilgrimages aren’t they?
Indeed, and this one certainly was. The fierce beauty of the Western Arthurs significantly deepened my love and appreciation of the breadth of the Australian wilderness and drew me closer to my country as a whole. It also happened to occur in the weeks between finishing bible college and meeting my wife, while I was trying to decide where to live and whether or not to study at university -- an important turning point that I believe this walk helped me through.