From Zero to hero – a mighty mini mount
Where – Pohlners Road to Mt Zero – Mura Mura summit
Distance 2.3 km – Mura Mura is 394 m elevation but only 110 meters climbed
Time taken 46minutes and 19 seconds
In 10 words – Great start to day, awesome views, nice climb, no ghost
What a difference a week makes.
It’s freezing and cloudy and the radio talks of rain and hail storms overnight in other parts of the state as I head out towards Mt Zero or Mura Mura on the northern tip of the Grampians Gariwerd. There has even been an earthquake a bit further east along the highway.
I have left home at 5.50am and am wondering if I will get to see much at all. I almost have to imagine what the mountains will look like beyond the low cloud that’s hovering in the gloom.
I don’t see any kangaroos as I pass Mt Zero Olives which have grown for decades on the northern slopes of Mt Zero-Mura Mura. Usually it is a careful drive to ensure that you and them get to the end of the road unscathed.
When I get out and head to the walking track I am struck but how quiet everything is. No birds like there were last week. Too cold to sing today.
At least the snakes should be asleep.
I park near the junction of Pohlners Road and walk up to the start of Mt Zero Mura Mura track. It’s a good, wide track with steps at the start and plenty of arrows to show you the way.
Once again I am impressed with the number of flowers about for mid summer. Banksias look amazing, and there are a few other things flowering along the way.
The sky mirrors the mountains today. Grey and treacherous. After a while the sandy track disappears and you start climbing rocks. It is just a case of watching for yellow arrows and following them. To the north we start to see olives created some ordered lines across the paddocks and to the east the sun is inching ever closer to the top of Mt Stapleton.
Nothing like the floodlight of Mitre Rock last week, but still exciting none the less.
A bit more climbing and I reach the peak which is noisy with wind. I hang on tight and don’t get too close the edge. It seems to whistle up from the south and I am glad that I have a bit of shelter from its full force. There are some awesome panoramas with the contrast of rock, trees, olives and crops stretched across the landscape.
And as I start to head down the roading wind is replaced by singing birds.
They have finally found their voice as the sunrise hits its brilliant, almost fruity straps on the way down.
For a time the defiant sun turns the grey sky peachy and then it produces a short burst of lemon brilliance before being unceremoniously gobbled up by those bossy grey clouds.
I also discover that my obsession with the sky has taken me down a completely different path on the descent. I am glad because it is the path I took last time I was here when one of my images made it look like the place was haunted.
I now have a chance to find that ghost.
Turns out it is a dead tree trunk at the top of a narrow gap that the path follows between two rocks. Oh well it will still be forever known to me as ghost alley.
A little after ghost alley. The discoveries continue. I find the point where the arrows give you two choices of route.
Downwards is an easy stroll and before I know it I am at the bottom and pretty happy with the Mura Mura journey. Ten out of 10 for Mt Zero.
52 weeks 52 walks 