by deadmike » Sun Jul 24, 2016 1:35 pm
Date walked: 24/07/2016
Distance: 12 km
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Hi,
i walked the ridge yesterday and i thought it best to add a comment sorely missing from the walk guide. it says:
"there is a rocky scramble which heads down diagonally to the right. When dry this is not too difficult and best tacked direct, though it is probably possible to avoid it by heading to the right a little earlier down steep grass."
This part of the walk is actually quite dangerous. Certainly we all accept theres an inherit danger with all hillwalks, more so with ridge walking. Yet, i would point out that this part of the walk is out and out crazy.
What i encountered yesterday was more like stepping down a sheer cliff face with no way of knowing where the next 6 foot drop step was. the rocks are quite eroded and often tilt away from the hill wall, so if you land on a step and lose your balance... your dead.
The grassy verge just right of this part of the walk is easily traversable, takes no extra time and will keep your very much alive.
If you are climbling up then its far easier as you can see the steps, but what you might not see is people kicking loose rocks down!
What i witnessed yesterday was a mature hillwalkers club, rushing each other down the edge, using ski poles to support one another down. I am amazed no one was killed.
Other than that the ridge walk has a well troden path and is relatively safe to enjoy.