| Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tailender | |
| Standards | Nicky | Alan H | Warren | Veronica |
| Alternates | Liz | Norma | Bev | Linley |
After dodging an expected weather bullet, the bus of 37 and driver Alan headed north to Mt. Thomas. Progress was impeded by 6 cyclists who were difficult to pass once off the motorway. They were headed in the same direction as we were.
We alighted to a calm, non-windy campsite and overshot the start of the Ridge Track. This track is a marked, hard, slow upward grind with few flat areas. Added to this there were numerous broken trees due to high winds in the area several days before. Consequently we became contortionists climbing over and under, in and out or around as required.
Morning tea was consumed just before heading into the trees. We had a splendid view of the plains.
It was decided to continue past the Wooded Gully Track turnoff for 10 -15 minutes to find an open area for lunch. Climbing up the knob we came across an over 40 group of 27 who kindly let us through. However they continued to the beacon whereas we had lunch viewing the beacon from afar before the clouds rolled over it. We were able to see some of the plains below and it was mild with little wind, a veritable plus on this mountain!!
It was a relatively easy walk down with some unusual small slip and stream crossings. Some saw baby fantails and some heard melodious bellbirds.
The Standards were a tad late for the bus as the Alternates had an hour’s wait after their trips up the Ridge Track for morning tea and the Wooded Gully for lunch. We arrived back at Bishopdale at 5.10 pm. Txt by Nicky
