Blue Plate Special

As we approached Grampians National Park from the south, we could see Mt. Abrupt majestically rise from the plains.  Standing 827 meters tall it may not be the Swiss Alps, but it was the first decent sized hill we had seen for months, and we couldn't wait to climb to the peak.

We found the single-track trail head just outside of Dunkeld, on Halls Gap Road.  It started as a  gradual climb through snow gums and stringybarks.  This was our first visit to an Australian forest and we were bewildered by our surroundings.  Everything was new: the  call of the Crimson Rosella, the medicinal smell of the Eucalyptus trees, the cool mountain air.  We knew that the area was home to some "exotic" animals--swamp wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas--and our eyes eagerly darted from side to side in search of one of these unfamiliar animals.

As we approached the tree-line the trail became very steep.  Our focus turned to the large boulders that formed the cliff in front of us.  My walking sticks were put away.  I needed to use my hands to haul me up the the larger than step-sized boulders.  The sounds of the woodlands were replaced with a thumping in my ears--the blood pumping through my veins.  I was surprised that we completed the exhilarating vertical climb in less than 15 minutes.  The boulders gradually turned to rocky slabs.  I could see the top of the peak in the distance.  All that remained between us and our goal was a gradual ascent along an escarpment rim through the low sub-alpine vegetation.

We were drenched in sweat when we arrived at the peak.  Less than an hour had passed since we left the trail head.  We felt as though we were on top of the world as we took in a birds-eye view of our surroundings.

We were drenched in sweat when we arrived at the peak.  Less than an hour had passed since we left the trail head.  We felt as though we were on top of the world as we took in a birds-eye view of our surroundings.

During lunch our attention was drawn from the horizon to the sky above.  A large wedge-tailed eagle was circling above us.  Round and round it went until suddenly it changed its course and flew into the distance.

When we had our fill of both lunch and the views, we stood to start our descent.  The trail was not clearly marked and we began to question if we had made a wrong turn.  We started to back track, and separated as we looked for the trail.  Mark was slightly ahead of me on my right when a shadow passed on the ground in front of me.  I looked up to see that the raptor had returned.  Instead of flying high above it was now coming closer.  I knew that this was no longer a bird simply assessing the scene.  Now that I was isolated I  became a blue plate special.  Just as it passed close enough for me to hear the flapping of its wings, I instinctively raised my hiking sticks high above me.  To my relief the gutsy hunter quickly pulled back.  

Mark, who had observed the scenario from a distance, started rushing down the hill.  He was still a good distance away when our enemy began to circle above him.  I stood frozen in shock as I watched the wedge-tail eagle drop its talons and start sweeping down.  (Maybe not frozen, since I had the camera out and was shooting away!)  Mark, who doesn't have hiking sticks, had removed his backpack and was holding it between him and the hungry bird.  Either the swinging backpack or his threatening shouts convinced our stalker that there was no meal to be had, and once again it abruptly flew away. 

Figuring there is safety in numbers Mark and I quickly rejoined.   As the adrenaline waned, we were able to joke that we had been warned about Australian sharks, snakes, crocodiles, spiders, blue ring octopus, and box jelly fish--but never did we expect to be hunted by a wedge-tailed eagle.