Pieries Peak

Another walk in Mt Royal National Park.This time through forest along a ridge with a gentler rise.

Again a narrow ridge out to the peak with a marked difference in vegetation from the east to the west slope.

 

Looking west and south towards Bayswater Power Station and Muswellbrook.

After coming through the forest the ridge continues onto a bald peak with rainforest on the steep eastern slope. This shot looking north, back along the ridge with Mt Royal to the right of centre.

Pieries Peak

Another view looking back to Mt Royal.

Looking east to Mt Carrow. 

A panorama of Mt Carrow and Pieries Peak.

Mt Royal

Mt Royal National Park is an hours drive north of Singleton and joins the western end of Barrington Tops. 

Had planned to walk Mt Royal from the more gentle north ridge, but again, road closure meant a change of plan and made the steep southern ridge my only option.

Looking east over Mt Carrow. 

Looking south down the ridge towards Pieries Peak.

Looking over Pieries Peak and Lake St Clair. Feels like the top of the world with the only sound the pounding of your heart from the steep climb.

Didn't quite summit Mt Royal. Couldnt see a way to the top apart from climbing out along the spine of these rocks. Made it about half way before chickening out. Very narrow and exposed with big drops on both sides.. At this point a Little Eagle circled me 2  or 3 times from about 10 metres away. Too busy hanging on for photos though.

Looking down the ridge with Pieries Peak on the left and ,I think, The Fal on the right.

Back over Lake St Clair towards Singleton.