The rock that makes up the cliffs is loose and easily broken, making it an unsuitable rock climbing destination. But it is possible to hike to the top, so after a week of research Chris and I decided to attempt the summit! Knowing it would be a solid hike we left Brisbane early on Sunday morning to make the most of our day.
It was the beginning of a gorgeous day as we pulled over to the side of the Mt Lindsay Highway in view of our target, no rain clouds in sight. Further south along the road in an adjacent paddock was some sort of bush rave, at 6;45 AM the monotonous electronic "music" was already pumping. Even though the audio conditions were atrocious we decided to continue with our plan.
Our plan didn't involve wandering along random cow trails through grassy paddocks, but after a small amount of back tracking we found the right track and another gate which lead up a very steep ridge through scrubby terrain. We continued along the ridge toward the mountain, scrambling up and around a small rock buttress, then arrived at the base of the lower cliffs and had a quick break. The day was hot and the humidity oppressive, but we made good time once we were on the right path.
Passing over a rocky section we began the traverse around the northern face of Mt Lindsay, which meant plunging down into a cooler rain-forest section. Route finding was tricky, but we eventually found enough tape / track marks to aid in navigation through the undergrowth. We pressed on through vines, spider webs, the occasional stinging nettle before gaining elevation back up to the south east point on the mountain where a vegetated gully lead to the upper cliffs.
It was midday at this point, and we realized that we would be unable to continue to the top as we needed to be back in Brisbane by the mid-afternoon. We took lunch nearby a plaque affixed to the cliff memorializing the death of an experienced hiker at this spot in 2011, a reminder that the ascent of Mt Lindsay isn't a trivial undertaking.
It would have been great to make the summit on this occasion, but we were happy enough with our first recon of the mountain, and pressed back down into the forest to retrace our steps home. We made better time on the return, and stumbled across another reminder of the dangers inherent to rock climbing and mountaineering. A small cross remains in the forest, the grave of Edwin Lyle Vidler, a rock climber who perished trying to climb a chimney on the northern face of Mt Lindsay in 1929.
We emerged from the rain-forest once again, took in the view, then started back down the steep ridge to the same droning electronic beat we heard three hours ago. The climbing ropes I lugged around the mountain came in handy as we decided to avoid the scramble down by abseiling down past the rocky buttress.
The remaining ridge was still exceptionally steep, and rather than risk a fall on the slippery wet grass we set up some more abseils until we found ourselves back on relatively flat ground. It was a short hike down the remainder of the ridge until we crossed the fence to the paddocks and started towards the road.
We reached the car just before 3:00 PM, tired and sweaty, ready for a cold drink and the drive home. We unloaded our packs, peeled off our boots and socks, it was then I noticed I had a stow away. Below is the least gruesome photo I took.
While it was a disappointment not to reach the top of Mt Lindsay we are in a much better position to make the summit next time. On a cooler day with knowledge of the approach I'm sure we will be standing on the top of the tiers very soon!
More photos here, but those with weak stomachs be warned!
