Visiting the True World

Written by Mont Ambassador Geoff Murray

It’s not always necessary to travel many miles into the wilderness to access spectacular scenery with a nice feeling of isolation thrown in for good measure.

I drove West for a couple of hours from my home yesterday afternoon then walked 12kms until reaching my chosen location. I was hoping to miss the midday heat by walking into early evening and I arrived at the camp site at 7 pm. It was still warm, 20°C or so which in my mind is about 15°C too much but not unbearably so.

The scenery was sensational, the sky was almost cloudless and the wind was dropping so it was looking like I was going to have a perfect evening. And there was no one else in sight which is what I was hoping for.

I set my Moondance 1FN up and gathered a few images before the sun disappeared behind the mountains to the West. Then it was time for dinner before slipping into my sleeping bag at 9 pm.

The temperature dropped to a pleasant 3°C overnight but my Mont Zero Superlight sleeping bag was still cosy.

I awoke at around 5.15 am when a pre dawn glow lit the tent and I was up and looking for suitable locations for images well before sunrise. It was cool in the shadows so I was wearing my Zero Ultralight Down jacket, the perfect cool weather jacket for Tasmanian summers. Once the sun hit the high points the scenery came to life with light and drama.

It only lasted for a short while and I had breakfasted and packed my gear by 8 am ready for the wander back down the hill to the car.

It doesn’t have to be remote or miles and miles from anywhere but it’s always good to visit the true world.

Geoff Murray

Mont Ambassador