Greg's nephew Ned joined us for another eventful trip up Mt Barney. This was our first time up Sout-East Ridge, more spectacular and risky than Peasants. Words like "air-iness" and "hand-jams" are used in the trail guides. Leaving the car park it was windy and cold and as the day went on it started raining. We pushed on, climbing up the ridge for 10 hours until we reached a spot near the top. It was windy, raining and we could see trees on the summit whipping around in the wind. We decided it seemed pointless camping on the mountain in a gale. An hour from the top we made the decision to turn back. The weather was just no good and Ned was feeling ill and looking pale. Also at this time the legend of the "wobbly rock" was born. With no one willing to lose face by making the call to turn back, a small rock that blocked our way up the mountain became a scape goat! And so after 10 hours of hiking we went back down. After another 4 hours of bolting down the mountain in fading light, exhausted we set-up camp in the dark, and ate as we usually do on hikes - like kings! Sleep was only broken by the sound of Ned vomiting out the flap of his tent at some early hour. After a guzzle of Dominic's Gatorade Ned went back to counting Z's. Next morning we had breakfast, packed up and headed home. All up it was still a great trip.
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