The Cover Shot - Wild #193

For some time, it’d been our objective to stand where Martine stands in this photo. We’d first spied the mountain a year ago from Mt Exmouth (Ed: Because of the square aspect ratio used for cover images, Exmouth is unfortunately just off the right of frame on the cover; you can, however, see it in the image above), and then we saw it again yesterday from a new—for us—viewpoint. The peak had occupied our vision for much of today, too; initially as an almost-touchable target, and then, as the regrowth scrub had thickened, as an unattainable, faraway goal. But we’d persisted—bashing, stumbling, battling our way ever onwards—until, demoralised, we’d slumped to the ground in a clearing below, peering up at its enticing cliffs.

Undeterred, I’d found a way up with surprising ease. Thoroughly impressed by its substantive views, I’d laced it back to camp, refuelled with a rapid cuppa, and returned back up in a proverbial flash for sunset, this time with Martine. As we admired the last of the evening’s rays with a resident rock wallaby, the full-circle nature of our experience hit home: There, just to the right of the setting sun, was Mt Exmouth, where it’d all begun.

You can read more about Ryan Hansen’s adventures in the Warrumbungles in the accompanying feature story ‘Times of Change’ starting on p106 of Wild issue 193.

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