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| View from Mt Wycheproof Summit, Victoria |
It's getting increasingly difficult to
do something that no one else – or at least very few – have done.
Even the 'I've-climbed-Mt-Everest' club is not the insider clique it
once was …
But conquering Mt Wycheproof, deep in
the heart of Victorian Mallee country should cement my mountain
climbing credentials once and for all. Because I've now done what WAAAY fewer
Mt Everest mountaineers have done!
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| Monument, Mt Wycheproof summit, Wycheproof, Victoria |
I've climbed the world's smallest mountain!
According to locals AND
Wikipedia,
Mount Wycheproof is the smallest registered mountain in the world!!
Whether it qualifies as world's smallest mountain depends, of
course, on how a mountain is defined. But as there's no universally
accepted definition that deems it ineligible, I'm calling it!!
Just as well size doesn't matter ...
At only 148 metres (486 ft) above sea level, the peak is actually only 43 metres (~140 ft) above the flat and endless plain on which it sits. Over which it has great views – in an Aussie-Outback kind of way …
The summit overlooks a stretch of the
Calder Highway known as 'Broadway'. Rumour suggests# it was so named
by an American-born chemist because it reminded him of New York's
Broadway!
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| Overlooking Broadway, Wycheproof, Victoria |
The resemblance is obvious, isn't
it?!?!
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| Correa Glabra (Wycheproof form) |
But the cachet of being one of the few
to climb the world's smallest mountain isn't the only thrill to be
had from conquering this minuscule metamorphic
boss!
Add another couple of notches to your 'world
exclusives' belt with the phosphate-based mineral Wycheproofite
and Aussie wildflower Correa glabra (Wycheproof form), both exclusive
to the area.
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| Queen of the Mountain, Wycheproof, Victoria |
But ... nothing was going to stop me
from ascending this magnificent mountain peak!
To help you conquer the world's
smallest mountain while it's still a world exclusive, I've included
the track notes for our journey to the Mt Wycheproof summit:
- Drive up mountain to carpark
- Stop to admire and photograph scenic public toilet (to feature in a future post)
- Follow the sealed track for ~50 metres to the summit
And at over 8.5 km (~ 5 miles) lower than Mt Everest, Mt Wycheproof is MY kind of mountain!
# According to the
Great
Australia Gazetteer, a handy travel
guide/cookbook/map reference to Australia's weirdest wonders,
anyway!!
Want more information?
Hi,
ReplyDeleteWow, what a feat, and you have the proof as well. :)
Regardless how high it is, it is a magnificent view.
Ypu do find such interesting find and you stories always amuse me.
ReplyDeleteWow Sister Red, respect!
ReplyDeleteWhoooo Hoooo.... goes to show what great shape you are in. You climbed a mountain. Now that you have that under your belt, whats next?
ReplyDeleteThat's an amazing achievement.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Sometimes people who climb Everest write long books about their ordeals.
Maybe you should do the same.
You're my exploration and adventure goddess, Red!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post and this place -- and not JUST because I could climb that Mountain. It's way better than the highest point around here which is a "Mt Trashmore" (stuff at a dump).
ReplyDeleteWhat fun and funny history/geography. And the flower is pretty.
@Magsx2 - I'm guessing the view is a little different to Mt Everest though ...
ReplyDelete@Joan E - I saw it in a book and just HAD to visit!! It's my kind of mountain!
@Andrew - Hahaha! Yes, I'm sure my achievement has sent shock waves through the mountaineering world!!
@MJWC - I wish it DID prove that! Sadly, it doesn't take much training to walk a gentle slope for 50 metres or so ...
@Dina - Now there's a thought!!! But turning my 3-point track notes into a book? HHHMMMmmm... will have to expand those points a bit first!!!
@Kath - Haha, living where you do, you must be jealous as hell!!
@Sallie - Even a wheelchair could make it to the top of THIS mountain!!
Great post! Climbing the world's smallest mountain sure is an achievement...and one to be proud of, for sure! Love it :)
ReplyDeleteLot of adventurous stuff!
ReplyDeleteYou inspire!
Congratulations on your achievement Red. I think this is so Kool. This post is funny, knowledgeable and historical. You crack me up sometimes kiddo. I love the Correa Glabra - this is most pretty. One couldn't mistake the Monument on the Summit - I like the photo of you "Queen of the Mountain" and all that surrounds you on that cloudy day.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post and thank you :)
I love your creativity in doing something not many people have done before. Now that's thinking outside the box!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on the conversion rate but I think Disney's Space Mountain is taller than that - and has a roller coaster inside. While I work on the math and plan yet another trip to the Magic Kingdom, check my latest posting. I accepted your challenge of a few weeks ago. Due to the monsoon rains we have been having, I was forced to yet again mine my vast collection of photos and 10 years worth of memories. Looking forward to your commentary.
ReplyDeleteYou've climbed more mountains than I have, and have the pictures to prove it. I am jealous! Plus, your country has better scenic public toilets!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. I'm all for climbing the world's smallest mountain. Could do this in my Manolos!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like my kinda challenge. Just have to start shaping up, first...or should that be shaping down?
ReplyDeleteGreat post and pictures! When my daughter is a little older I plan on doing some trips like you do. I'd love just to start driving south down towards Florida and just see what I run into.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on joining such an exclusive mountaineering club. Thanks for taking us along through your wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteI can't help it, I'm trying to imagine Inka climbing this, albeit the smallest mountain in the world, in her Manolas!! Hilarious post once again Red, the comparison of Calder Highway to Broadway must have been made when said chemist had taken one too many of his 'mothers little helpers' haha!
ReplyDelete@Ali - Well, if you can't go for the biggest, go for the smallest!! It's still a record!!
ReplyDelete@Indrani - Haha, then my work is done!
@Saucy Kod - Always a pleasure to have you drop in!! Glad you liked it - it's the sort of record ANYONE can grab!
@Megan - It's what I live for! Lots more world exclusives coming up!!
@SFlaGuy - Nah, all the good stuff is here downunder!!!! Who knew we had the world's smallest recorded mountain??!! Look forward to your post!
@TMWH - Well ... this mountain wasn't exactly something I had to train for ... but you've gotta be right about the loos!
@Inka - Hahaha! Yes, this is definitely a Manolo-friendly mountain! If only I'd thought of that while I was there ...
@FruitCake - Haha, that's why it's my kind of mountain! A short walk from the carpark before lunch; another world exclusive achievement! Gotta love OZ, right?
@Beach Bum - HHHMMMmmm... sounds great! But you'd be pushing it to find anything quite as riveting as this minuscule mound!
@PDP - Don't knock it, there's a lot to be said for 'mothers helper' when you're so far from home!!! I haven't been to the real Broadway, but my psychic powers tell me it's not exactly like this ...
I've always said that i want to climb a mountain when I'm 70 (next week) This would be a good one to conquer. Love your humour.
ReplyDeleteExcept for the flora, that could be a shot of somewhere in Alberta! Oh, and thank you for the instructions!
ReplyDelete@diane - Happy birthday!! It MUST have come & gone by now while I've been MIA ... This is a PERFECT record to go for - short of an inland tsunami, it's virtually a sure thing!!!
ReplyDelete@Diane - Ha! Yes, I've head about the plains over your way!! If that's what you're used to, the instructions will probably come in handy ... just wait for my next Aussie Alphabet - you'll probably relate to that too!!!
Wow, thanks for the great rap of our mount, glad you enjoyed the view but did you get the certificate for climbing this amazing mount, more proof. We can always send you one!
ReplyDeleteDid you happen to note the railway line running down the middle of Broadway, only 2 towns in Australia have this and yes it still runs . The train is for grain freight but still a great site to see. At the moment it is running most days. We have also had some steam trains too.
Thanks again
Friends of Mt. Wycheproof
I used to run (walk with a smoke ) the local school cross country up that mountain, it was quiet a hike back in those days but looking back it was a magnificent view. Will head back to do it again with my kids !
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm from Wycheproof and anyone who reaches the summit of Mt Wycheproof (known locally as 'The Mount') can pick up a certificate from the Post Office. We also hold a music festival on the Mount and wonderful sunset dinners. By the way, a couple of extreme wheelchair riders crossing Australia did wheel up and down it - they were very fit though! I can send a photo and a climbing certificate through to you if you send an email to info@wycheproof.vic.au. Cheers, Kylie
ReplyDeleteI thought the bag of wheat for King of the Mountain was "only" 140 lbs (63 kg).
ReplyDeleteIt was when I did the run in 1980.
7 min 45 sec.
Hayden
OMG, a real live King of the Mountain contestant!! Thanks for dropping in, Hayden - I stand corrected, and this just proves what I've suspected all along - you can't believe everything you read on the web! I've corrected the article with your information, and even though the wheat bag is lighter than I first thought, I'm in awe of your achievement!
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