The Ascent of Mount Lofty

[Editor's Note Contained on two loose sheets of paper within Hindmarsh's diary, Hutchinson's original account of the first ascent of Mount Lofty has never before been published. The Governor felt that the tone of the original needed "softening" and gave Robert Thomas the task of rewriting.]

The Dangerous and Heretofore Unattempted

Ascent of that Glowering Presence Above Us

Known to All as

Mount Lofty.

A thrilling adventure

told in vivid style

by

The Adventurer and Leader of the Expedition

Young Bingham Hutchinson

Published for the delight and entertainment of all colonists.
Suitable for families

Our expedition consisted of: myself; James Fisher Junior (son of the Resident Commissioner); Charles Fisher ( younger brother to Jas); and George Gandy, (friend to the Surveyor General) Only each man knew what thoughts went through his own head as he prepared to meet the challenge  - and perhaps his doom - on the treacherous slopes of Mount Lofty - that undiscovered country from which whom of these travellers would return?

Our journey into the dark unknown began by the bank of a brook that flows from a ravine at the base of the mighty mountain that we were about to attempt to climb. We were foolish to attempt it? Some might say so. And as we looked up skywards towards the lowering peak high above us we knew as a certainty that this undertaking would require all our strength and perseverance. We knew that the mountain felt no pity and would claim us for its own if we showed it scant respect.

Almost as soon as we attempted to enter the gully formed by the babbling brook we were met by the slavering jaws of four wild dogs that came galloping out from the bushes, their eyes red with blood lust and fixed upon our throats!

There was the crack! of four baker rifles and the musket balls did their work. The murderous dogs lay dead upon the ground, a fatal wound in the skull of each of them; a testament to the efficacy of British craftsmanship in the hands of an Englishman.

But each member of our party was thinking the same thought. Was not the gateway to Hell in the old myths guarded by a many headed dog? Was this dog attack a sign that we too were about to enter the Hell of the Adelaide Hills? Which, if any of us, would, Orpheus like, return to sing his story?

As we struggled up the natural path by the side of the brook towards our goal our progress was slow, impeded by thick bushes nearly as tall as our heads, and the undergrowth of creeping plants. The bushes scratched and dragged at us, like the fingers of the Harpys long ago and the undergrowth clutched at our feet and legs as if to drag us back, as if it said "Save yourselves! Go no further!"

And then, at the very point we thought the limit of our exertions had been reached,we turned a corner and were remarkably surprised by seeing a wall of sheerest rock towering about fifty or sixty foot above us, which stretched across the ravine, and from the top of it leapt the brook which had so long been our companion.

We each looked at each other and our thoughts were clear enough. Did we dare ascend the cascade and proceed deeper into the unknown, all hope of easy escape from danger cut off by the precipitous drop that would then blocked our way?

Without a word we all four answered the call, leaping to the jagged rocks and beginning the hazardous ascent. Hand over hand we struggled up the vertical wall of rock, finding a hand hold here, a toe hold there, struggling and sweating to make what progress we could.

And then, disaster!

The youngest of our party, Charles Fisher, scarce more than a boy, missed a toe hold and slipped, gashing his leg against a rocky outcrop and near falling to his certain doom! Only the quick thinking and strong hands of George Gandy saved him, snatching him from danger and setting him back on the rock face.

But if we reckoned young Fisher at scarce more than a boy then we had not bargained that he was an boy with the heart of a British Lion.

"Let me go!" he said. "Go on without me! I'll only hold you up with my leg like this. Let me climb down and you go on."

"Don't be a fool, Charles,"said his brother. "You wouldn't last five minutes out there!"

"But we've already seen wild dogs! If there are more around then they'll get the scent of the blood from my leg and come after us! Leave me and go on! I'll be nothing but a burden."

I fixed him with a steely glare and spoke through gritted teeth.

"No man gets left behind," I said. "Not on my watch!"

Without another word we continued the ascent, reaching the top and throwing ourselves down on the level ground  by the brook to catch our breath. Then, revived with water from the fast flowing stream, we continued pushing on through the mysterious vegetation.

These grass trees gave off a sweet aroma - "Too sweet," said one of our party. "The smell of death!"

When we cautiously investigated we found a hard resin at the base of these grass trees the which we risked breaking some lumps of off with a heavy stick. I believe it is this resin which is used by the natives to fasten sharp stones (and since our arrival, broken glass) to the heads of their spears. Perhaps my discovery will be of benefit to the people of the colony. If the natives are able to use this resin to create death dealing spears, what uses might industrious Britons, led by the light of the Christian faith, find for it?

We pushed on up the stream, struggling and sweating despite the drenching rain that now poured down upon us as we traced the stream against obstacles as great as those which we had hitherto met.

After a time we came to a spot where the course suddenly turned to the left, and became so steep, narrow, and obstructed, that the older Fisher gave opinion that "if there are natives about, this would be the place for an ambush!"

"Have any here seen any natives?" I asked.

"Not seen," said Gandy. "Not seen as such. But for the last hour I have had the feeling of being watched!"

The two Fishers nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

"Like eyes drilling into back of your neck," said one.

"But not actually seen any natives?" I asked again.

"But you can feel them Hutchinson," said the other Fisher. "You don't have to see them to know that they are there!"

And so, rather than risk certain death by ambush we were obliged to abandon the stream, and ascend a hill on the right. Soon we observed from this position a fearfully deep and steep, dark ravine, which lay between us and the object of our ambition. Who knows what secrets and mysterious dangers lay in the eerie and ghostly chasm that lay before us?. Perhaps some giant creature from long ago made it home. Had strange rites and sacrifices had been carried out in that fetid place since time immemorial?

But a check of our watches showed that it was time to return, so we commenced a retreat, though not by the course of the stream—we had no desire to try that again.

Eventually we managed to return to the place where we had narrowly avoided a surprise attack from the spears of the natives and began our second attempt on the mountain peak.

We began by ascending the hill on the right hand side of the stream; this took us for some time a great way to the right of the direct course, but still our progress was quicker than if we had held a straight course, and descend the gloomy, mysterious vallies. After some time, the ridge turned to the left, towards Mount Lofty, and we began to flatter ourselves we should arrive there without having to cross any valley. Yet as we walked on in the teeming rain the Mount appeared as far off as ever and vallies seemed to grow and open up where before there had been none, almost as if the ancient spirits of the mountain were barring our way, lest we should conquer them.

But conquer we did and after ascending a very steep and stony hill, covered with gum trees, very close, and shooting up into tall, straight, slender stems, we found ourselves at last on the highest part of the range, after five hours of incessant exertion.  We attempted to light a fire, in order to notify the success of our exertions to our friends in the capital but every thing was so wet, that we were obliged to submit to the frustration of being unable to do so.

Young Fisher's leg was still very red and sore and he appeared unsettled and agitated, perhaps worrying about holding us back on the descent.

Suddenly he struggled to his feet. "I'm going out now," he said. "I may be gone for some time." And with that he turned and walked silently into the thick, screening scrub.

James, his brother called after him, but I silenced him with a look. "Let him go," he said. "He knows what he has to do."

He  was indeed gone for some time; possibly the result of the three bully beef sandwiches he had eaten, be when he returned he seemed much jauntier. "That's much better," he said, with a grin.

With that we stood and began our descent of the mountain.

On our way back down, we thought we observed a ridge on the other side of the ravine through which the stream runs, which led at once from Mount Lofty down to the plain without a single valley to cross, and we thought it worth another day's work to ascertain if such were the case.This day we were absent for nine hours, without having sat down during the time.

After the exertions of the previous day our third and successful attempt, which took us to the summit in three hours, without having to cross a single valley, proved a pleasant day's excursion, instead of one of great labour. By following the course of the stream for a short time until it divided into two branches then by crossing it, and ascending a steep hill, we found a ridge which ran nearly in a straight line to the top of the range. We discovered a great many new and beautiful plants; grass trees abounded, but from the ground having been recently burnt, we observed very few whose stalks were above ground. We discovered several mushrooms, two of which I ate, to satisfy myself of their wholesomeness, and we also saw today the first snail.

Our view was much interrupted by the trees, but between them, we could observe to the eastward and northward, ranges of hills gradually becoming fewer, and covered with wood. To the westward we saw two ranges of high hills across Gulph St. Vincent, and we had a perfect view of all the branches and winding of the harbour. The trees prevented our seeing anything to the southward. We descended by the same track by which we had ascended, satisfied that no easier route can be discovered.

Despite the dangers we faced, despite the risks to life and limb, we four all returned to the capital secure in the knowledge that we had done all that we could to extend the reach of our young settlement and proud of our achievement in planting the claim of the British Crown on the mighty peak of Mount Lofty!

A note, scribbled in Hindmarsh's handwriting, is on the back of the second sheet.

So these young monkeys piss farted about the Hills getting lost in the rain for days, ate a couple of mushrooms (and which they were lucky didn't poison them) and killed some poor native's pet dogs. Then they dress the tale up like a painted whore in the hope that everyone will say what brave lads they are - Charles Sturt, James Cook and Francis Drake all  rolled into one! In point of fact they are ninnies who couldn't even light a fire and, it seems, do not have enough good sense to stay out of the rain. Explorers, my Aunt Fanny's eye! Rewrite it Thomas and perhaps next time they won't be so damned silly.