Our energy was restored after lunch, and so the next phase of our adventure began: tackling The Gargoyles. The start of this trail is a little rough as the original trail follows a wash out section leaving the trail a groove in the surface. Plenty of people have walked along the washed out section, evident from the heather being trampled into dirt. For a kilometer and a half “saddle trail” snakes up the mountain and into the valley between Columnar Peak and The Gargoyles. Ending at a rock cairn, before us clouds swirled around little diamond head obscuring it from our view.
It is not really evident where the trail goes up The Gargoyles, but the popular option, rocks displaced by people, seems to still be the primary choice. I have never seen rocks so orange or taking up such a unique shape. From the mountain side crumbling pillars of rock outstretch like talons and spikes. I get it now why the peak has such an intimidating name. In a moment of adventurous spirit I lead the way down from the primary stopping point. I must say, my fear of heights did not entirely get the best of me today. Balancing along the rocks, we roamed to the far edge, where it became impossible to go any further. It was here that my fear came back and I ended up perching on the rocks taking comfort in their stability when my legs were not.
Journeying back I was braver than on the way there. I took the rocky path that I was too nervous to and we swiftly wandered back to the first corner of the ridge. Slithering down the crest, we approached the interesting rock formations lower down. I made the mistake of accidentally hitting a rock over the ledge. The ominous sound of it clicking on its way down was disturbing to say the least. We dared not near the ledge, not trusting the slope and instead returned back toward the saddle on a horizontal path.