Mount Maroon Caves in 12 Minutes!

#hiking #australia #adventure
I tried an unofficial (off-trail) route on Mount Maroon in SE QLD, Australia.
The route skirts around the base of the mountain to the west to a large cave, before lots of steep bush bashing gets you to a plateau - and this is where I lost my way.
To cut a long story short - I spent too much time getting lost, backtracking and finding a way across the surprisingly complex topography of the mountain and didn't have time to go to the summit!
After some (slightly) frantic searching and 'best guess' navigation (no maps since my phone battery died as well!) I eventually stumbled upon the main summit trail and followed it back down to the carpark.
I'll just say that the day was longer and harder than I had anticipated and leave it at that!

[@Spacegoat92]

Good job Ben!!! My first trip to Maroon had me up on the west ridge, thankfully i was with a few others and one of them knew where to go. I went back recently and found a new trail going from the caves to the east and then up the gorge. It meets up with the tourist trail again. That was a hell of a climb!

[@TheAdventurousBen]

Wow nice work. Do you have any hints on how to find that trail? If I'm picturing it right it must cross some pretty rugged terrain!

[@Spacegoat92]

@@TheAdventurousBen Why yes i do sir. And yes you are right, there's some bush bashing involved, and spider web entanglement. But it's a shorter alternative to the west trail, and a bit easier because you're not fighting for every footstep to the west ridge. Here's my wikiloc for the trail:
www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/mt-maroon-cave-and-gorge-route-to-the-summit-65399001

[@sharnabanana2319]

A few weeks ago we did a route. All the way around the bottom of the Ridge. Climbed the end nose of it. Walked the top ridge and then summited maroon. Total trip including small breaks and lots of checking maps etc it took us 7 hrs it was awsome and epic and frustrating in parts as the Ridge just curves around for ever

[@TheAdventurousBen]

Nice, good effort you sure did better than me!

[@92BIGRICH]

Probably my favourite mountain to climb. It really feels like you’re actually exploring, trying to find the summit

[@TheAdventurousBen]

I think Barney is my favourite in SEQ (so far) but you’re right, Maroon feels bigger than it is, especially up on that plateau. Such a great spot.

[@todaysworldjw]

4:45 WOW! 8:45 another WOW! Rest of the video, loved it

[@TheAdventurousBen]

Thanks so much for the comments :)