Across the Ridge

I am standing on the other side of Narrow Neck Ridge which separates the Jamison and Megalong Valleys here in the Blue Mountains. I can no longer reach the location from which I shot the previous pictures of the "Ruined Castle" fire because the road has been closed by fire fighting authorities and residents of Cliff Drive have been advised to evacuate.

The fire is headed towards the extreme north west of the valley. The Scenic World Park is threatened and some of my favourite bush walking tracks like the Federal Pass, have either been overrun by flames or are in danger. Needless to say no one is allowed down there at present.

Fire fighting efforts have been hampered by strong and unpredictable winds although ambient temperatures have (strangely) been lower than average for this time of year. The big danger is that the fire might surmount the ridge and invade the Megalong and points north west of there - such as Blackheath of course.

It has to be conceded that nearly everywhere in the Blue Mountains has been affected by fire at one time or another. Right where I am standing was ruined by flames about 7 years ago now. These dead branches linger from that time.