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Showing posts from 2019

The Worst and Best of Ways

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Monash Valley Friday 27 December 2019 According to a GPS track file we tried walking to the Monash Valley by a northern route and I thought it might be worth going that way again.  However, it was a bit scrubby and rocky and was probably the worst way to go.  Once there a gentle slope was noticed leading up to Wombat Moor and this was used for the return and proved to be the best way from the various ones used over the years. Gums at edge of Monash Valley Although Boronia and Epacris were flowering well, along with Bauera, the scoparia was very poor with only a few bushes having any flowers. Pencil pine   Richea scoparia Epacris serpyllifolia  Thyme heath Richea scoparia Richea scoparia Waratah Telopia truncata   It took 1:20 to get to the valley and 0:55 back.

Cheyne Range 2019

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21-24 October 2019 This was a walk I did in 2004 and didn't really imagine that I would be repeating it. Apart from the climb over the rocks below Little Hugel things were going OK. The supposed best way down to Lake Hermione was taken, but it proved to be far from ideal and those that had used different routes on previous occasions felt they were easier. There were lots of fallen trees to get over and plenty of scrub. Ssnow capped peaks Tents at Lake Hermoine The Franklin River below Hermione, where we crossed, was running high and we got wet almost to the hips. Camp was made at the lake and we sat out in the pleasant sun.  Lake Hermione in morning day 2 Tarn Cheyne Range Pencil pines Cheyne Range Heavy frost heralded a nice day for the walk through the lovely valleys of the Cheyne Range.  It featured pencil pine forests, tarns, lakes and no scrub. It was a bit of a grunt for the ascent to the top of the range, but it was the descent towards the lake tha

Bluff River Gorge

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Sunday 13 October 2019 We reached the point of entry to Bluff River Gorge at the same time as 4 motor bike riders, but as they sped off south the sound of bikes quickly faded. Eroded rock patterns Although we all have been here several times, the length and convoluted route still surprises. You also forget how many spots there are where great care is required whilst traversing narrow ledges. Overall there are 40 or 50 of these risky bits, many where a fall would be fatal The flowers were good, especially the Boronia and tetratheca. Overall though perhaps not as good as some years. Morning break under a huge cliff, disturbed a Peregrine Falcon that circled us vocally. Parts of the track were indistinct, some obscured by fallen vegetation. Scenically it was just as good as ever and the weather good and mostly sunny. It took about 5 ¼ hours, including breaks for the 9.25k walk Bluff Riover There is a photo album at this link.

Table Mountain from the East

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Monday 30 September 2019 Shirley suggested a walk from Sarahs Waterfall to Table Mountain and asked me to work out a route, as I have a GPS.  We delayed the walk until the end of September and just as well, because we probably would have run out daylight if it took place in winter. There are logging roads and tracks with bush in between and a plantation. Just prior to Sarahs Waterfall is open bushland, but then a plantation had to be skirted before a section of forest. After a circuitous approach we arrived at a substantial logging road which we stayed on for the next 3.2 kilometres. The final section was on an old wide track leading to the summit. The weather was pleasant, calm and sunny all day, but we were feeling weary by the finish of this 22k 8 hour day. The actual walking took 3:50 to get there and 3:15 back. This is partly explained by the inward route deviating somewhat to total 11.4k whilst the more direct return was 10.6.   There 3.2k of good standard logging road wh

Mount Direction Western Route

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Tuesday 13 August 2019 It was quite obvious from looking at the country above us that it would be a steep walk. Initially we followed a vehicle track where we encountered a woman taking her dogs for a walk. She went past but one of the dogs refused to pass until we stood well back from the track to give it a wide berth. Mount Direction from west The first part of the climb was not too bad and the country very open, but soon it became steeper and even steeper towards the upper reaches of the ascent.  But once on the first of two plateaux, the rewards were obvious.  Here the land was attractive with eucalypts and grasses from which many wallabies rushed from and the views were good.   Made all the better by such lovely weather we were enjoying. Woodland on first plateau Eucalypts on lower plateau After a lengthy tea break in the sun we then moved onto the upper plateau and then to the summit of Mount Direction, before going the eastern high point, a further 500 metres awa

Gunners Quoin

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Tuesday 30 July 2019 There were a few hiccups on the way and all down to me, well almost all. I had a series of coordinates on the GPS and was also aware that the batteries didn't have a lot left in them. But I forgot to bring the spares and started being frugal with using it. But this was a contributing factor in my first bungle.  The other mistakes were forgetting to bring a cup and teabag, not having spare batteries and, as explained below, not being patient enough with my GPS. The route taken was up a steep hill and whilst on top I decided to take a track leading off earlier than planned. It was nice country eventually brought is to a vehicle track, which turned out not to be the one I thought it was. Turning the GPS on solved bungle number 1. Ozothamnus on hill top plateau Morning break on top of hill with view Gunners Quoin.  Photo from Dave Tucker Once back on track all went relatively OK, until a fence was reached, and it seemed that resorting to the GPS wo

Lake Dulverton

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Thursday 25 July 2019 The circuit walk of Lake Dulverton was more interesting than expected and the lake is larger when viewing from the northern side than what appears to be the case from the western end. There were quite a number of cliffs and large numbers of swan.  It is effectively divided into three parts by causeways, with plenty of water in the first and second ones, but much lower on the distant eastern part.  This allowed us to cut across the far end, although it did prove to be surprisingly lumpy.   We were back in time to eat lunch at Shirley's home, away from the cool brisk breeze.    

Mount Lloyd

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Tuesday 25 June 2019 No one disagreed that being to Mount Lloyd, the way went, was hard. We had a route on the GPS but, after looking at the map and satellite image, I worked out a way contouring the slope of Billy Clarks Hill, but it didn't pan out. We ended up in a steep climb over often unstable ground to the top, where they were several open Moss covered rock slabs. These were a nice reprieve from what went before, but beyond lay scrub into the access track to the Lloyd summit was reached . Mount Lloyd Moss covered rock slab on summit of Billy Clarks Hill Wellington Range  Collins Cap & Bonnet, Trestle and Marian Nevile heading down the gully Ferns on descent route off Mount Lloyd Following lunch, we split with Dave and Adrian taking up the offer of getting picked up where the vehicle access track meets the road. Neville and I went down using a route from Dennis of hiking SE and this proved a good way and a lot less steep than the inward rout

Calverts Hill and Mays Beach

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Monday 17 June One of the objectives was to visit Calverts Hill Reserve to view an area of about 200 Eucalyptus morisbyi.  They are just over the top of the hill on the western facing slope and are a very threatened species with not many plants now producing seed.  This is to a considerable degree due to climate change and associated warmer and drier conditions.   On approaching the high point, we could see a lot of large dead trees and it was not until reaching a more sheltered slope over 200 metres along from the high point that we finally spotted a live tree.  Then a few more were noticed including we thought some younger ones.  A section of the reserve here a roll top animal exclusion fence which hopefully gives the plants a better chance. The coastal track, really a worn pad would better describe it, was returned to and we continued to Mays Beach. It was a sunny day although cool in the breeze but mostly we were sheltered from it.    Return was quicker without the diver