Bushwalks

22 February 2022 Some years ago, I became aware of ice houses on the mountain that were additional to the better-known ones. This walk was an opportunity to try and locate them and on arriving at what has been known as the middle ice house we commenced a search. A map of their location indicated they were on the opposite side of the track and after a dive through the scrub we located the remains of a rock wall and soon discovered more. The map indicated that there were two ice houses and two huts, and we think we may have discovered them all. The ice houses were reasonably deep, with one above head height. Some of the wall remains were in better condition than others and all were enclosed by thick bushes and a number of trees very close or touching them. After that we pressed on to Hutchisons Fireplace. On approach the compass pointed in a direction that did not look to be where my memory of the location was right. I kept following it but when at the destination it was clearly not the

Tuesday 15 February 2022 This was my first time up the Mount Eliza track since it had been rebuilt following the recent bushfire, with the previous time being in 2004. It notably now has a huge number of steps and that had me puffing with the effort of climbing them. The breaks we had were most appreciated and I felt the worst was over once the High Camp Memorial Hut was reached. However, I had truly forgotten the effort needed to ascend the boulder field to the summit. Once on the plateau of Mount Eliza the benefits were plentiful, with lovely alpine country, spotted with tarns and pools and the spectacular views of Lake Judd and surrounds from the cliff edge. Getting down the boulders didn’t seem as taxing as expected, although the steps from there felt like they went for a long time. It was the hardest walk I have done for some time, and I slept very well that night. Excluding morning tea, it took 3¼ hours to the summit and 2½ back down with almost 2 hours on the plateau and it wa

  Wednesday 9 February   It was a fine day with sun and mild temperatures.  It was several years since I had gone up this route and after me struggling to see the red paint splashes, Alan took over the lead which was a relief and it didn’t take all that long to reach the route junction.  We opted for the left one to the top of the Organ Pipes. The original route was marked in the early 1900's by Haywood and records show this to be in existence by 1931 and in 1942 with a 1957 report describing it as a blazed and cairned route over large tumbled boulders – 'recommended only for walkers wearing nailed boots' (Aves). However, it can't be certain the route marked about 2008/9 with red paint on the rocks is in fact on the original route Whether we were on or anywhere near the original Haywoods route is unknown.  It is a dramatic scene once at the top of the sheer cliffs and to our surprise there was a tight rope set up between a gap where someone with a lot of daring crosses.

 Monday 7 February 2022 A warm and fine day, but not uncomfortably hot on the open summit area.   Collins Cap Collins Bonnet Pentachondra pumila Trestle Mountain and Mount Marian Shrubs on plateau below summit of Collins Bonnet  

 Friday 4 February 2022 The forecast had been consistent all week and turned out be very accurate, with a day of mostly clear sky and mild temperature.  By 10:00 am it was 13 degrees and had reached 21 by the time we were back at the cars. Insects were of minimal nuisance with just a few March flies at the end of the walk. The new hardened track made walking so much easier, with lots of planking and gravel filled steps, allowing us to get to Lake Judd in 2:30 of walking and back an even quicker 2:10.   In fact I needed to extend my stride to avoid falling too far behind on the return. The scenery, despite some burnt and ugly bush, is superb.   Once on the track I had a feeling of missing being in the southwest for quite some time and it necessitated frequent photo stops.  As the second crossing of the Anne River is approached, the mountains surrounding Lake Judd with mighty cliffs provide a glimpse of what lies ahead.   They soon disappear as the forest is entered and the climb to the