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Showing posts from 2016

Monash Valley 2016

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Fabulous Scoparia in flower this year Thursday 29 December 2016 Apart from the timber track for the 350 metres the walk was off track over country where animal pads are the only sign of wear.  The day was quite misty making navigation harder, but having a GPS made a big difference it allowed certainty as to the direction we needed to go. Richea scoparia in a variety of colours The Richea scoparia at our destination was superb and has not looked any better.  The approach over Wombat Moor was colourful, particularly the Epacris  serpyllifolia  and Boronia citriodora.  The walk was 6.2k with actual walking time 2:30 for the day. Boronia citriodora Epacris  serpyllifolia   Photo album Monash Valley 2016 Route taken

Hartz Peak

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Superb Weather Day Saturday 29 October  2016 The weather was looking good and a walk to Hartz Peak sounded nice and the day turned out to be delightful and calm.  Once we had decided on the venue, it sudden thought sprung to mind that maybe there were some geocaches in the area and a check on the web revealed several, so this was a bonus. Hartz Lake One side of the car park at the end of the Hartz road was almost full suggesting that there would be quite a few out walking to the peak.  It was only a few hundred metres along the track that the first returning walker was passed and this continued at intervals with the last just leaving as we reached the top.  We weren’t alone for long though as several others soon arrived. In such nice weather the views were really good with the best being down to Hartz Lake from the edge of a saddle of wind pruned vegetation a little off to the side of the track. Wind pruned bushes Over a number of years, we have made the short detour t

Granite Tor & Mount Proteus

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11 17 February 1996 With flooded rivers and creeks in the south we headed for Granite Tor, instead of the Eastern Arthur Range  A short first day, with a few showers, brought us to Lake Rodway and the Scott Kilvert Hut, where we intended staying the night. With plenty of afternoon left I wandered over to Little Lake Valley and discovered an appealing camp site set amongst snow gums. More than ever I regretted the idea of the hut but, with thoughts of stopping here some other time, continued to explore the edges of the valley.  Arriving back at the now crowded hut persuaded me to move to that more congenial spot.  Clive and Lyn felt the same urge and the three of us spent a comfortable night well protected from the wind. Sunny breaks in the morning and a sheltered climb did not prepare us for the shock of the wind and cloud rushing over the cirque.  Debate took place on the best option, with the majority favouring stopping in Waterfall Valley.  This certainly was not my choice an

Mount Faulkner

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Wednesday 19 October 2016 Mount Faulkner was suggested as a walk by Greg, but we knew that many parties had problems with access.  In fact, some reports indicated that some property owners were downright nasty, however Greg was aware of a walking club leader who had a route that avoided private land and that was to be the way we would go. After a perusal of the map a possible route that went through the bush from a fire trail was to be tried, but on arrival at that point the bush looked thick and we kept on the fire trail to a ridge, hoping it would be more conducive. It had been mostly sunny but no sooner than we arrived at this high point on the trail, the weather changed and snow began to fall. This was a discouragement, but within minutes it had stopped and sun returned, so we set off. Wellington Range beyond Collinsvale  in the valley viewed from near the summit of Mount Faulkner More photos at this link Now this ridge route was 800 metres to the top and very s

Wellington Circuit

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Tuesday 11 October 2016 The previous day had been quite showery with strong winds and the day after was unpleasant as well, but Tuesday was mostly good.  It was a brisk breeze early but a clear sky, which last for a couple of hours during which time the wind eased lot. However, by lunch time we had a light shower. The walk went to New Town Falls, Lakins Lair and Crocodile Rock then up Hunters Track and the steady downhill on the Old Hobartians back to the cars at Lenah Valley. The consensus was that we had done enough to justify feeling tired. A photo album is on line. Mudstone cliffs  near New Town Falls Cheeseberry Cyathodes glauca Bossiaea obcordata at cliffs

Freycinet Ridges

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26-28 September 2016 On the last occasion that we walked to a favourite campsite on the ridge above Bryans Lagoon there was little daylight left, so breaking the journey into two days sounded quite appealing. It worked well for us with arrival at Lagunta Creek at the end of Hazards Beach about 3:15 pm.  After checking the small bay some 400 metres south a decision was made to camp there; especially as it was half expected that a school party would turn up at the main camping area. Small bay used as campsite The walk through to Cooks Beach next morning was a delight with this section of track one of the richest in flowering plants. Masses of Thryptomene were on show as was the yellows of Hibbertia and Aotus.  From Cooks through to the creek at the bottom of the climb to the ridgetop was also splendid with the greatest number of orchids and a section with heaps of waxflower. It is a steady 1.6k uphill from here and took 50 minutes for a height gain of close on 200m. Af

Murderers Gully

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Sunday 25 September 2016 Small cave below the rim Gorge rim A short, but popular, walk to a sandstone gorge in the southern Midlands. It involved walking over paddocks off Lovely Banks Road and a very gentle and short descent into Murderers Gully. The starting time was set to allow us to get to the end of the gully, have lunch before returning by either the same route or via the overhangs and cliff rim.  Most chose the latter where we had a number of interesting rock features and nice slabby rock making easy walking along the rim. Overhang Chris suggested stopping for coffee at an old church at Pontville turned into a restaurant.  The staff at Twelve Stones were welcoming and extremely obliging. Despite there being 12 of us they did not find that a problem at all and quickly arranged for tables to be joined together.  Most impressive and the coffee and food were good too. A photo album is online.

Tarn Shelf 2016

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13 September 2016 Quite a lot of cloud cloaked the high ground and it was mighty cold when we started walking and a light smattering of snow encased the trees and bushes. It wasn’t until getting inside Rodway hut that the we escaped from the cold, but amazingly as soon as we departed, after a drink and snack, the sun came out.  Luckily it remained that way for the remainder of the day, making for fine scenic views of the shelf and Rodway Range. Tarn Shelf pool and Rodway Range Lunch location Before ducking down to Twilight Tarn, we stopped for a lunch in the sun near Twisted Tarn, with the Rodway Range as a lovely backdrop. It wasn’t all that long before the long haul up from lake Webster had to be tackled.   After that we opted to walk along the vehicle track beside Lake Dobson and whilst Pat contained on that way, Dave and I went down the track to the HWC hut and followed the old and now overgrowing pad closer to the lake. On the Tarn Shelf More photos

Cape Pillar

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26-28 April 2016 After such a disastrous walk to Cape Pillar in October 2007 I was anxious to only go there in light winds. On that trip I was blown into a rock and suffered deep cuts and a broken nose and considerable lacerations and of course an abandoned walk.  A four-day period was set aside to pick out three for the walk and fortunately the weather was suitable for them all. Crescent Bay from Arthurs Peak The idea was to use the old Cape Pillar track for an hour then branch off turning west across several plains on northern side of Crescent Mountain with final short ascent to Arthurs Peak by this time using the new Three Capes track which will be followed through to the junction where it meets with the old track.   From there is not a long way to Lunchtime Creek where the new track swings away on a new route. Soon after setting out Agnes Creek was reached where it was surprising to find a tree had knocked the bridge down and all traces of it had been removed.  T

Neika Snake Plains Circuit

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Saturday 7 May 2016 Previously we had walked from the Snake Plains track along a rough somewhat overgrown pad over hills covered with Melaleuca squamea to an unnamed hill above Neika.  On the way a junction was met and today the walk was the reverse, starting at Neika and climbing the hill to see if the pad at the junction could be followed. Route up to the top of the hill Well it could for a while and had some rock cairns and the occasional old bit of tape marking it, but just before it would have entered a wooded area, dense Bauera was met and eventually we had to give up and retrace our steps.  Back at the junction we opted to head over the hill down to Levert Rivulet (previously Millhouse Creek on old map) and on to the Snake Plains track then to the Pipeline track to Neika. On the way up from Neika a pad was noticed leading around the right hand side of a prominent rock area.  Previously we had followed the pad

Lakes Fenton to Dobson Circuit

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Saturday 30 April 2016 The track between Lakes Fenton and Webster is a favourite and this walk involved leaving some cars at Lake Dobson so that we could return on the track coming up there and thus making it a circuit walk. Fagus at Lake Fenton Although in the high country it is a fairly protected from the elements and takes you along the side of Lake Fenton, where we were fortunate to have Fagus still with leaves in bright colour. Beyond there was Kangaroo Moor then at the end of the moor it was gently downhill for the biggest challenge of the day in the crossing of the Broad River. The water level wasn’t too bad even though there had been a couple of days of modest rainfall and although there was a bit of nervousness among the group, all got over without any mishaps. A couple of the reasons behind putting this walk on is to encourage people to visit and appreciate our national parks and also to make known the Tas National Parks Assoc.  Catherine from TNPA was on han