Olinda Grove 2014

Today was a walk around Olinda Grove on Mt. Nelson, led by Bob.

The weather on arrival was sunny but there was a cold wind that made me question if I'd made a good decision in not wearing more and bringing my gloves.

We parked at the entrance to the sports ground, and walked back through their car park to find the start of the first track. Bob had promised us 2 circular tracks on each side of Mt. Nelson.

Car park

As always, Mt. Wellington.

As soon as we started down the track towards Hobart, we were out of the wind and my clothing decision was vindicated. It became pleasantly warm in the sun.

Walking down, there were great views over Hobart as we proceeded down a wide, grassy area before our first turn off onto an unmarked narrow track. This took us up hill to another one we'd been on in the past, with several survey markers, possibly used by the university. This took us along until we ran up against some houses, where we turned left and then left again onto another rough, stony, little used track.

We're off!

The track gave us options on which surface we wanted.

Starting down with Hobart in view below.

We go behind some of the houses built on the side of a steep gully along the Southern Outlet.

Turning off for our first deviation.

Reaching suburbia, briefly.

Another track, very rocky

Tas gracefully negotiates a fallen tree

Down through an open area...

...and turning right

We walked down another track which was in a large grassy area with bits of old steam engine lying about. I stood at the top and took a couple of photos, which meant I was well behind and lost sight of the rest. Coming to an uphill section I still couldn't see them so I thought "Where would Bob go?". I then noticed a very small track, something that appeared to have been made by a small, poorly nourished, 1 legged wallaby. Turing off, I shortly came on the rest squeezing through a downed tree.

Another downed tree.

Morning tea

Shortly beyond the tree, we found a sunny spot with seating for Morning Tea.

You have to look at the map, as there are too many zig zags to write about. We ended up on another wide track that took us back up to where the cars were parked, where we would attack our circuit on the other side.

Turnoff from Morning Tea track. No, it's not marked.

I bet this is a picture after heavy rain.

She oaks and a nice, soft walking surface.

Heading up towards Nelson Rd.

Crossing Nelson Rd. towards the fire station, we turn left along the mesh fence and walk through bush, usually open and sometimes affected by past bush fires.

One of many tracks.

Looking back

Everyone should know what this is by now.

Bush fire cleared ground

I was hoping this was to be our own private clubhouse. Turns out to be a water pumping station, and a favourite of vandals.

There are tracks galore up here, and at one point Peter called me back to photograph a fungus. He, Addie and I were at the rear of the group. I stepped back a short way, took the photo and when we looked up, everyone else had disappeared.

The fungi that caused us to be lost. Well, 3 of us.

As I said, tracks everywhere, so we checked some of the side tracks that looked like a Bob track, but no luck. As I'm usually at the back because of taking photos, I sometimes have to track the others by boot and stick impressions, but this track was too stony for that.

When we got back to the main track, Peter walked on and met Bob coming  back for us. Bob denied that everyone had taken off running when we three went to look at the fungus, but the maximum speed shown in the GPS track report of 61.25km/h, shows differently! Actually, that speed is not a bad effort for people in boots and carrying packs. I wonder if the Olympic Committee knows about us?

Reunited, we continued along a couple of tracks, climbing over and around fallen trees and found a place for lunch which had a number of comfortable boulders for us.

Heading for a lunch spot.

There was some colour in the bush.

Yet another tree.

Time for lunch. Hobart College is built in the bush up here, and this is one of their remote playing fields behind us.

After lunch, we walked along tracks behind Hobart College, each one getting smaller until we were walking along no track at all. However, Bob's sense of direction proved equal to the task and we ended up back at the cars.

It's a good walk, and with the number of tracks in the area could be expanded if you wanted. Yet another walk within a short distance of civilization, but little sight of it.

We had 10 walkers, returned with 9, but who's counting. We covered 11.27km in 3:31 hours.

Click here to download GPX file