Thark Ridge 2018

Today we're walking along Thark Ridge on the top of Mt. Wellington to the Municipal Cairn.

The forecast was for cloud and a max temperature of 8C.
I checked about 6am online and any rain wasn't due until the evening. A look at the webcams on top of Wellington confirmed it was dry with cloud below the summit.

When we arrived at the car park just past the Big Bend, it was 9C outside with blue skies and sunshine. Not bad. In fact a bit warm for those expecting cold temperatures.

Sunny, good walking temperature and light breeze

Somewhere below that cloud is Hobart

The track starts just over the road from the car park, so we set off. Only a little hiccup because I wasn't paying attention, but the track is well marked by the Wildcare Friends of Wellington Park group, so you would really have to try hard to miss it. I didn't have to try hard.

The Friends actually have an interesting website and you can have a look at their work by CLICKING HERE

Off we go.

There's going to be a lot of rock hopping...

...good for your sense of balance

Most of the walk passes through groves of windswept snow gums

The track is fairly gentle for a while before it begins to climb towards the ridge.

It's good to stop once in a while to take in the views. You have to stop or you'll fall on your face!

Looking over the area known as Dead Island

A small wet area. Much smaller than before thanks to the Friends.

Small rocky area

Nature's birdbath

We're making our way up there

However, before we start the climb, Morning Tea beckons.

We find a spot with seating for all...

...and a view

Tea finished, we start to make our way up.

Going up

One of the fairly new track markers

The old markers are rock cairns and red paint dots on the rocks. I find these easier to spot since you're walking with your eyes down.
 

This is a bit of a scramble

But it gets easier very soon.

It becomes more open for a while

We're getting closer

First view of mountains beyond

We still have some more height to make before we reach the ridge.

Distant hills

Looking southwest. You can't easily see it here, but there is snow in the far distance

A closer look

Our track becomes fairly flat, but still plenty of rocks to exercise those leg muscles.

How much would you pay a landscaper to create a scene like this?

I've been leading from behind as I take photos and Sally has been doing a great job leading from the front.

Unfortunately, I neglected to tell her that we were just going to the Municipal Cairn. As I caught up with the group I realized I didn't recognize the terrain we were walking in. We were starting to descend and I knew that wasn't right for the walk we were doing today.

So, I stopped everyone and after some discussion, convinced them to turn around and walk back to a small track I had seen heading off to the left.

Peter and I explored and spotted a couple of cairns and I spotted the top of the Municipal Cairn and called everyone over for our lunch.

Again, plenty of seating and good views for our meal.

Municipal Cairn. Marking corners of Kingborough, Huon and Glenorchy Councils

Lunch

North West Bay and Margate in the distance

Looking down the Huon

Look just right of centre in the trees and you can see Cathedral Rock

Selfie. My high school graduating class had a reunion recently and I directed them to this blog to have a look at Tassie (or a small part there of)

Quiet today, but you can see that the wind has great influence on the shape of the gums

Amazing growth patterns

 Lunch finished, we begin to make our way back.

Starting down

We make our way back to the cars with only a couple of falls and no damage.

We had 17 walkers and covered 7.03km with a moving time of 3:25hrs. As we climbed a total of about 400 metres, you can add 4km to the walk distance using the rule I told some of you about.