Today we're starting at the end of Lumeah Ave in Lenah Valley, and it's another day out of the box. How long can our luck last?
Parking at the very end of the road, we gear up and set off into very dry bush.
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| Parking. The start of track is behind us |
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| Off on the Lumeah Fire Trail |
We've had several periods of high winds in the past few weeks, and tree damage is evident as we walk.
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| Over or around, take your choice |
The track continues gently down. We'll pay for it in a little while.
Finally, we reach the bottom by Barossa Creek. This is just the beginning of Spring and you would think there would be some water in the creek, but it couldn't be any drier.
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| A very dry Barossa Creek |
I should explain that we are entering the foothills of Mount Wellington and would expect it not to be so dry here.
On we go, climbing slightly until we reach a point of the track where our lungs and legs will be tested.
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| The only way is up |
I've done this climb a couple of times before, it gets easier each time. At least that's what I tell myself.
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| Half way up, looking down... |
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| ...and up |
At the top we reach the Priest Fire Trail, heading left for Morning Tea.
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| Heading for Morning Tea |
Lenah Valley was formerly known as Kangaroo Valley - lenah being local aboriginal for kangaroo. The area is/was the source of much of the limestone used for various purposes in the Hobart area. Not so much now, as the purity wasn't great. It's mainly used as aggregate and road metal. Local roads are among the few to have bits of fossil in their surface.
I found a large piece of rock that demonstrates this, photos are below.
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Fossils cover the surface of this rock |
While I was photographing these, the others were settling down for Morning Tea with a view.
I wouldn't be unkind enough to say anything about other fossils!
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| River Derwent with northern suburbs of Hobart |
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| Limestone quarry in distance |
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| Morning Tea |
After our break we continue to climb to the top of this hill for a look around. I was asked the name of the hill and I've not been able to find one on the maps I consulted.
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| Near the top |
Our loop takes us back to the Priest Fire Trail and we enter Wellington park and a small descent.
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| Looking back |
A short climb brings us to a track junction and we take a track to the left, leaving the Priest Trail.
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| Time to leave this trail behind |
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| We turn off onto another track |
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| You can see that a fire went through here in the near past |
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| A view |
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| There's a bit of a slope here |
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| River Derwent and Selfs Point on this side and I think the entrance to Geilston Bay on the other shore |
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| This is easy walking |
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| Inside a burned stump, life |
It's hard to beat Mother Nature, but mankind is giving it a damn good try!
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| Look familiar? That's our steep climb to the Morning Tea spot |
On we go, heading down, crossing a road and picking up another track leading down.
Our new track takes us down through very dry bush. Taking care on the loose surface, we look for a lunch spot.
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| I know sea levels are rising, but a scallop shell up here? |
While making my way down, I spy with my little eye something watching me. Who knows how it came to be here.
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| Perhaps a new variety of fungus |
On we go until we find a good place for lunch.
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| View down the hill from our lunch spot |
Nice sunny spot with plenty of logs and stumps to lean against.
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| Lunch |
After our break, we continue down and left with a short scramble up to the road. Now we head downhill.
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| Heading down |
We come to a sharp turn heading down to Lenah Valley Road, but we don't take that, instead we head left up an old but pleasant track.
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| Off the road and onto an old track leading up |
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| The road continues down to our left |
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| Easy walking through some green bush |
At the top Bob takes us down various tracks, confusing some, until we pop out at the cars.
We had 12 walkers and covered 5.84km in 2:56hrs. Not a long walk, but using the formula of 1km for every 100 metres climbed you can add 3.8km to that 5.8. A very good walk giving a good workout for balance, legs etc. Thanks to Bob
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