Almost Grasstree Hill 2019

Today we're walking almost to Grasstree Hill, near Risdon Brook Dam. We've not done this walk since 2017.

The weather's good with just a bit of breeze as we set off from the car park.

Setting off

We cross the hillside just above the reservoir to pick up an old track. This used to be an old farm, judging from the artifacts still left in the bush.

It's a very dry area that's been logged in the past

Old sheep pen?

It appears to be all constructed by hand split posts and rails

Loading ramp

 On we go, following the winding track. Unfortunately, the next photo shows a couple of our walkers being caught by Bob taking a shortcut. I won't use their names, but we'll just call them Wayne & Ron.

Caught red handed or should that be footed, taking a shortcut

I also took the shortcut, but as I explained to Bob I did it in the name of art by way of taking the photo.

The country becomes very rocky the higher we go offering cliffs and caves that draw the eye.

Rock outcrops begin to appear...

...and caves

Comfortable shelter

Staff entrance around the corner

Back in 2017 there were lots of wombat scat around here and footprints in the soft sand of the larger cave. Not so this time, very little evidence of animal life this time.

Morning Tea

Morning Tea finished, we continue making our way gently up.

Looking down through the bush

Still a moderate climb

We're high enough to get a view of Mt. Wellington

We're looking over Lutana and Moonah with Incat shipyard just on the other side of the River Derwent.

The gum trees and their bark create interesting patterns

We're heading towards Grasstree Hill and this is our first sighting of a Grasstree,
Xanthorrhoea australis

Also known as Grass tree, Southern grasstree, Austral grasstree or Black Boy to show but a few of its names.

It's a very old species and very slow growing. A flower spike appears usually after bushfires, and can be up to two metres or roughly 6 feet in height. A trunk only appears after many years and is coloured black by said bushfires.

According to Wikipedia it had the following uses:

Indigenous Australians soaked the flowering spike in water to produce a sweet drink. The soft, white leaf bases were eaten as well as the growing point of the stem. The flower spike exudes a resin which could be used as an adhesive in the manufacture of tools and the stem used for the lower portion of a spear. Stems were also used to make a base for a fire-drill to start a fire. 

 As we climb, more appear all appearing fairly young. Trunks may take up to ten years to appear. It's thought they can live 350-450 years and they love poor soil.

The black trunk says this is an oldie

 
We still have rock outcrops but they've changed from the sandstone of before.

The sign on the tree proclaims the caves as private property

We finally come to a point where we have to earn our keep and begin a climb. A steep climb.

Bob reminded me I had done this before, but my mind had wiped out all memory of it. When I call it steep, perhaps the fact I had to keep wiping dirt off the end of my nose will indicate how steeply it climbed.

Finally we reach the top and I began to recognize the area from past walks. The hill is part of the Meehan Range, but has no name of its own and the map shows it as being lower slopes of Grasstree Hill.

In the distance is the Midway Point causeway, which was part of last week's walk

Grasstree Hill

 Unfortunately, we're not going up there. First there is a steep descent then a steep, rocky climb with no tracks. Anyway, the private owner has sadly made it off limits to climbers and walkers.

Still climbing, looking for our lunch spot

It's here that we will have lunch. 

This is it. The fallen tree provides plenty of seating for lunch

 After lunch we start our slippery trek back down.

Bushfire created sculpture

Looking towards Claremont and Berriedale

About to start the steep part

The track is very dry with loose soil and rocks making it difficult to keep your footing. However, at least one of us has found a unique method of descent.

Not an accident, but deliberate

It's certainly faster, but fairly hard on the trousers. Bob, being a gentleman, made his way back up to supply a little dignity.

A true gentleman

Finally reaching the bottom of this steep bit, we continue on another track, that has a few ups and downs, but isn't bad walking.

Madmans Hill (?)

Back in 2015 Bob took the group up there, unfortunately I had a flat battery, well the car did, and missed most of the walk. I did manage to catch up with the group for the last 5 minutes.

One of several fallen trees to negotiate

We're starting on another long walk down. I assume this is an old logging road

Nearing the bottom where the old track meets the walk around the reservoir

Risdon Brook Reservoir

This is a favourite walk for many people  during the day. Some do it in their lunch hour.

The water level is down a bit. Although this is called Risdon Brook Reservoir, the water doesn't come from the brook or the catchment around the dam. The brook is actually led around the dam as its water is considered too hard or mineralised to be used. The water is actually pumped from the River Derwent and a treatment plant near New Norfolk.

We had 11 walkers and covered 9.44km in 4:27hrs. Lots of up and down made up for the distance. All comments aside, it was a very nice walk and perfect for the day thanks to Bob.

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