Rocky Tom - 20 September 2022

 As usual for our walk to Rocky Tom the plan was to park on the side of Geilston Creek Road and start our walk from there.  To my great embarrassment I got bogged. Fortunately Steve was right behind me and when he saw my car sink into the mud he wisely didn't follow. Also he was well equipped with a tow rope and was able to pull me out. Thanks Steve.

Drama over we set off and not long after enter Pilchers Hill Reserve. In the lower section it is easy walking on well formed tracks. 

 It soon became apparent that the area is covered by a mass of tracks ranging from Fire Trails and well formed tracks to those still suitable for hiking but not shown on any maps.  Chris today's leader selected a route which was fairly direct to Rocky Tom.

Faggs Gully Creek.

After about 1km we left Faggs Creek Gully and soon found a nice sunny spot for morning tea.

Shortly after morning tea we pass  these two old cars .. perhaps they took a wrong turn

Starting to climb

Chris keeps an eye on us

Northerly view with Mt Faulkner in the background

Almost there

Final assault

Rocky Tom where we stopped to enjoy the view.

We set off along a track which heads towards Flagstaff Hill. As it keeps to the ridge walking this section is fairly easy.

Wattle in bloom .. not as prominent as for the Conningham walk a few weeks ago but still noticeable

Track junction .. Chris decides on the upper trail

Lunch

After lunch we start our return back to the cars .. all downhill on good walking tracks .. yippee!

This gate and fence designed to keep motor bikes and 4wd vehicles out of the reserve

 

Janine helping Ron clean  mud from his wheels

Today we walked 8.8kms in about 4 hours.  Thanks to  Margaret, Val and Chris for providing the photos for the blog.

Click this link to download GPX file

 

South Lea - 13 September 2022

 Our walk started from the bus turning circle opposite the Mt Nelson Fire Station and again we were fortunate with the weather which for the most part of the day was sunny.

 The first 1.5kms was through dry  bush - in this section the tracks were often degraded with evidence of overuse and tyre grooves resulting in pools of stagnant water.

A clear view of Mt Wellington

For the next 2kms we follow the route of a water pipe.  It is an interesting track as in parts it is easy walking on open ground, other sections are badly overgrown with obstacles as well as  3 creek crossings with steep descents over slippery terrain and of course there are steep uphill sections.

 

Oops!

Has this photo been posed?

 

Morning tea

 

After morning tea we continue until we reach an intersection and take the right had track.

A short way along this track those who haven't done this walk before get a surprise when we reach a tower in the bush.  

 On a previous walk Jack the creator of this blog did some research found that ... "The antennas, the fenced off area and the building are used for research into the ionosphere. There are, from memory, 5 other stations in Australia and they all can link to perform experimental exploration of the ionosphere, along with others overseas. It's located in this gully to exclude as much outside radio interference as possible."

For just over 1km we follow the creek using what can only loosely be termed a "track" as in a lot of spots it was badly overgrown.   Along this section we passed very close to a birds nest which had some young inside and a bit further along a young ring tail possum was climbing a small tree only meters from us (it's unusual to see possums this time of day).

Birds nest (dark brown mass in the centre of photo) with young birds

Looking at the possum

We leave the creek and start our accent towards the top of Mount Nelson - the track immediately improves.  By unanimous agreement lunch was taken as soon as a sunny spot was found.  The slope of our climb is evident in the photo

Towards Mt Nelson

Looking towards the Iron Pot

Albion Heights Comms site with the tower.

Making our way towards Nelson Road

Along Brinsmead Rd we come across this tree which has nesting boxes for the endangered Swift Parrot attached to it

Today we covered about 11.5kms in 5hrs .. the elevation profile clearly shows the 3 creek crossings and their gullies in the first 4kms of the walk.

Four photographers provided today's pictures - Margaret, Val, Jenny and Chris.

Click here to download GPX file