Lathamus Keep - 21 Nov 2023

Lathamus Keep is big tree in an area up Denison Rd via Judbury. It is claimed to be the largest Blue Gum in the world with a calculated 325 cubic metre by volume and over 500 years old and 80m tall.

We started off as usual from Kingston with 4 cars.

Past Judbury we followed the Denison and then turned right into McDougalls Road. The final turnoff is to the left some distance before the start of the Lake Skinner Track.

Entering the forest.

 

Native Laurel.

A complex root system.

Remnant of old logging practices.

OK which way next.

A free standing tree.

Morning tea or lunch in the forest.

Just a bunch of tree huggers.

Wayne following the track.

Mendelt on top of a logged giant.

The track winds around and undulates through the rain forest.  We were enthralled with one magnificent tall tree after another winding our way through beautiful understorey including man ferns, sassafras, myrtle, celery top pine, horizontal.

We backtracked a short way after lunch to the short spur track leading to Lathamus Keep.  A magnificent tree, but also just one of the beauties in the Huon Valley Grove of Giants.

The area has been the subject of research in the past and a lot of effort has been put into establishing and tagging the tracks.

A very worthwhile day out!

There were 16 walkers who covered about 3.5kms probably our shortest walk.

Thanks to Sally for leading the trip and Ingrid and Mendelt for the photos.