Our walk today is to Lake Skinner in the Snowy Range on the edge of the SouthWest National Park.
It is a walk that the group has done a couple of times and gives us the chance to experience walking in the National Park.
After the drive from Kingston via Ranelagh and Judbury the group are eager to get into the forest.
The forecast for today was 26C and late showers and wind.
And as it says on the sign we will experience Mountains, Alpine Lake and Myrtle Forest.
Some were impressed by the first section of track which was nicely formed and flat but that soon changed.
After washing our boots at the washing station we entered the forest proper.
Under the cover of the forest it was fairly cool but as the incline increased so did the temperature.
Even though there is old evidence of logging in the forest there were still plenty of significantly tall trees.
Its not that often that you see a curved tree split in half as part of the boardwalk.
Our leader earned some brownies points today when he was able to provided an appropriate seat for all the party to sit on while they enjoyed their morning tea.
The climbing began in earnest.
Morris checking out the size of one of the trees and the large accommodation area in the base hoping to find a local inhabitant.
Our leader resting on the climb.
Onwards and upwards.
And it was steep in some parts.
Then we arrived on the plateau and a more open forest.
Our first view of the mountain range.
Although some of the bush was a bit thick.
Looking back towards the Wellington Range?
Everyone's favorite the Leatherwood was still in flower on the plateau as well in the rainforest.
A Panorama looking North.
On the last leg to the Lake.
Lake Skinner.
Enjoying lunch overlooking Lake Skinner.
A nice surprise was this amazing collection of cones on the King Billy Pine growing alongside the lake.
And there was also a number of Fagus bushes with their brilliant green summer foliage.
The creek outlet from Lake Skinner disappearing into the bush on its way down hill.
Some of the group admiring the creek.
Our leader checking the weather now that the clouds have started to come over.
A grevillea growing out a the rocks in the creek bed.
Heading back over the plateau on the return trip,
One of many stops on the way down the hill as the temperature rose along with the humidity.
It was a very good days walk not overly long but plenty of energy expended getting to the Lake and back.
There were 7 walkers today who covered the 7.6km in 5 hours climbing and descending 350 meters in the process.
The temperature did reach 30C as we were driving back through Ranelagh and we did not have any rain so a good day all round.
Thanks Chris for leading the walk and Michael for providing some of the photos.
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