Franklin Forest Walks - 10 Dec 2024

We are walking today up behind Franklin on a walk through rainforest.

 

The weather forecast was for reasonable weather though with a possibility of showers.

 

We believe that the walk has been established by a local group based in Franklin and while not long in distance includes some interesting history of the area including and old sawmill operation, McMullens Saw Mill.

 

Preparing for the likely rain.

 

After leaving the cars the initial part of the walk is through a previously logged and recently burned area before we reach the rainforest proper.

Chiloglottis cornuta - Green Bird Orchid (although its probably past its prime.)

Signing in for the walk.

 

We first tackle the Gully track.

 

We follow the creek for a little while.

This tree was huge particularly as Michael, our tallest walker, is completely dwarfed by the tree as he tries to look tall in the vast cave in the trees' base.

Notogrammitis billardierei - Common Strap Fern

Possibly Strawberry Bracket Fungus.

Heading down towards the end of this track.

A very glassy fungus.

Morning tea spot has been determined,

Getting comfortable.

 Mendelt delivery the entertainment during morning tea.

 More Fungus.

 

Panorama's of the ferns in the rainforest alongside the creek.

Ron explaining the the trees have somehow attached roots to a large tree fallen across the creek resulting in the tree growing above has enlarged its trunk.

A beautiful translucent fungus.

A very large bracket fungus.

Possibly Stereum ostrea which appears to be in its latter stage of life.

Now heading along the western side of the loop track.

Another very large bracket fungus.

Possibly Caryodes dufresnii - Tasmanian Land snail we saw a number during this walk.

Clavaria zollingeri growing near the manferns at the Repose site with another lands snail.

Checking out the size of a fallen monster tree.

The root structure of the fallen tree.

More fungi.

The remnants of the boiler at McMullens Saw Mill.

The concrete base on which would had stood a steam engine to drive the mill.

A cleared picnic area for lunch at the mill site.

Very small fungi growing between the rocks on the old tramway.

Another coral fungi.

A view of the group leaving The Repose to return to the cars.

We had 18 walkers who covered the 8.8 kms in 4 hours and 20 minutes and climbed 160 meters in total.

For our walk on the track it was very enjoyable and once again the rain held off.