Wednesday, 8 June 2022

Pickett Hill 7 Jun 2022

Today we are walking tracks we have done on a number of occassions with a bit of reluctance as the weather is forecast to be rainy, windy and some possible snow. Chris is going to lead the walk in reverse order and we hope the weather holds.

As can been seen from the happy bunch of bushwalkers they were all ready to tackle the weather forecast for the day.

After leaving the cars on Summerleas Road we start the climb to the top of Pickett Hill.

Crossing a part washed away bridge we then started the climb.



This avenue of eucalypts along either side of the road made for pleasant walking.

Not so the abundance of the Spanish Heath.



Our first view of the mountain where we catch a glimpse of the overnight snowfall.

Still climbing.




We stopped for morning tea with a view of Mt Wellington covered in snow cloud and just below the top of Pickett Hill out of the wind.

Heading towards Leslie Vale Road to make a circuit around the top of Pickett Hill.


There was a small amount of road walking to be able to connect the tracks.

Looking down across Kingston with the mouth of the Derwent and Betsey Island in the mist.

The view of Mt Wellington from Pickett Hill was not great.

Heading down the track through the rural residential properties on the outskirts of Kingston.




This WedgeTail Eagle flew out of the lower trees after being harrassed by a number of currawongs when it landed in this tree above where we were walking.

Despite its attempts to remain in the area it eventually gave in to the other birds and flew of.


Chris ensuring that there is someone ready to catch any potential slip-ups while crossing the water course.


A deviation away from a steep, slippery muddy descent to the roadway.


On the last leg of the walk along Old Summerleas Road to the cars.


 



We had 10 walkers who covered 8.2 kilometers in 3 hours and climbed an elevation of 256 meters.
The best part of the walk was that all the dire weather did not arrive until we had finished our walk and were back home.

Thursday, 2 June 2022

Alum Cliffs - 31 May 2022

Today we were scheduled to walk the Old  Hobartians Track but with weather forecasts predicting terrible weather including snow to a low level it was decided to do a more suitable walk.

We set off from Kingston Beach on a cool day hoping that the forecast bad weather wouldn't arrive till later in the day.


Admiring natures art



An unusual artifact!


Is this tree bleeding?


Continuing along






A good spot for morning tea.


 

Refreshed after morning tea we tackle the most difficult portion of today's walk - a steep down immediately followed by an even steeper uphill (or so it appears). Pete fondly calls it the "luge" . 







Some of the locals aren't pleased


Above Hinsby Beach making our way to Taroona Beach.





Historical grave of James Batchelor

 




Pete in action snapping a photo of some fungi


We walked  the coast track to Taroona High School and then meandered back along some streets, passing the community garden, on our way to the beach reserve where we had lunch. 


On the way back to Kingston 






We reach Kingston Beach and our photographer Chris takes the opportunity to capture this reflection


 

Is this man walking on water?



The sign is a permanent fixture on this part of the beach where it joins the Alum Cliffs track - I don't think it needs any interpretation


We were fortunate that the weather was kind to us as it was cool with mostly overcast skies and no wind.  11.5 walkers (Pete only did half the walk) covered just under 14kms in 5 hours.  Although we were never more than 104m above sea level we did 522m of climbing - lots of ups and downs.


Click here to download GPX file