Wingara Road to Powder Magazine 14 Jun 2022

 We have done this walk a number of times but as always there are some walkers who have not had the pleasure.

After the last week of wind and snow today should be a very pleasant walking day.

We leave the cars at the end of Wingara Road and proceed along the track that follows the foreshore.

Looking across North West Bay towards Margate.

Unfortunately for someone the winds of the last week have managed to fill their dinghy with seaweed.

Our walking goals over recent times being Catheral Rock and a snow covered Collins Bonnet.

An early wattle in full bloom.

The leader had lost the track by this stage.

And we emerged at the Powder Jetty now used by salmon farmers as a base to access their farms in The Channel.

Heading alongside Tinderbox Road towards the access point for the Tinderbox Reserve.

Our first view of the snow on Mt Wellington.

Morning tea in the sun light before entering the Reserve proper.

Some people can't hide their excitement when they are confronted with a steep climb.

And he is still happy at the top. Thanks Chris for the photo as I was still climbing at this stage.

Nor quite on the top but getting closer.

At the top Lyn found this and thought it was a flower but

it actually is a Lichen.

Discussing the towers on the top of the hill.

Starting the descent to the Powder Magazine.

The first of four powder magazines.

The story of the powder magazines and the Tinderbox Reserve.

 

 

 

Lunch in the sun.

And then the rewards "snakes" are handed out after lunch.

Panorama of North West Bay.

Colored sandstone cliff near the end of the walk.

 

 

There were 12 walkers on a very pleasant day walk and we covered 8.4 kms injust under 4 hours climbing 258 meters.

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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.

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