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Monday 25 March 2013

Tom Thumb Circuit

Monday 25th March 2013

Summit cairn Tom Thumb
I parked in the large car park just uphill from Big Bend and set off walking at 0757. It was a beautiful clear day with a mild temperature so all was looking good. I walked back downhill to the Big Bend Trail which descended for 3.3 kms. to a cairn marking the start of Tom Thumb ascent.
Big Bend Trail
The climb to Tom Thumb summit was short and only took about 20 minutes. The views from the summit were very good. After a break I climb back down to the Big Bend Trail and carried on passing the Knights Creek Track on the right before meeting up with the East West Trail. I followed this for a while to the Myrtle Forest Trail junction and was met with a sign saying that the East West Trail was closed due to the fire damage. It had a phone number so I rang the ranger and was told that, indeed , the trail was open and they had missed taking down the sign. Thankful I carried on, now uphill to the Collins Bonnet Track and then more uphill to Mount Connection. As I reached the summit I deviated off track to check out The Lectern and Pulpit Rock, both worthy of a visit, and then back to the main track again. Eventually I reached the Big Bend Trail and completed the final climb to the car.
This was a good walk with great views around the Mount Wellington area. There is a bit of up and down but it is not too bad.
Distance: 15.6 kms.
Time: 6'10"
Ascent: 764 metres
Click here to download GPX track.

                                                          Various views from Tom Thumb Summit





                                                                  Various views from The Lectern




On the Collins Bonnet Track