Mount Montagu

Sunday, 22 September 2013

Mount Montagu

Saturday 21st September 2013

Mount Montagu from Thark Ridge

It has been a couple of weeks since I have been able to get out for a walk and that has been because my partner had a triple fusion in her foot and I have been her nurse for that time. That has been quite okay, but I have been keen to get the body moving once again, and, as she is now a little more independent, I thought today would be the day.
There are a few different ways of walking to Mount Montagu and this is just one of them, starting at Big Bend and walking Thark Ridge to finally reach the summit.

The weather forecast was promising for today, so I drove to Mount Wellington and parked in the large car park just up from Big Bend and started walking at 0745. I had walked part of the Thark Ridge track last year when I did the Devil's Throne circuit so it was quite familiar. After a distance of about 1 km. the track has been rerouted uphill slightly for a few hundred metres to obviously avoid some of the wet area. The track was wet here and there but I had expected that as there had been some recent rain. The track basically follows the ridge on the southern side before climbing up to the top of the ridge where it becomes relatively flat along the ridge line.

Collins Bonnet from Thark Ridge

Along the ridge there are good views from different locations and there is a good lookout, marked with a large cairn, slightly off the track and just before the descent begins. From a little further on from here, Mount Montagu finally came into view. It looked a long way away. I continued on going down over some large boulders before coming out on the open area between the ridge and Mount Montagu. This was extremely wet with the water forming a small river running down the track but it was possible to avoid the water, mostly, although it made the going somewhat slow.

Eventually the track met up with an old fire trail/road which was quite overgrown but very easy to follow to a couple of cairns that mark the start of the track to the summit of Mount Montagu.

Cathedral Rock and Montagu Thumbs from Thark Ridge

The ascent was quite easy, although the track was poorly marked, it was not a problem following it to eventually come out in an open area at the summit with stunning 360 degree views. As it was a clear day the visibility was really good so I took a few photos, had a bite to eat and then headed down.
I wanted to check out Norris Hut which I had heard about, so once down to the fire trail again I went south west for 1.3 kms. to find the hut. The going was quite easy but the track is becoming overgrown and the final descent to the hut was very wet. Apparently, the hut was built by a Mountain River family and is set against a large piece of rock.

Norris Hut

Anyway, I didn't waste too much time here and began to retrace my steps back to the car. I did take note of the large cairn that marks the start of the track down to Wellington Falls for future reference. I found the climb back up to the top of Thark Ridge quite tiring and was glad when I finally reached it. The walk along the ridge was not much better, even though it was relatively flat, the constant rock hopping was becoming laborious. It was pleasing when the tower on Mount Wellington finally came into view, but it seemed to take forever to get back to the car which I eventually reached at 1530.
Overall I would rate this as a good walk, although I found it tiring. Maybe my age is starting to catch up with me, but I can't see myself stopping anytime soon.
Distance: 17.0 kms.
Time: 7'42"
Ascent: 800 metres
Click here to download GPX track.