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Monday, 31 March 2014

Raminea Plains

Monday 31st March 2014

Esperance River
The aim of today's exercise was to explore the Raminea Plains area and Esperance River and to follow an abandoned railway line. As it turned out, it did not all go to plan. I had intended to start the walk just off Adamsons Road, but I had also heard from somewhere that there was a locked gate on this road. This was the case, and just off the highway too, so I wasn't going to walk the 4.7 kms. to where I wanted to start. I drove back to Esperance River Road and followed this until I came to an old abandoned side road and parked here.
I set off, and after covering about 1 km. on an old overgrown track, I came to the Esperance River. I had to search up and down the river to try and find a decent place to cross.
Crossing the Esperance
I eventually found a good place and managed to get across without falling in or getting wet boots. I was quite surprised by the river as it was rather a picturesque little stream.
Now the fun started. I was trying to find the old railway, but all I could find was scrub, and after bashing through it for sometime, I did locate what appeared to be where the line had been. The only way I knew this is because there were a couple of cuttings carved out of the earth. It was so overgrown that it was difficult to tell it apart from the surrounding bush. I persevered for some time but it got the better of me so I opted to head out to the plains where I hoped for better conditions. This proved to be the case, as once I battled through some thick scrub I came to the open plains.
Adamsons Peak and Mesa from Raminea Plains
The views of the surrounding mountains from here were amazing - much better than I had anticipated. I came across an old track that I was expecting to find and walked along this for about 1 km. before it disappeared into thick scrub and became too difficult to bash through. At this stage I decided to abandon any further sorties and retraced my steps, with a few variations, back to the car. It was not a favourite walk due to the scrub bashing but the river and the views from the plain were good.


Distance: 6.3 kms.
Time: 3'45"
Ascent: 100 metres
Click here to download GPX track.
Esperance River

Esperance River

Esperance River

Hartz Mountains from Raminea Plains

Esperance Peak from Raminea Plains


Monday, 24 March 2014

Little Lagoon Beach

Sunday 23rd March 2014

Little Lagoon Beach from Eliza Point
The last time I attempted to walk to Little Lagoon Beach I was defeated by the wet and muddy conditions, but this time I made it easily, as it was quite dry.
I started at South Cape Spur 1 just before the locked gate, but this time I decided to ride my bike to the second locked gate, which saves about 3 kms. of road walking. I reached the gate in no time and after stashing the bike in the bush, I set off walking. It was much better walking today, not having to try and dodge all the waterholes. After following the track for some time I crested a small rise where some restoration work had taken place and decided on taking a slightly different track than last time. This proved to be a good idea as it was relatively easy walking.
Black Swan Lagoon
After some time the track climbed a small rise and at the top is where the views began. Black Swan Lagoon, Little Lagoon Beach, Fishers Point and Sullivan Point were all clearly visible. The beach looked spectacular and I was looking forward to walking along it. The track descended to the dunes and followed along the top of the dunes before ending at the beach. I walked along the beach in a south westerly direction to where the lagoon met the sea. There was no flow of water out of the lagoon and I would suspect that this happens rarely or not at all. I continued on down the beach to Sullivan Point, and curiosity got the better of me, so I had to walk out along the rocks to the point to see what I could see. Here were good views of Recherche Bay and Catamaran etc. I then walked back to the beach and had morning tea.
Sullivan Point
There were hundreds of small dead fish washed up on the beach. There did not appear to be anything wrong with them, apart from being dead that is. I think they were leatherjackets, but I am no expert. I then walked back along the beach towards Eliza Point. The weather was great and even though there was a north westerly wind blowing, the beach was protected. After about 2.5 kms. I reached the point and found an old track heading inland. It was very overgrown near the beach with head high bracken fern but this didn't last long and it soon became easy walking. The track went inland for a time before heading down to the point. This looked like a good spot for lunch so this is where I stopped for a while. After lunch I walked back up hill and turned right to see where this track led.
Eliza Point.
As it turned out, the track led down to a lovely little secluded and sheltered bay and I immediately thought that it would be a great camping spot.
I headed back and turned right at a junction in the track to walk back to the outward track.
This section proved to be the most overgrown section of the walk but generally it was not too bad to follow except for a couple of sections near the outward leg. I had to scrub bash a little sometimes picking up the track and then losing it again. I made it back to the outward track and walked back to the locked gate. As I was approaching it I came across 3 guys on dirt bikes and had a chat with them. After retrieving my bike I cycled back to the car, being passed rather quickly by the 3 bikes.
This was a great walk and I enjoyed it immensely and it was great walking on the beach where there were no other footprints but mine.
Distance: 21.5 kms. (15.5 kms. walking and 6.0 kms. bike)
Time: 5'10"
Ascent: 340 metres
Click here to download GPX track.
Fishers Point

Black Swan Lagoon meets the beach

Eliza Point

Black Swan Lagoon

Black Swan Lagoon

Dead Fish(Leatherjacket?)

Sullivan Point

Starfish

Eliza Point

Secluded camping spot


Saturday, 15 March 2014

Snug Tiers

Friday 14th March 2014

Wettest section of track
The plan for this walk was to reach a line of cliffs that overlook the Woodbridge area and then to climb up Morrison Hill to the rocky outcrop on the summit, both of these locations being in the Snug Tiers area.
I drove up to the place where I normally park the car in Van Morey Road. The last 2 kms. is gradually deteriorating and is now 4WD territory. I could have driven further on but I don't mind the walking. After kitting up, I set off at 0750 walking along the road which was quite dry. The last time I was up this way I walked to Cataract Falls and the track had been so wet that I had to walk through water a lot of the time. At 1.7 kms. from the start I turned left at a junction and walked along the track for a couple of kms. before heading east to where I would hopefully find an old track that would lead me to the cliff line.
Burnt section of plain
As it turned out, I did find the road, but it didn't matter as the area had been burnt and it was possible to walk anywhere. I followed the track for a short while but it petered out so I just walked across the plain in the general direction of the cliffs and soon came across them. I was pleasantly surprised as they were quite high and the views were better than I expected. After spending some time walking along the top of the cliffs I headed back to the main track and started walking back west towards the turnoff to Morrison Hill. This track was very overgrown but it was heading in the right direction, so I kept going until it ran out and then I had to take to the scrub. This is where the fun started, or not.
Cliff Line
The scrub was very high and consisted of cutting grass and bauera and progress was very slow. I battled on and finally the scrub thinned out and was replaced with thin trees growing so close together it was difficult to get through. I then started going steeply uphill and finally came to a sheer wall near the summit. There was no way up so I skirted around to the left and eventually found a way up and reached the summit. Morrison Hill is 755 metres high but only about 130 metres above the surrounding countryside, but it sure was an effort to get there. However, the views were quite good, also better than I expected, and I spent some time here and had lunch.
Morrison Hill
I wasn't looking forward to the scrub bash again, but it had to be done, so I headed off and did come across the remnants of an old road, but it was no easier walking along it as it was so overgrown. Anyway, I finally broke out of the scrub, much to my relief, and walked back to the car. Overall this was a good walk despite the scrub bashing.
Distance: 14.3 Kms.
Time: 6'20"
Ascent: 380 metres
Click here to download GPX track.




Looking south east from cliffs

Looking south west from cliffs

Cliff line

Cliff line

Looking east from burnt plain

From Morrison Hill

From Morrison Hill

Grey Mountain from Morrison Hill

From Morrison Hill


Friday, 7 March 2014

Mount Charles

Thursday 6th March 2014

Mount Charles
I chose to walk to Mount Charles from Myrtle Forest, which is probably the longest way to get there. Others routes are from Crabtree up the Jefferys Track, from Lachlan up the Jefferys Track and along the White Timber Trail.
It was a great day and a little cool when I headed off just after 0800. The initial part of the walk was up the road to the Myrtle Forest Picnic Ground and then up to The Collins Cap Fire Trail via the Myrtle Forest Creek Track. The forest is slowly recovering from the fires of last year, but not as much as I had expected. Many of the trees appear to have not survived the fire. I continued on heading south along the Collins Cap Trail to meet up with the East West Fire Trail and walked this down to the creek on the short cut where I had morning tea.
Collins Cap Trail
After the break I continued on along the short cut to meet up with the East West Trail once again and carried on. I wanted to check out the large Pineapple Grass field that exists at the base of Trestle Mountain, so after about 400 metres from the short cut junction I went into the scrub for a short distance and came to the field. It was a very pleasant spot and the field was very interesting. I spent a few minutes here before walking back out to the East West Trail. The East West Trail is quite easy walking with a few ups and downs, but nothing dramatic. I kept going along the trail, past the Ringwood Trail and Mount Marian Track and after 2'45" from the start I rounded the big bend in the trail and found the cairn indicating the start of the ascent track.
Pineapple Grass Field
The pad was okay in places and quite hard to find in others, so consequently I lost it a few times. It really didn't matter that much as I just headed in the general direction of the mountain and picked it up again before heading up. The scrub was not really thick so walking was quite easy. There was a final scramble up through the rocks and scrub to reach the summit which I attained at 1135, some 3"25" after starting out. There were great views from here and the bush on the top was rather nice. I had lunch and then retraced my steps back to the car, taking about 3'15" to reach it.
Overall this was a good walk with great views of all the mountains in the area.
Distance: 21.0 kms.
Time: 6'56"
Ascent: 950 metres
Click here to download GPX track.
Collins Bonnet

Trestle Mountain

Pineapple Grass Field

Mount Marian

First view of Mount Charles

From Summit

From Summit

From Summit

Mount Patrick from summit

Collins Cap