Mount Marian

Friday 27th October 2017

Mount Marian

It is quite a number of years since I walked to Mount Marian, and that was from Myrtle Forest. This time I started from the end of Suhrs Road in Collinsvale, just for a bit of variation. Actually Mount Marian is one of my favourite walks in the Wellington Range.
I set off through the farm and then into Wellington Park on the Collins Cap Trail. The track went uphill for a couple of kilometres and gained about 250 metres in height before levelling out somewhat.The vegetation around the Collins Cap area is really stuggling to recover from the fires a few years ago.

Walking through the farm

Collins Cap Trail

Collins Cap Trail and fire damage

Trestle Mountain

Collins Bonnet

I passed Collins Cap and Collins Bonnet and met up with the East West Trail and then took the short cut below Trestle Mountain to the trail again before stopping off at the large Pineapple Grass field for a snack. It is always a pleasant place to stop if coming this way.

Trestle Mountain

Pineapple Grass Field

Pineapple Grass Field

Trestle Mountain

After that I kept going along the trail past the Ringwood Trail to the Mount Marian turnoff. The track up to the summit is still quite easy to follow and I reached the summit after 45 minutes of gentle climbing. The views from up hear did not disappoint as it was a stunning day, although a little hazy. There was a stiff breeze blowing and it was quite cool after sweating on the ascent. There was even some snow on the distant peaks.

Collins Cap

Mount Field

Mount Weld

Collins Bonnet

Mount Montagu

On Summit

On Summit

Summit Cairn

On Summit

On Summit

On Track near Summit

After lunch I simply headed back the way I had come to the car. I did not see anyone else on the walk, which was rather surprising, because it was such a beautiful day.
As always, this was a great walk and starting in Suhrs Road means a little less climbing to reach the top of the Collins Cap Trail as compared to starting at Myrtle Forest.
Distance: 16.2 kms.
Time: 5"27"
Ascent: 730 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Prominent Rock - Mount Connection

Monday 16th October 2017

Prominent Rock down below

There are many prominent rocks named as such on the map but this one is west of Mount Connection in the Wellington Range. I did not know if I could actually walk to it or not and I was going to make that decision when I neared it. As it turned out, I wisely decided, I think, to stop at the end of the ridge, as it was a steep descent to the rock.
Anyway, I set out from Big Bend along the fire trail and had a good view of fog in the valleys.

From the fire trail I walked along the Collins Bonnet track to Mount Connection. It was a little wet in places but mostly the track was dry. I stopped at the lookout on Mount Connection, just before the track descends off the mountain, to take a few photos.

Mount Connection

Mount Connection and Tom Thumb from the moor

Looking west

Collins Cap

Collins Bonnet

Snow capped mountains out west

My aim was to walk out on the rocky ridge that heads towards Prominent Rock. When I reached the appropriate point I started out along the ridge. It was rocky and scrubby but not particularly bad and I soon reached the end of the ridge (or as far as I was going, anyway) to see Prominent Rock about 100 metres away in distance and about 80 metres down in elevation. I think it would be achievable but as I was on my own I opted to give it a miss.

The ridge in the centre that heads towards Prominent Rock-Scree field in background is on Collins Bonnet

Collins Bonnet

Mountain River

Devils Throne

Mount Montagu

Collins Bonnet

Prominent Rock

After getting as close to the edge as I dared I walked back to the main track and then uphill to Mount Connection again and then along to The Lectern. After a short break it was then on to Pulpit Rock, and as I was on top of the rock I could hear voices.  Soon a couple of guys appeared and we had a bit of a chat. I was not really expecting to see anyone off track where I met them.

The Lectern

Pulpit Rock

On top of Pulpit Rock

Derwent River

Once back on the main track I just walked back to the car. I did see one tiger snake out sunning itself on the track but it slithered out of the way.
This was a good walk with fantastic views on a warm spring day.
Distance: 12.1 kms.
Time: 5'42"
Ascent: 550 metres
Click here to download GPX file.

Mount Cygnet

Monday 9th October 2017

Mount Cygnet from Cygnet

A friend staying at Cygnet had noticed a couple of rocky outcrops near the summit of Mount Cygnet so we decided to investigate. I had previously walked up to Mount Cygnet in 2013 and had no views whatsoever, so with the expectation of some good vistas over the Huon River and out to the west, we agreed to give it a go. We opted to start at the end of Blue Gum Road off Woodbridge Hill Road, near Cygnet.

The track climbed steadily uphill and was in good condition. It appeared to be an old forestry road and was well constructed with a solid base. Once we reached some flatter land up higher the track became a little wet but was really easy walking. Upon entering the forestry proper, the track deteriorated somewhat, but was still quite easy to negotiate. That was until it finished. From that point there seemed to be a walking track but we soon found out that it was only an animal pad but kept on going, doggedly.

The "track" - the good bit

 We were attempting to follow an old track that was shown on the map and we both had convinced ourselves that we could see it on Google Earth. It was there in places but it mainly consists of cutting grass now. Eventually when the track was supposed to head north it disappeared or we lost it, so we just started heading up through the scrub towards the track along the ridge. There was some discussion about turning back and finding a different way, but we carried on. It was tough going with much cutting grass and lots of downed trees, but as we neared the top it opened up a little, and we reached the road with much delight. From here there was a short walk uphill to one of the rocky outcrops. There had been a burn up here not too long ago and the scrub was open. We were presented with great views from the rocky outcrop but there was a strong, cold wind blowing.

We stopped here for lunch before heading up the track to the summit and then back to the car via another track.
When we had both arrived back home the leech count was eleven so it was an eventful walk.
This was a difficult walk because of the scrub bash but the scenery at the top was worth the effort. I would not recommend going up the way that we went.
Distance:9.2 kms.
Time: 4'31"
Ascent: 560 metres
Click here to download GPX file.
Here is a link to my friend's Blog Post on the walk to give a different perspective.