We are tackling a loop walk which incorporates a couple of tracks. Most of the walks in the park are one way either through to another camp or you return the way you came which can be a little boring. We like to do circuit walks.
We walked around 11.5 kms and it took around 6 hours.
The track starts at Grindells Hut and a small part is along the road way.
The first part of the track leads to the Monarch Mine which operated from 1908-1910 and only extracted 2 ton of ore for processing.
The track is well signposted and just as well, as it would be very easy to go off track. The track looks like a kangaroo path and some of the roo paths are even better than our track. We saw a few Euros on the way to the mine.
A reef of rock running through the hill – our track is cutting across the hill in the distance.
This is from the high point zoomed in. On the bottom left is Grindells Hut and the trees on the right are our camp area.
There seemed to be two mines at some stage and they both appeared to be small.
Glen on the track ahead of me.
The plant is a Rock Fuscia, unfortunately not in flower. There were many plants I recognized – The Wattle was just beginning to flower and there was a lovely fragrance in the air. A few of our prickle friends like Dead Finish and another one which insisted growing right next to the track and got us several times.
This view to the south is showing Lake Frome – a dry salt lake.
Our little goat track continues across the hills – it was a gentle gradient around
It led around to this rock outcrop and here is Glen on top of it. Past this switch back, we came across a small group of Curly Mallee which was in flower. The bees were loving it.
This was the only remaining patch – only small shrubs and cypress cover the rest of the mountains.
This was a little scary part walking the very very narrow goat track on a steep section, one slip and I don’t think you would stop for a while. The limestone is also quite sharp so you would get a lot of scratches and cuts. It was head down and concentrate on the foot work.
Our first glimpse of the river. This is where we stopped for a drink and I didn’t realize that there were ants about. I looked down and my shoes both outside and inside and my socks were covered with hundreds biting green ants. This is when I did the little ant dance…. luckily they were attacking mostly my socks with their nippers and we managed to sort them out with the trusty gumleaf swatter. They only had nipper and no stingers which was good. Glen was glad it was me and not him as he has bad reactions to insect bites, with me it is just the momentary annoyance and that’s all.
We had a steady climb down to the river bank, this photo is looking back from where we had walked along the ridge top.
This is Weetootla Spring. Down in the valley is this little oasis even at the end of their dry season. There were fish and plenty of dragon flies and lots of birds.
We even saw watercress growing, plus plenty of bull rushes. It was lovely and tranquil, plenty of shade and nice smooth rocks to sit on, so we made this our lunch stop.
At major points along the track you get a map board so you know exactly where you are. Other track markers give you distance you will have to travel and there are other markers which just show that you are still on the track and not on some other animal track.
The distance marker to Grindell Hut which is 3.6 kms. The river bed walk is always the hardest as you are rock hopping and have to concentrate. We were both tired at the end of this walk and the feet were dragging a little towards the end. Again, its not the distance but the type of track that can tire you out. Definitely the best part of the track was the ridge walk and down to the river. The river walk didn’t give you any views and was not as interesting.
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