Hiking – Page 5

The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go

by NeilEnnis 18 September 2011 2 Comments Shortlink

I took the family for a hike at Mt Mee today, along the Somerset Track. It’s a 13km walk to a sheer drop that looks westward over the valley to Somerset Dam.

Harrison’s shirt says it all: “The mountains are calling and I must go”. The only problem was, in my enthusiasm to “go”, I didn’t take into account that 13 km is a long way for some people, especially 9 year old girls with short legs:

I can’t think of any other kids of her age who would walk so far. Fantastic effort, Lilly, you’re amazing!

A goanna tries to be inconspicuous as we walk by.

I think the rangers must have been burning back recently – either that or there has been a fire because the greenery of the forest suddenly gave way to burnt undergrowth with green shoots poking through. Much native Australian flora, including these Grass Trees, regenerates after fire.

Sam and Harrison on a huge rock we passed.

The panorama from the lookout.

Lilly, darling, I promise I won’t make you walk so far again.

Total distance: 14.27 km
Total climbing: 1091 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:34:40

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Family, Hiking, Pine Rivers

Scrub Road

by NeilEnnis 4 September 2011 No Comments Shortlink

Liz asked me what I wanted for a Father’s Day present, and I said “A bush walk”. So today we hiked along Scrub Road. Basically it’s a big “vee” shaped road – steep down for 2km, then steep up the other side to the South Boundary Road Camp. Then turn around and repeat in the other direction.

At the bottom we had a great time hopping around the rocks in the creek looking for animals.

We stopped at the water tank / shelter on South Boundary Road for a bite to eat. Lilly thought she’d continue the camping theme by rubbing two sticks together. Thankfully no fire ensued.

About 8km in about 2 hours. A lovely walk with the family. Thanks for the wonderful present everyone 🙂

Total distance: 9.34 km
Total climbing: 476 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 02:35:05

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Hiking, South East Qld

Hiking with Liz

by NeilEnnis 2 July 2011 2 Comments Shortlink

A few months ago, Liz and I hiked Joyners Ridge Road in D’Aguilar National Park. Today we decided to turn the “tough-o-meter” dial a bit harder, and hiked Lightline Road and Cabbage Tree Range Road.

It started out innocuously enough, with a long descent along Lightline Road and Job 6 Road. Job 6 Road? Who ever heard of naming a road after a book of the bible that talks about anguish and misery? (Is it really that steep?) Or was it the next job on the sheet after Job 5 when the forestry people were building roads?

After 8km we reached the bottom of the walk at Branch Creek.

From there it’s a long steep 6km walk to the top of Cabbage Tree Range Road.

The last bit of the walk was along Dundas Road, which has some beautiful old Brush Box trees, one of which I think has some great scars of Aboriginal origin.

All up 17km with over 1,000m ascent, and 3100 cal. About 7.5 out of 10 on the tough-o-meter, mostly because of the climb up Cabbage Tree Range Road.

Total distance: 18.34 km
Total climbing: 1123 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 04:15:57

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Family, Hiking, South East Qld

Noosa National Park

by NeilEnnis 30 May 2011 2 Comments Shortlink

The weather forecast said “Rain” but we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to explore the Noosa Headland. I can’t believe how lucky we are to have this beautiful national park just over an hours drive from our front door.

We walked clockwise around the headland starting at Laguna Bay – a popular spot for surfers and sunbathers.

The track winds around the cliff-tops with some spectacular views through the rainforest trees down to some rocky secluded beaches.

Eventually we reached Alexandra Bay. Hidden away on southern side of the headland it feels a million miles away from the cares and worries of the city

The walking track follows the beach for a couple of kilometres before heading back into the forest.

I suppose you could call us a family of tree-huggers 🙂

Eventually the track passes through some denser forest with these wonderful Hoop Pines – native to South East Queensland.

All up about 9km, with 400m of vertical ascent. A beautiful easy walk. We’d definitely do it again!

Total distance: 9.46 km
Total climbing: 454 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 02:37:30

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Children, Family, Hiking, Kids, Pine Rivers

Kidnapping the Neighbors Kids

by NeilEnnis 25 April 2011 2 Comments Shortlink

Our kids had a visit from a couple of their friends this morning.

Rather than let them sit around playing computer games, we bundled them into the van and took them on a couple of hikes. (After checking that it was ok to kidnap a couple of extra kids. Thanks Renea!)

The first hike was around Camp Mountain – a beautiful forest to the south of Samford. I’ve done this on the mountain bike before, and really wanted to show everyone how picturesque it is.

It’s a big road for a small person. Lilly kept going all day. (Picture by Liz)

It’s a good climb to the Summit of Camp Mountain, with great views of the city.

Some of the wildlife at the top (Picture by Liz)

The second hike was up the Goat Track – a washed out dirt road west of Samford. I love this road because of the views and the fascinating Rock Art that has sprung up along the way.

I’ve been observing the rock structures over the last couple of months and they’re getting quite realistic!

The view from The Goat Track looking east past the Water Tower at Albany Creek, with Moreton Bay in the background.

All up we hiked 8.8km with a total ascent of 520m. I was really impressed with how well the kids coped with it – no complaints and everyone kept up a great pace (average of about 4.5km/h).

Well done team!

Total distance: 5.99 km
Total climbing: 397 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 01:42:20

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Total distance: 3.66 km
Total climbing: 150 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 01:02:15

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Hiking, History, Pine Rivers

Harrisons Pocket

by NeilEnnis 12 April 2011 No Comments Shortlink

The afternoon was too pleasant to spend in the office, so I took a walk along the northern shoreline of Lake Samsonvale.

This area was known as “Harrison’s Pocket” before the dam was built. But now the town of Harrison’s Pocket, with its post office and school only exists on old maps.

The landscape has changed completely.

The lake is now an important habitat for many different species of water-birds.

The western part of the lakes covers what used to be known as the town of Samsonvale named after Mount Samson which towers over it to the west.

None of the old town remains except the cemetery on the shore of the lake.

The land to the north of the lake has some beautiful quiet trails.

Total distance: 6.72 km
Total climbing: 298 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 01:22:21

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Hiking, Pine Rivers

The Goat Track

by NeilEnnis 10 April 2011 2 Comments Shortlink

The Goat Track is a narrow one-way gravel road which winds up from Samford Valley to Mount Nebo. Until recently it saved motorists over 10km on the trip.

But heavy rain a few months ago caused landslides which made the road impassable for everything except foot traffic and mountain bikes.

The natural disaster has inspired the locals to develop some exciting new art forms.

At first one or two simple stone sculptures sprang up by the roadside near the damaged areas. As other walkers passed by, they added to the artwork, building more and more complex sculptures until in one area, the whole roadside has turned into one large gallery of public artwork seeking to propitiate the gods of the mountain to ensure the safety of this thoroughfare.

This whole thing has been spontaneous. The people who contributed to it probably never met the earlier contributors, but it has evolved into a public collaborative work of art. There are rumours that the local council may not ever have the funds to repair the damage. And so weeds and grass continue their slow march reclaiming the road while people slowly turn what was a serious traffic route into a public art gallery with-a-view for fun-loving hikers.

Total distance: 8.27 km
Total climbing: 375 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 02:06:48

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Hiking, Pine Rivers

Joyners Ridge Road

by NeilEnnis 9 April 2011 2 Comments Shortlink

Liz and I enjoyed a hike along Joyners Ridge Road. Starting at the Maiala car park, we walked 7.6km down through the rainforest to England Creek, and then back up again. A total trip of 15.2km with almost 700m of vertical ascent. Lachlan and I walked this road as part of our hike last week, but today it seemed much easier.

This walk gave some great examples of the different environments that exist at various altitudes down the mountain. We started off in thick rainforest filled with piccabeen palms, figs, and ferns.

After about 2km, the vegetation underwent a stunningly quick change into wet Sclerophyll forests with tall Eucalyptus.

The air was filled with the calls of bellbirds and whipbirds sounding like laser sound effects from a Star Wars movie.

Another few kilometres down the track and the vegetation opened up, the ground was much drier, and we didn’t have to worry about the ubiquitous leeches that inhabit the wetter parts of the forest.

The Red Trianlge Slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) is the largest land slug in Australia. Liz almost stepped on this magnificent specimen. As we approached, it shrunk in size defensively. But even so, it was still the size of a human hand.

A previous visitor appears to have cut an archway through a lantana thicket. To my warped mind it looked like a little hut.

I really enjoyed being able to share this beautiful walk with Liz. All up it took us just around 3 hours plus 45 minutes in breaks. Let’s do it again soon!

Total distance: 16.79 km
Total climbing: 762 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:48:22

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