Wednesday 10 July 2024
Photos courtesy of Rodney, Ian and Amanda. Walk Report courtesy of Rodney.
After weeks of rain around the walk area, ten intrepid walkers set off into the muddy Boyne State Forest for a walk that had been off limits for too long, largely due to intense undergrowth development after the 2020 fires. The recent rains gave a different character to the terrain: now creeks were running with muddy water and some of the bike tracks had become like mudslides.
However, once the steep slippery slopes were navigated, the group was in a beautiful forest parkland-like landscape with open stands of patterned scribbly gum standing in carpet of bark and broken rock. After several damp mossy creek crossings and some short sharp ups and downs, the group was rewarded also with splendid clear views from Big Bit summit, with views across Durras Lake and Durras Mountain.
The return via more muddy mossy creek valleys was charming, and the leeches were too slow to take advantage of our moving feet. After finding a lonely Pencil Pine and earlier some elderly wood harvesters, and hearing a nearby lyrebird, the happy wanderers were pleased to see the cars after a pretty rough and slippery 13 kms. All agreed it was wonderful to get back to a little visited area.