On Sunday August 23, a fine sunny day encouraged 19 walkers to venture into the Warby Ovens National Park to walk the Salisbury Falls Track to Kwat Kwat and return.
My aim was to return with the same 19 walkers, although one cannot always be choosey.
Beginning at the start of the Salisbury Falls Walk, we would walk to the top of the Falls, proceed on to Mount Warby, through Wenham’s Camp, take Friends Track to Kwat Kwat, and return via the Alpine Views Track. An estimated 14km, according to my AllTrails app, and subsequent mapping.
To begin the day there was the usual walk description, hand out of maps and introductions. Special mention must be made that 9/19ths of today’s participants were men.
I have done the maths so that you don’t have to. That is a fraction over 47%. Not my record for male participation in a walk, but impressive, nevertheless. You could almost smell the testosterone in the air. It was either that or old spice.
Recent good rainfalls have helped the Park come alive. Salisbury Falls, and the subsequent creeks, were flowing freely. We made our way carefully along the narrow track looking over the creek below. This is the section of the trail that requires sure footing, and a focused mind.
After crossing the bridge, located at the top of the Falls, we continued following the creek, before crossing it again, via some large rocks, and headed towards the Boilerwood Track junction.
Once at the junction, and after checking with our Swedish contingent, it was announced that morning tea would be taken.
With spring almost upon us, the wildflowers were putting on a show
I am quite sure up to this point we spotted the following, Large-leaf Bush Peas (yellow & red ones), false Sarsaparilla (purple ones), Bulbine Lily (yellow ones), Leopard Orchids (more yellow ones), Common Ramping Fumitory (more purple ones), Common Early Nancy (white ones with an exquisite dash of purple) and Nodding Greenhoods (well, green of course).
After a satisfying break, it was just a short walk, navigating some boggy ground, before we turned right onto a bush track which leads towards Mount Warby.
At about 490m, Mount Warby no longer has the outlook it once did, with the trees now towering over the area, and obscuring the potential view.
From here it was a short walk into Wenham’s Camp. The most exciting thing at this point for a number of our group, was that the middle toilet had paper. So 10/19ths of the group, or almost 53%, were particularly delighted.
As a walk, talk and gawk club it’s always interesting to catch up on everyone’s travels and holidays. Because we all end up walking with different people throughout the day, everyone must end up repeating themselves a number of times.
So, Glenda and Kerri were in Spain, Marino and Mel in Italy, Jeanette and I were in the UK/Ireland, Andrew was in Peru, Shannon in Malaysia and Agni was in Europe. Meanwhile Andy continued to wreak havoc in Wangaratta, and today attempted to persuade us that a South American mountain range was named after him. The Andes.
From Wenham’s Camp we took the Friends Track because the small stream which it followed for part of the trail was flowing well, a rare sight indeed. The amount of water underfoot, and freely flowing along some of the walking trails, was a great sight to see.
Winter certainly was the deliverer of good rainfall. The croaks and ribbits from an abundance of frogs vouched for that.
Being such a large group, smaller groups naturally evolved during the course of walking. For ease we could call each group a, b, c, and d. When you release them onto the trail, the groups mix exactly like the algebra formula (a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd. Which by my calculations means we all ended up at Kwat Kwat for lunch.
Now was the time to relax, enjoy some food and take in the views below. Golfers were observed moving around the course in their buggies. I know that golf can be a game that ruins a good walk, but that’s just being lazy. The impressive spacious home below with its two dams, palm trees, manicured grounds and tennis court. What no swimming pool? Yes, I may be jealous.
The hills in the far distance, where it was difficult to tell where they ended, and the sky began, predominantly because it was hazy.
It was time to move on because the breeze had a little chill to it. Everyone eventually assembled, much like herding cats, for the group photo.
We retraced some of our steps back towards the Friends Track junction, and took a left turn. This section comes alongside a gully, and some of the steeper sections of today’s hike, eventually meeting the Alpine Views track.
Part of this section afforded some better views of Mount Buffalo, and the distant alps. After reaching Boilerwood Track it’s a relatively flat dirt road that meets again with the Salisbury Falls junction, and a final 2km back to the cars.
It was a great day, enjoying what is close to home for many of us, in a month of well received rain bringing the Warby Ranges to life.
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Ockenden. A wonderful gentleman who joined the club in 2019; a great enthusiast of nature and walking, Peter was active in numerous organisations, and a keen advocate of protecting the environment and sustainability. RIP Peter.
Michael Braendler