425. Three Dams Hike 10.4km

 U3A hike No 425



Hike Report by Michelle

The forecast for heavy rain did not deter us, and we were rewarded with a damp but still day. Sections of our walk were wetter than others! But that’s why we have wet weather gear, right? It certainly proved to be a good test for waterproof jackets and pants. Sadly, some of us found our gear was not as waterproof as hoped. Nevertheless, it was a scenic hike through undulating eucalypt forests and bushlands ablaze with spring wildflowers set to a backdrop of lyrical birdsong and happy frogs. The area's gold mining history was on full display with plenty of old mines, water races, and dams.

 

So, while the weather tested us, the group determination meant we covered the majority of the intended walk and were delighted with sunshine at the conclusion, just in time for lunch.

 

Another enjoyable morning. Thank you, Gordon, for scoping out this new walk and to both you and Andrew for your guidance.


Photos by Andrew































LINKS

INTERACTIVE MAP

GPX FILE

A HIKE IN THIS AREA 2021  (A humerous hike report by the late Martin Russel)

 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

287. Frith Gully - Mt Misery Loop. Enfield State Park

Image
 U3A Hike No 287 Hike Report by Colin Fraser Eight hikers assembled outside the Marty Busch Reserve in Sebastopol for an 11.5 km hike on the Frith Gully-Mt Misery Loop in the Enfield State Park. We travelled in two vehicles to the start of the walk at Bald Hill on Incolls Road, Enfield. The walk was graded as moderate, and described as continuously hilly. We walking paths and rough bush roads through isolated parts of the park. There were deep gullies with lush vegetation, high ridges with open scrub, and areas that still bear the scars of extensive surface mining in the 19th century. We followed Misery Creek Road south then the Misery Creek and Forest Park walking tracks to Surface Point Picnic Ground, where we had smoko. Before arriving at Surface Point we were accompanied overhead by the raucous alarm calls of a group of cockatoos warning of our intrusion into their forest. Coincidently this occurred just near Mt Cockatoo!! We shared the picnic table with a man who was camping t...
Read more

390. Jubilee Mine-Jubilee Historic Area 7.5km

Image
 U3A Hike No 390. Hike Report by Joan Brick ⛏️ The Journey Begins: Italian Gully The Era of Alluvial Gold (1850–1882) The hike started with a history lesson at Italian Gully. Unlike the massive operations later in the day, this area was defined by "easy" gold. Method: Shovels, picks, and pans. The Boom: A rush of hopefuls arrived to work the surface earth, but the area was eventually abandoned once the easy gold and water supplies vanished. 🌸 Unexpected Finds & The Birdtrail Nature Among the Ruins Before hitting the heavy industrial sites, the bush offered up its own treasures. Spotted Hyacinth Orchid: A rare, leafless find that stood out against the summer scrub. The Rainbow Birdtrail: We spotted the distinctive blue posts marking this 35km historical hiking and riding loop. 🧱 Scaling Up: Mullock Heaps and Dams Signs of Underground Mining As the trail progressed, the landscape changed. Huge mullock heaps (piles of waste rock) signaled that we were entering an a...
Read more

408. Jessie McIntosh-Buninyong Walk 7.7km

Image
 U3A Huke No 408. Hike Report by Sharon Moss Our first winter hike this year delivered all that Ballarat is sadly known for: wet, wet & more wet. Eleven hardy or maybe crazy hikers met at the Buninyong Cemetery. We visited the grave of Jessie McIntosh, a 4-year-old girl who went missing in 1867. She had wandered from her home on the outskirts of Buninyong, with her body found 4 days later near Durham Lead, despite having been seen by several witnesses. This was a tragic situation, as it was not long after three children were lost in Daylesford, their bodies found several months later. A brief car shuffle & we were underway. Beanies, scarves, gloves, coats & overpants was the dress code for today, with none of the usual wardrobe adjustments required! We wandered along well-maintained roads through the bush with the occasional climbs to help keep us warm. Not a lot to report in terms of flora & fauna. Several kangaroos were spotted in a paddock & lovely pops of pi...
Read more