Wow – I made it to the top ! While it was a long climb and I was not leading the fray, at no time did I feel that I was not going to make it. This is an achievement! and I feel pretty good about it. Besides the physical achievement – the views were fantastic and the wildflowers by the track superb. In the photo, taken as I drove back from viewing the Pickers Huts, Trestle Mountain is the long flat yes ! “Trestle” like bit to the left of of the “Sleeping Beauty” it is 1,140 m.
I have been a member of the Hobart Walking Club for around 16 years and over that time I have displayed varying degrees of fitness. Now, encouraged by retirement from my time as an employee of the University and so able to control my own hours of work, I am able to walk more regularly. After many years of being, what the president once described as, a swinging walker I seem to have settled into Tuesday walks. This does not mean that I will not continue to swing between the days if there is a destination or walk which attracts me, just that at the moment the Tuesday group with their less frenetic pace than the Thursday group and their later start than the Wednesday group, seems to suit me best. It sounds a bit like Goldilocks and the porridge!
There was some trepidation on my part as, earlier in the year I had made it to the top of Cathedral Rock, (876m) but decided not to continue on the walk – I was definitely LAST on that occasion and the day was hot. Perhaps Trestle Mountain would defeat me. On the other hand, I did climb it on my birthday 8 or so years ago. It was early February and hot with a smell of bushfire smoke in the air.
In those days the summit was approached through a chimney 0f rock. I remember reaching the base of the chimney with another walker who also celebrated his birthday that day (he was some years senior to me). We were the rear party and both decided to stop and have our lunch.
The rest empowered me and ten minutes later, not to be defeated, I ventured up the chimney to join the rest of the group. Ten minutes after that, Barry’s head also appeared at the top of the chimney, it was a good moment.
So back to this walk: it was pleasantly cool and as we climbed from Mountain River, we were sheltered from the winds which lashed Hobart. The waratah and the pandani were in flower as were many others, which made the side of the path at the saddle look as good as any native botanical garden.
The Summit was windy as we experienced some of the wind that the city was receiving. The view to the south was laid out like a patchwork, while to the views to the north and west were craggy mountain landscape with swirling clouds as far as we could see. The walk back down was cruisey and allowed me time to dawdle with the camera till the camera battery was empty. Now I cannot wait for another really good climb. Lets just keep it cool! Click on the images to see them larger.
