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Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Sun 27 Sep, 2009 12:21 pm
by Robbo
Arrived home yesterday after a couple of days (wet) at the Grampians. Great walk - the kids loved it, even if they were in their tents from 3 pm to 7 am the next day! The wild flowers are magnificent at the moment - I would liked to have seen them with the sun out...

TR

Re: Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 8:44 pm
by Tas@Heart
I never thought much of the Grampians until I actually went there.(winter, late July 2009). Clean water (summer a different story though I'd say) ,nice terrain and cool camp sites.This trip was the Fortress loop (3 days) and we fluked perfect conditions. No wind,no rain, no people. The walk up Mt Thackeray, 1/2 hour West of the main track would make many a top ten in the very short walks category...very odd country. Not a good place to be in the fire season though.
The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 001.JPG
Good Omen. Looking West into the Grampians
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The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 028.jpg
Looking Northish on the way into the Fortress
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The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 032.JPG
Starting to get a feel for the country
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Re: Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 8:53 pm
by Tas@Heart
3 more. Is 3 the way it always is?
The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 036.jpg
Lookout at the Fortress looking NNW.Thackeray out of picture RHS
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The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 059.jpg
This really weighs on your mind at night
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Special spot. Faces the dawn through the trees. Called Eastern Cave I think.(night 1)
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Re: Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 9:04 pm
by Tas@Heart
3 more
The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 069.JPG
Looking SW at Mt Thackeray.Looks like you could climb it like a ladder.
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The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 087.jpg
On Mt Thackeray, looking SW at The Fortress.(Central, in the shade)
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The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 091.JPG
On Mt Thackeray looking NE. The walk up Mt T. goes down from the RHS through the gully between lumps and Mt T.
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Re: Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 9:16 pm
by Tas@Heart
Almost there.1 more snap after these 3.
The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 093.JPG
Looking NW ish, coming down off Mt Thackeray.
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The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 112.JPG
2nd night about 2km Nth of Mt Thackeray. Looking North. Climbed a lump and chilled to another sunset then stars with a hot cuppa.
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The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 138.JPG
A lot of the country is "painted' like this.
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Re: Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 9:19 pm
by Tas@Heart
Last one.I hope these were of interest.
See ya
The Fortress loop in Grampians  July24-26 2009 140.jpg
Close up of the colours. End of trip.
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Re: Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 9:30 pm
by eggs
Yes - you are always limited to 3 at a time.

Great photos from both of you.
How well marked is the Fortress loop?

Re: Grampians - Mt Difficult

PostPosted: Wed 28 Oct, 2009 9:41 pm
by Tas@Heart
Pretty clear most of the time. The track is maintained but not to a high degree, which is actually nice. A good wack of the second half of the loop (going counter clockwise) is on closed and current summer vehicle tracks. There are usually small rock cairns as needed on the exposed rocky slabs but use of 'The Force ' is needed to save a few minutes here and there.
cheers