Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Wednesday 28 September 2022: Around Black Mountain – M/E. An impromptu wander around Black Mountain, starting in the rain.

Summary

From Garmin Connect – Distance: 9.86km | Climb: 475m | Time: 2:25 moving + 0:38 of stops = 3:03 | Grading: M/E; E(7).

Photographs

Photographs are available here.

gpx File

The gpx file is available here.

Track Notes

I was last on Black Mountain on 14 Jun 18.

An ulterior motive got me out today – to check out the area for a daylight savings evening walk on Thursday 6 October. Come and join me then as I now know the way. There’s no need to book, just turn up at the electricity substation on Frith Rd at 6pm.

It was raining as we gathered and put on our coats. Four of us decided to walk and I’m glad we did. The rain cleared after 20 minutes and there were some interesting sites and flowers to take in.

We first headed toward ‘Little Black Mountain’. The first of several orchids trackside.

Lauren took us up the footpad to the flat summit that I’ll use on my evening walk.

We then walked down through the open woodland to a fire trail that took us in a westerly arc around the big Black Mountain. It was then NE up the steep route to join the Forest Track (Stan’s ‘Hat Band’).

Lauren had entertained us with stories of her nighttime scorpion hunts in the area. They show blue in torchlight. At least we wanted to see one in daylight and the first rock turned over revealed a small one (rock very carefully replaced with said scorpion safely in a depression).

We headed round the Forest Track anticlockwise to check out the drainage line at the bridge. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it flowing before.

After crossing (and recrossing, sorry) Black Mountain Drive, we headed down the road to the lower car park corner and into a bouldering site Lauren knew. First visit for me – I didn’t know Black Mountain had such delightful little cliff-ettes.

A quick smoko, then back to the road and down a bit. A more pleasant (and safer than the narrow road verge) route across the top of the Botanic Gardens, then down through them for a coffee. I wouldn’t write home about it and probably enjoyed a hot, instant cup more when I got home.

Track Map

Here’s where we went.

The AllTrails track map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Party

4 walkers. Cynthia Br, Terry G, Lauren O (who herded us like her cats), me.