10 August - Plus walk - Blue Mountains NP - Upper Grose Valley

2018 08 10 Plus Peter T lunch view panorama

THE VIEW FROM THE LUNCH SPOT WAS WORTH THE WALK!!

After much debate about which head we were actually on we set out on our exploration of one of the iconic heads stretching out along the Upper Grose Valley. Our head was Ikara an aboriginal name for a throwing stick or club as opposed to the other heads Asgard, Thor and Valhalla which belong in Norse mythology. 

The day was  fine and clear with thankfully no wind and not too cold in contrast to when Jill and Rhondda checked the walk in minus two degrees and strong winds  when we thought we would end up in the Grose River.

    2018 08 10 Plus Peter T M T with darling causeway below        2018 08 10 Plus Peter T M T above Darling Causeway                                                                                                                                                   MORNING TEA BREAK - POSED AND UNPOSED

 

        2018 08 10 Plus Peter T from near end of Ikara Head                                                                                                                                                    VIEW EAST FROM NEAR IKARA HEAD

 

2018 8 10 Plus Claude group stopped for a photo opp                                                                                                                 PAUSE FOR A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
 
 
Apart from short climbs through the forest walking past amazing rock formations and pagodas, passing tall scribbly gums, and flowering wattle we were on the open ridge top walking along a narrow track, over rock platforms and open heath with extensive views across the other heads, the upper Grose and towards Mt Banks.
 
                          2018 08 10 Plus Peter T contemplating climb                        2018 08 10 Plus Peter T photographer looked north to Kamara Bluffs                                                                                         CONTEMPLATING A SHORT DIVERSIONARY CLIMB                                          PHOTOGRAPHER MUST HAVE BEEN BETTER BETTER TO LOOK AT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    THAN THE VIEW!     (KAMARA BLUFFS)
 
From Ikara Head itself and following Clive we went off track dropping down from the ridge top to an extensive rock shelf below where we had lunch. All around there were views of the walls and cliffs of the Grose. After a climb following Clive back up to the top of the ridge we found the track leading back along the ridge to Victoria Falls Road and the cars.   
 
                    2018 08 10 Plus Peter T happy walkers reurning                    2018 08 10 Plus Peter T wattle                                                                                                            HAPPY WALKERS HURRYING TO COFFEE
   
A lovely day ended with coffee at the Mt Victoria Teashop.
 
Walking with Jill and Rhondda today were Clive, John D'C, Ros, and John G, Margaret and Claude, Pragati, Guenter, Kurt,and Peter T. 
 
Report by Jill

Photos: Peter T (1,2,3,4,6.7.8.9); Claude (5)