Yesterday I walked up the Goldies Spur track from the Buckland River bridge to a point near Green Hill in the Mount Buffalo National Park. It was a hard walk and very steep, climbing from 400 metres to 1100 metres.
I had a good view of the South Face on Mount Buffalo heading up. Waterfalls were cascading down the mountain and could be heard across the valley for several kilometres.
The road snakes along beneath power transmission lines. I walked in short bursts of 100 metres or so, caught my breath and set off towards the next visual target.
My legs handled the effort, but I was wearing different boots to other days and my feet blistered on both heels.
The map I had was very accurate in pinpointing the electricity pylons, so I had markers on the way up and could count my progress.
It was with relief and wonder that I crossed the final ridge at Buffalo Gap and looked in awe at the Great Dividing Range rolling onwards indefinitely into the distance.
The Buffalo Range Road forks away from there and looks as though it would be an interesting longer walk.
I continued along Goldies Spur for a few kilometres until it started a sharp descent, I then retraced my steps to Buffalo Gap for lunch. The temperature there was icy.
This area was ravaged by fire in January and the evidence is stark. I found it interesting that on the way up I could see green regeneration and there were very few trees completely destroyed.
On top of the ridge it was like a war zone, with trees fallen everywhere and little sign of new life. I suspect the harsh winter is to blame. Heavy snow may have toppled the trees over and regeneration couldn’t begin until spring.
Recent snow melt was obvious from the seepage and run-off, probably in the last few weeks.
The downhill climb was okay, but hard on the feet, and I’ll need a few days for them to recover. It all took me four and half hours.
