Improving the Walking Experience

Devils Throne Reroute

Friday 2 June 2017

There had been enough days of milder weather to melt the snow from earlier in the week and it was decent enough day, with some sun. This was the fourth day at creating a new track to avoid the wet plain on the way to Devils Throne in Wellington Park. All the final 210 metres, left to be cleared at this event, was over solid rocky ground and included large flat rock making for easy passage for walkers.

We were able to complete the task and also move a considerable number of nearby rocks into gaps.  The rocks make it both easier for walking and help define the route.

Greg and Adrian at the junction, the new track leads off behind them

Bruce and Nick lunching, Greg in foreground.

Over the four days we have created a new route of 815 metres; which is quite a feat. The old wet and degraded crossing was 520 metres, but as the new route is more direct, some 175 metres of track became redundant. When this added in, the old track totalled roughly 700 metres making it not that dissimilar in distance to the new way; but of course, it is now ever so much more pleasant for walking.

New track through a thick section of vegetation

Route before  work

Same site as above after clearing 

On the way  to and from the site it was most noticeable that the old track from Thark Ridge down was like a creek with water running rapidly.

Over the last 5 years the Wellington Park Bushcare Group has created   over 2 kilometres of completely new tracks in the park, replacing braided and degraded tracks.  This figure does not include existing tracks that have been cleared of overgrowing vegetation.

There are more photos from the day at this web site


A history of the Devils Throne work is at this link

Addendum

Sunday 4 June 2017

With the last 25 metres at the far end of the rerouted track not connected to the existing track, it was a worry that people may have difficulty in getting to the junction. To avoid this, I went with Sue with aim of at least marking the way with tape. As it turned out we were able to clear the path through.

A group from the Hobart Walking Club came along the new track and many mentioned how appreciated they were of the new track and thought it was a good improvement.

The walk allowed a review of the track and what is needed to remedy few spots.  The section cleared on 2 June does not need anything done, but earlier sections have several spots where rocks are needed to harden the surface and some of the rocky parts could do with a bit of rock manoeuvring to make passage easier. Both these were known but there are also a few very short distances that additional clearing would be beneficial.