This was an interesting walk with Bob. It was one we had thought of doing for a fair while, but had not got around to doing due to various factors such as bushfires and Covid. Our main objective was to visit the chert mine at the base of Victoria Pass and then traverse the ridge to Sugarloaf Mountain.
So we parked at the second (lower) arrestor bed near the bottom of Victoria Pass. From there we started ascending. We soon reached an old road type formation. It may have once been a railway formation for the chert mine. We followed it up and soon reached a quarry. This was the old chert mine. Chert was once used as a road material, but was soon replaced with blue metal (basalt).
We left the mine and kept on climbing. It was easy going and we soon reached the top of the ridge.
From there, we could look down at the old convict built bridge that is still used on Victoria Pass. And nearby, great views of Kanimbla Valley.
We continued walking towards a high point that is called Mt Victoria. Along the way was some simple scrambling.
We then arrived at a large rock platform. Ahead we could see the ridge continuing and the turn-off to Sugarloaf Mountain.
We observed a Rock Warbler –
We left the high point of Mt Victoria, and descended to a saddle then up the other side. All very easy and open walking.
Near the next top, we found a small hut structure.
We then turned off and walked out a side ridge to Sugarloaf Mountain. Again, easy walking.
At the far end, we stopped at a nice spot for lunch. The new descended and followed an old fence line to the Great Western Highway.
From there, it was a short walk back to Bob’s car. This was a very interesting walk, and new to both of us.
As it was still quite early, we decided to visit the Blair Athol coal mine at Mt Victoria. We drove up Victoria Pass, through Mt Victoria and then went ashore way out along the Victoria Falls fire road. At the powerlines, we parked and followed a side road to the sign that marked the start of the track to the coal mine.
We then followed the track down to the mine. This track was once a haulage for the coal mine. In two places we saw concrete foundations used for motors for the haulage railway.
The mine suddenly appears at a small bluff.
The mine is open and contuse down at the same angle as the railway. We went down several hundred metres until the way ahead was flooded by a pool of crystal clear water.
This was an interesting short excursion.