Weld River Walk

[Dolerite Walker]

There are readily available directions for this four hour return walk to the Weld River along a tagged track which is also used as access by paddlers. Some points of note:

1. The walk starts at hydro pole 106. Be aware that the poles are numbered from the Strathgordon end of Mueller Rd not the Styx end, the latter being the direction from which you will be driving.

2. Hydro pole 107 fits the description of being "about 11km" from the start of Mueller Rd and along a short side road. Pole 106 is a further 400m down the road (my odometer put it closer to 12km from the start of Mueller Rd) and along a forested track.

3. The start of the walk proper is not distinct as it is through overgrown ferns. If it cannot be found push through the first ~20m to the start of the forest and scan along the forest edge. The tagged track will become evident.

4. The first ~third of the walk is character building (horizontal scrub). It would not be a straightforward prospect with a large pack. It then eases into undulating myrtle/sassafras forest.

5. On the return leg the route is not as obvious, taking a few sharp turns and the tags in places being harder to spot, presumably because the track was originally tagged only in the one (inward) direction.

6. Mueller Rd is gated. We checked in advance and double checked on the day that it would be open and indeed it was. But on the drive out we found the gate locked!!@*&!! The gate access is managed by Forestry NOT the Mt Field Parks office. To prevent a repeat episode it would be worth checking with the Forestry office at National Park and if a key is available, taking it "just in case". Fortunately for us it ended well with not too much delay.

This should help any interested parties.