Nice, cool, cloudy day, headed up past Beehive falls, along the new track to the junction with the Mt Difficult/Gar loop.
I missed the turnoff up the old way, but wasn't too worried, still got to blow out some lockdown cobwebs and deal with the increased Gravity to which Big Kev alerted.
So, easier track turned out good enough.
The junction was the furthest I'd been before, that was a wet, crap day for walking, so I turned back, but this time weather was perfect.
Headed for Long Point East, that climb shortly after gets the sweat flowing, but I managed it.
Then up and down, a bit of prickly stuff. There's a shortcut along the way that takes you from the Eastern side of the Mt Difficult range V-shape or Chevron to near the new GPT Gar campsite that the track making fairies have put in for the GPT.
I kept going, realized I was walking a new GPT track when the Topo Map in Avenza App said I was walking in scrub, even though it was nice track, shortly after it veered to a junction with the existing track and nice signs for GPT users.
I followed the track a bit more and realized I was heading for Hall's Gap, so a quick scrub bash, fall on my *&%$#!, and I was back on the trail to Long Point East.
A bit of descending and I came across a nice spring/creek that was flowing. I think a denizen/member of this forum had told me about this spring ages ago.
Pack off, break, collect water. Lovely.
Shortly after, Long Point East, just a clear patch of sandy ground with a Fire pit.
Followed the fire trail too the junction with Long Point Fire Trail, then on to Long Point West campsite.
Nice setup, dunny, marked tent sites.
Another break,it was getting on, but still had 3 hours of daylight, so up the steep climb to the western side of the Mt Difficult range V-shape.
After some more sweating, I was at the turnoff for Mt Difficult, pack down, up to the top for a few pictures/videos, quick text or 3, then back to pack.
Headed past the other end of the GPT shortcut track, then the new Gar campsite and down to complete the loop of Mt Difficult circuit.
It was getting dark, so went a short distance to Briggs Bluff campsite. There was another tent there by then, but found a nice spot.
Day 2. Briggs Bluff Campsite to Beehive Falls carpark. 08 Nov. 5-6km?
Up early after ordinary sleep, wind picked up during night, and sounded like a jet rushing through nearby valleys, and my inflatable mattress decided it was deflatable.
Anyway, left camp about 6:30am, walked down the 3 sets of stairs, past Beehive Falls to car about 8:30am and gunned it back to the big-smoke.
Lovely country in the Grampians, and weather was perfect for an unfit bloke to trundle about all day without getting heat-stroke.
Pretty happy with the distance I covered and finally reaching Mt Difficult summit.
Felt a lot zip in the legs compared to the Razorback-Feathertop walk last week.
Gear worked well, except mattress.
I have some videos and photos, if I put something together I'll post a youtube link.
- Road to Long Point East
- Trig Marker
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