18 October - Plus Walk: Blue Mountains NP - Mt Victoria to Ikara return and Thor Head return via Asgard Swamp

Leaving Sydney under grey skies and rain, with more forecast to come around Mt Victoria, made for a very inauspicious start to this walk. However, the day turned out to be completely the opposite, with extensive fields of varied wildflowers, stunning views, no rain and even some sunshine.

Walkers met part way along the Victoria Road fire trail and soon set off along the foot track to Ikara Head. 

20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 1 Start of the walkStart of the walk20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 14 Walking the Ikara Head trackWalking the Ikara Head track

2024 10 18 Plus Walk Rick M On the way along ridgeOn the way along ridge2024 10 18 Plus Walk Rick M Popular Orchid being photographedPopular Orchid being photographed

It was cool, but not raining and we hoped the most recent forecast for improving weather would turn out to be correct. Wildflowers here were prolific. We stopped briefly for views over the upper Grose, before continuing to morning tea at the top of a westward facing cliff. Views of the cliffs and ferns lining the valley were fabulous.

20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 17 First lookout on the Ikara Head trackFirst lookout on the Ikara Head track20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 19 First lookout to the south on Ikara Head trackFirst lookout to the west on Ikara Head track

2024 10 18 Plus Walk Rick M Morning tea with a viewMorning tea with a view20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 26 Morning at Ikara Head west lookoutMorning tea

We continued to Ikara Head for another extensive view of the Grose, this time looking north.

20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 32 Westerly view Ikara HeadNortherly view Ikara Head

20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 31 Walker at Ikara HeadWalkers at Ikara Head

From Ikura Head, we retraced our steps, back to Victoria Falls Rd, ready for the second half of the walk. The vegetation lining the track was a lot drier on the way back, but the flowers were equally magnificent.

The next part of the walk was to Asgard Swamp and Thor Head, this time along a fire trail. We spotted cicadas drying their wings  a large hairy spider with the form of a funnel web, but a red back. We crossed an unnamed swamp with a display of epacris along the approaches. We had decided that we wanted to have lunch along the track and not on a road, so we continued along Asgard Swamp trail until we spotted a pagoda overlooking Asgard Swamp. It was here that we enjoyed lunch, with a view of the swamp from our perch on top of the pagoda. 

2024 10 18 Plus Walk Rick M Lunch rock at Asgard SwampLunch rock at Asgard Swamp20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 42 Looking north over Asgard SwampLooking north over Asgard Swamp

 

Next was a short walk out to Thor Head, with more extensive views of the Grose River, this time looking east and south over a much deeper valley.

24 10 18 Plus Walk Hazel M On return from Asgard SwampOn return from Asgard Swamp

2024 10 18 Plus Walk Rick M View from near Thor HeadView from near Thor Head20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 50 Lookout at Thor HeadLookout at Thor Head

We retraced our steps back to the cars. By this stage there was some sun, so the spotted sun orchids had opened. As had been the case for the rest of the walk, we had time to photograph the flowers along the way.

  

24 10 18 Plus Walk Hazel M Leptospermum macrocarpumLeptospermum macrocarpum20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 3 WaratahsWaratahs20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 5 Isopogon AnathifoliusIsopogon anethifolius

20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 51 Epacris impressa whiteEpacris impressa white20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 15 BoroniaBoronia20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 16 Spotted Sun Orchid Thelymitra ixioidesSpotted Sun Orchid20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 52 Comesperma ericinumComesperma ericinum20241018 Plus Walk Peter T 54 Acacia seed podsAcacia seed pods

 

24 10 18 Plus Walk Hazel M Green cicadaGreengrocer cicada24 10 18 Plus Walk Hazel M Mask devil cicadaMasked Devil cicada24 10 18 Plus Walk Hazel M Mouse spider male Missulena insignisMouse spider male

 

2024 10 18 Plus Walk Rick M Route mapRoute map2024 10 18 Plus Walk Rick M Elevation profileElevation profile

 

Drinks were at Choc A Latte in Blackheath, with hot and cold drinks and yummy cakes. Thanks to all walkers for an enjoyable day of walking and companionship.

 

Leaders: Jenny C and Peter T

Walkers: Polly, Wendy C, Celia, Hazel, Rick, Pragati

Words: Jenny C

 Pictures: Peter T: 1,2,5,6,8,9,10,12,15,17,18,19,20,21,22,23;  Rick: 3,4,7,11,14,27,28 ;  Hazel: 13,16,24,25,26