Afternoon Excursion

[mjdalessa]

Sunday afternoon I decided to check out Dromedary and Platform Peak. I have heard some people have had some issues with Dromedary, so thought this might interest people. Unfortunately I have no pictures worth posting because my camera went flat and had to take them on my phone.

First we tried the east face approach. You drive across the bridge water bridge, turn left into Boyer rd., then right into church rd. From here you can choose to look for a way up on Perrymore rd., Church rd. or Cranes Rd. Cranes has the most opportunities, so is probably the best. This is the option we chose. There are plenty of places along this road to go up, but we chose to try and pick up the track from the end. Close to it we hit private property and 'video surveillance' signs. We kept driving past these and soon a car took off at high speed to accost us, but the house at the end beat us to it. We were treated to a guard of honour as we were escorted out. Interesting people. We did not continue trying to find a way up the east face because they were all alerted to our prescence and would probably be abused for walking into their 'patrol zones' and outstaying our welcome.

We were then given directions (probably prepared for such occasions, given how precise and pre meditated they seemed) to drive back out (convenient, I know) right round to Broadmarsh and up Storeys Road. Near Broadmarsh there are these resident cows that 'reside' on the road (including 3 bulls) which walked in front of the car for 10minutes, they just didn't want to move! Further up we encountered people that asked us if we were heading to 'Nrth'lk' with what we suspected were trailer loads of illegally felled wood. This was just outside Dromedary State Forest, in the middle of nowhere.



We climbed Platform Peak from here, this is well marked. Very nice little mountain if you ignore then post 10 years western front replica on the ridge/ plateau between the peak and Dromedary. The sign indicates 1:30hrs, but it is more like 30mins return (just walking time).

Then we continued along the obvious road (which can get enclosed and rough) to a fallen tree where we stopped to walk. This is heading downhill from Dromedary. We picked up a tagged shortcut on the right and then the fire trails started heading up. These unexciting and demoralising roads go on for a fair while and pass directly underneath the summit. Its an easy stroll to the rocky summit from there.

This approach is definitely not preferable as it is much longer and less exciting, so am planning to try the east face sometime too. The list shows un-owned forest, and this appears to be the case on Cranes road. It may however be private land so am not sure (there are no fences or houses within 100m or so). The mountain appears to be 1.5km of easy but steep walking from this road. Best to be on the cautious side if heading up this way, it would be very easy to end up in the backyard of a ‘caravan property’ as the blocks are quite tight and probably best to not visit the end of the road.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Haha classic

[frenchy_84]

yeah same thing happened to me. they must have one hell of a plantation up there

[stepbystep]

Walking clubs traverse from PP to Dromedary, no dramas that way.

[mjdalessa]

Sbs, thats what I did. Not too exciting though.

[weetbix456]

Sbs, thats what I did. Not too exciting though.

what'ya mean?!? there's big phat roads, a magnificent variety of trees and 360' views the entire walk!

[mjdalessa]

We went up Storeys Road from Broad Marsh. Destruction and limited views...

[weetbix456]

just joshin ay..

[Graham51]

I'm thinking of going up to Handsome Cave from Magra. Does anyone know if this route continues up to the fire trail that heads over to Mt Dromedary?

[bauera]

Friend and i went up Dromedary a few years ago. Can't remember which road but it was definitely on eastern side. Found some friendly residents who let us access through their property no trouble. Bit of a scrub bash up to the ridge then followed a taped/cairned route along the ridgeline south to the peak/s. Unfortunately due to age related (or is that alcohol related) brain deterioration I can't be more specific. But it does indicate that you can find accommodating folk in the area.

[Lagaro]

I went up the "east face" with some friends a couple of years ago, on AFL grand final day and we were a bit intimidated at first but the people on the property adjacent to where we parked, cam and had a chat while we put on our gaiters! They said to go on ahead and that we would find our way up with no trouble!
They said that the road before the track started led to private property but to stay on the left and we would be O.K.
I noticed the private property had a tree across the road on a cable and could be winched on and off the road easily
Was an exciting walk, steep gull of ferns and wattle leading to some quite impressive and treacherous patches of scree.
IMHO the forest is reclaiming the scree quite steadily! If you PM fizzygood on this forum he may be able to recall the exact start point

Did Platform peak from the boom gate at the end of Braslins Rd coming from New Norfolk, I had driven out to the boom gate and thought nah' thats not it then drove back a couple of k's I asked an old gent driving into his property how to get up there. He said the boom gate was right and that he hoped I had gaiters because there were plenty of Jack Blacks about