Updated meeting location for male nude hike on 19th Septemebr
SATURDAY 19th SEPTEMBERNATURIST WALK BACK O' LERDERDERG, FOREST, RIVER AND GORGE WALK (MT BLACKWOOD AREA)Grade:Medium-Hard. Most of the walk is on good but rarely used walking tracks. There is a steep drop of 175 m (575 feet) to the river over 3/4 km requiring good braking with the knees and thigh muscles - you may have jelly legs by the bottom! There is a 1 km rocky section along the river. The return route has a steep 1/2 km climb, otherwise a pleasant and even rise out of the river gorge.Meeting Point / Time:In the large carpark at the eastern end of Lohs Lane, Myrniong, 3341. If coming from Melbourne make a right hand turn into Lohs Lane from Mt Blackwood Rd. The carpark is 1 km along Lohs Lane and has mobile reception.Best route from Melbourne is along the Western Freeway. Take the Myrniong exit. At the end of the exit ramp turn right towardsMyrniong After about 1 km turn right onto Mount Blackwood Rd. (The turn iseasy to missas it's on a sharpish left hand turn! ) Lohs Lane is 6.8 kms from the start of Mt Blackwood Rd.Map Ref:Melway Map X911/611, E1. Also Melway Orange Key Map 7, Ref B2.VicRoads Map 79, Ref G2. On this map the meeting place is called 'Ah Kow Trk'.Approx time from GPO:76 km, allow 1 hour 5 minutes.Food:Need to be self-sufficient with lunch and water. However in the spring there is plenty of water in the river. It is probably drinkable as it goes to the Gisborne and Bacchus Marsh domestic water supply.Footwear:Comfy walking shoes/bootsApparel:The weather can be variable from very hot and sunny, to quite cool. Take contingency clothing as appropriate.The forest is quite thick providing good shade, and is very sheltered from any wind. Other items required are sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses. A small towel could be handy if we find a good waterhole to swim in. Shorts will be required until we get past the one and only house.Activity Description:This event is for Naturists.This is a rugged, beautiful and less visited part of the Lerderderg Gorge. Firstly we walk around the base of Mt Blackwood before meandering along through the thick forest surrounding the Lerderderg River Gorge. The drop to the river is quite spectacular with almost aerial views of the river at times. We will need to take our time along the rocky 1km route along the river before finding McKenzie Track to take us back to the top of the gorge. There is the occasional reminder of the gold digging days - they must have been very keen to come in here!.If the day, is cool the trip will still go on, but in a more clothed format, if walkers prefer.Afternoon Tea/Drinks:We could return to Bacchus Marsh and have them there if we desired (16 mins, 18 kms) on the way back to Melbourne.RSVP:Peter H by Wednesday 16th September on 0402 485 610, orpeteinmel@hotmail.comor online atwww.thenomadsinc.org.au