29/01/2025. Hope Hill. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: John Gardiner and Murray Hickley.
The last club tramp here was almost exactly two years ago and Diane and Marijke’s description is quite excellent, so I’ll not repeat that. Undertaken in ever warming conditions and rising afternoon winds, over exposed farmland, twelve trampers were very glad to get down to the cars some five hours after leaving.
It is rightly graded a ‘4’, clearly fitting into time, altitude gains and terrain characteristics. It’s a good work out!
From the start, John led us up half an hour before we had morning tea in a rustic farm implement graveyard.
Then, going over the farmland’s high points, we took in majestic views up and down the coast as well as inland to the Rock and Pillars.
Heading uphill from McLaren Gully Road, lunch was had by two cell phone towers which afforded some protection from the wind, but more interestingly, we were thoroughly entertained by two engineers working, fully harnessed, high up one tower. It was impressive.
A good tramp completed with excellent companionship and thanks to John for his leadership.
Once again, the club would sincerely like to thank Graeme Wallace of Hope Hill for allowing us to enjoy his wonderful working farm.
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.