Moderate fitness required

As part of getting to know the area I am trying to get to a few places we haven't been to before.  The first of these was Howe Flat.  That was VERY flat.  Today's effort was Genoa Peak which was not flat at all, rising 188m in 1800m  which is 10,4% (or about 1 in 10 for traditionalists).   On average - and averages usually conceal a range of sins, which attribute is very evident on this walk as will be discussed later.

I'll point out that I did invite Frances to join me on this outing but having read a brochure which featured the walk,she asked for further and better particulars especially WRT:

• How steep is it?
• Are there nice views without climbing ladders?

These questions will be answered in what follows.

Here is the route followed courtesy of eBird.  It makes the walk a little more than 3km return (but I suspect the 3km is estimated from a paper map, rather than a GPS tracker).

From looking at a paper (you know,that white stuff made from dead trees) topo map it seems that the start point is very close to 300m above sea level.  That is the value I have used in calculating gradients. 

Not being very confident of my current fitness I was a bit worried about this condition,  There is another sign which mentions 2 hours return, which taken with 3km return emphasises the word "steep".   Here is an early snap of the terrain.  Steep is possibly a bit harsh for this (see calculation below) but it does go on.

The forest floor was well decorated with fallen. and empty Casuarina cones,  The condition of the cones is a fair indicator that Glossy Black-Cockatoos have not been around: they chew the cones to get at the seeds.

The only reptiles seen were skinks: this one posed for a snap.

Eventually, after gaining about 120m in 1400m (~8.6% or 1:12, which is moderately sloped at least as a response to the first question) one gets to a lookout with extremely bodacious views across to the North West.  I think that answers Frances' 2nd question.  The panorama is an excellent example of the genre.

The view continues round towards the South!

As one turns from the lookout it is clear that the climbing isn't yet done

Zooming in to the high point one can just pick out the railing around the lookout there.

Getting to the Peak began withe a fairly flat (overall - it went up and down through boulders) 300m around the base of the tor.  Then in did the last 50 vertical metres in about 100 horizontal.  50% or 1:2.

 I didn't take photos on the way up but you'll get an idea in the later shots.  The lookout on the peak was quite small: perhaps 5m x 2m.  But I doubt if there is ever a crowd up there, 

This is the view East over the Lakes of the Inlet

This view goes back West with the lookout marked by the arrow.

This sign was at the top of the ladders.  For the top two it doesn't really need the graphic as only one rock face is available: the bottom ladder is between two rock faces so the graphic does help (although by then you should have worked it out)!

This view down the top ladder possibly exaggerates the steepness.  It was the only one with a cover so possibly was a bit more straight-up than the others.

This is looking up the middle, and longest, ladder.

Then it was all downhill.  It took me an hour on the way up, including taking photos at the lower lookout, but only 30 minutes, including photo time going down.  All in all an interesting walk.   Despite there being very few birds around it was very pleasant walking and views were stunning from the top.