Training Log Archive: TheInvisibleLog

Out to Devonshire Gully (Reef was an Alex invention). Aim was to get a longish run in and to do the annual photographing of the state of regrowth since Black Saturday. The trip was about six months later than the annual schedule.
Noted this is my first 50k week in some time.

Before the fire.

From Devonshire Fire Regrowth

Immediately after the fire.

From Devonshire Fire Regrowth

Some three years on.

From Devonshire Fire Regrowth

From Devonshire Fire Regrowth

C • Awesome 2

Basin Road... from an orienteering point of view, one might call it the gateway to Paradise.

From Black Range - The Basin

Well, there you will find terrain as complex as Kooyoora. But whereas Kooyoora has 8.5 sq k of granite, this location has 12.

From Black Range - The Basin

And its often open and runnable.

From Black Range - The Basin

From Black Range - The Basin

From Black Range - The Basin

Now lets talk assembly areas. This is at the end of Basin Road.

From Black Range - The Basin

Lets see. Parking, toilets, canteen, and its sometimes used for camping.

Oh, and perhaps I should mention the immediate proximity of granite terrain on three sides, enough to host an Oz Sprint, Long and Relay from the one assembly area.

From Black Range - The Basin

Green? Well, occasional bands of low visibility across some of the upper slopes, but generally less than 20 metres deep.

From Black Range - The Basin

There are hills, with a terrain difference of 100 metres. Neither as high nor as steep as on Mt Alexander.

From Black Range - The Basin

Interesting watercourses.

From Black Range - The Basin

Some images from the southern end of the range. No special vista selection here either.

From Black Range

From Black Range

Some views from the east of the range after the bushfirees.

From Black Range

From Black Range

Lots more photos of Basin Road area here.
https://picasaweb.google.com/114573865667830672126...
Photos from the south and east of the range here.
https://picasaweb.google.com/114573865667830672126...

The issues.
1. Its south of Stawell. Fair way from Melbourne, but not so bad for Ballarat orienteers. A weekend here is worth a drive.
2. I have no idea of the availability of lidar or aerials at this stage.
UPDATE - No lidar available as of the stocktake report in 2011.
3. Lots of this is private land. Some negotiation is needed. See the cadastral map in the album and below. Dark blocks are public land, white are private. Anyone up for starting talking to the locals? If its to be used for the 2015 Oz Champs, then mapping has to start in the next year.. given the size of the area.

From Black Range - The Basin

From Black Range - The Basin

Too wet to map, so went orienteering, a rare appearance at a local event this year. Conditions were far from pleasant with temperature hovering between 9 and 10, and steady rain falling throughout the event. My mind isn't really switched onto navigation this year, and my body is certainly not switched on for speed.

Tried to run a little faster on an old circuit in the Welsford. Thought it would give me a good idea of how much I have slowed. Will analyse tonight.

C • Answer- a fair bit 4

Windy, warm weather. Into the wind was a real struggle. Epsom Creek.

Exploring some potential mining sprint terrain near Stawell. Maybe.

From Stawell Nuggetty Hill

Black Range Stawell. Explored the area in the north around the Basin, a potential assembly area. This is very impressive terrain and the assembly area is surrounded by high quality granite.
Will put some more picture sup when I have stitched the panoramas. These will do for now.

From Black Range - The Basin

Click on the link for more.

Checking out an area in Tarnagulla I plan to map for the ironman. Will be nice.

From Tarnagulla Creek