25 May 2008

There were six of us who braved this walk. We parked at Bellbird Picnic Ground as this was where the walk was to end. We set off up the Bellbird track around 8.00am to the Cunningham Gap Car Park where across the road is the start of Mt Mitchell walk.

We headed up the Mt Mitchell track taking in some of the spectacular views back towards Brisbane and west towards Warwick. The track meanders around Mt Mitchell until you reach the top around 1170m. On reaching the summit we took a morning tea break. An unknown walker arrived and he kindly offered to take a photo of all of us.

On the way back down we took the track to the left that leads to West Peak where we had lunch. After lunch we took a bearing to try and get as close as possible to Bellbird Picnic Ground. We followed the ridge down the West Peak toward the picnic ground until we reached a high ridge, the picnic ground was on the other side of this ridge.

It was agreed to skirt around the ridge and we came out onto the Cunningham Highway 600m short of the picnic ground. It was just as well we went around the ridge as there is a sudden step drop off the ridge onto the highway. We walked up the highway to the picnic ground arriving around 2.00pm where all showed their gratitude for a great walk.

I would like to thank John Morris, Margaret Smith, Noelene McKay, Suzanne Stevens and Muriel for accompanying me on this walk and making it a walk to remember.Gil. Gunthorpe