Percival Hill

It’s only a few years ago that I discovered what trigs are, and what they look like. But that’s all I needed. As soon as I knew, I started seeing trigs everywhere. Quite a few particularly stand out from the road or ground level. There’s the trig on Reservoir Hill (part of the new suburb in Lawson). The trig on top of Mt Painter. The trig on top of Big Monks. They’re everywhere! And, once I see one, I want to get to it. One trig which has been bugging me for many years is the trig on Percival Hill. It’s the one you spot from William Slim or the Barton Highway, between Crace and Nicholls. I just had to bag it. Finally, that day has come.

TAMS helpfully has a map of Percival Hill, so we set out towards Schow Place in Nicholls. At the end of the cul-de-sac is a very obvious parking area and entrance into the nature reserve.

Boring photo, but you see what I mean, right?

We head towards the first gate we see. We climb through the bit meant for humans, while Cooper does his own form of limbo to get in underneath it.

Never fear: dogs are allowed.

We head straight up the path. It’s a glorious day. The path is a little steep, but not so much that we I need to stop to catch my breath.

At the crest of this hill is another management gate – part of the fence on the right in the photo above. We again scoot through the fence and keep trudging up. I’m starting to get worried that we’re on the wrong path when the trig emerges.

The trig!

We’re here in just over 10 minutes – a short walk, even for us! We spend some time admiring the views.

Looking towards Black Mountain

Cooper and Boyfriend bagging the trig, with the mountain ranges in the background

The little boxes of Crace

Here is a little pano looking out to the west (the trig is just behind me). Click on the image for a closer look.

We turn around and head back the way we came, but instead of turning and heading back down the hill once we pass the second management gate, we keep heading straight, and go up another hill to get the blood pumping.

Looking back to the trig from the other hill

From here, the path meanders back down towards the houses behind Schow Place and Temperley Street, before depositing us right back at the car.

WALK SNAPSHOT

Time required: Less than 30 minutes return, even with the add on

Height: 662m (for comparison’s sake, Mt Majura is 888 metres); I wasn’t measuring but I’m sure the climb is less than 100 metres

Views: Good, not excellent; still, something different from what you’d see on Mt Ainslie, for eg

Flora and fauna excitement level: Low; Percival Hill is mostly a baldy, so there are no trees at the top (also part of the reason why the trig is so easily visible from the road). I saw some weeds and some magpies.

Effort expended: Low; there’s a bit of puffing, but nothing serious

Quality of track: Low-medium; there’s a clearly defined track, but no special footpads. Some of the path is rocky (ie watch where you’re going).

Value for effort: High. It’s always nice to be able to look at a trig and say, “I’ve been there” – and this one required hardly any effort to do so.

Cooper being his sighthound self

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Date: Sunday, 6 October

Cost: Free

Worthwhile factor: Worthwhile; I’d do it again, but probably combined with other walks

Want more? The TAMS map is a great place to start.

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