Trip report
| 2006-05-13 | Bushwalking weekend at Blue Gum Forest |
| Trip report: | |
| Overall, this trip was remarkable for the amount of organized cooperation and logistics that took place to bring it off. While mainly experienced bushwalkers, those who undertook this expedition were relatively new members of the Club, and for them this was their first overnight walk as a group. The transport logistics were formidable. The exercise began about 6 am when Erika drove up in a 20 seat Coaster which Jo-Anne had “obtained.†John and Roz, Mark, Erika, Mike, Mikes daughter Mishka, and finally Deborah, joined the bus, which set out, driven by Jo, to pick up James at Falconbridge. Thence to Glenbrook, where Erika and Mishka disembarked, and were met by Jon Campbell, to carry out Peter's Community College walk in that area. Erika was leading, as Peter was ill with the flu. The bus continued on to Victoria Falls, where the six walkers set off for the bottom of the falls and on to Burra Korain Flat. Jo then drove the bus back to Glenbrook. (Are you following this? There will be a short memory test at the end.) Armed with a number of A4 sized laminated sections of the appropriate topographic maps, several GPS units, and Mikes faulty memories of the trip, the group reached Crayfish Creek on schedule and were traveling well. Mike was convinced they were at Luna Park. Meanwhile, Jo had driven the bus back to attempt to join Erika on the Glenbrook walk. She was too late for that, but met up with them at the conclusion, for lunch. The real walkers, in the valley of the Grose river, were making their way steadily along the ups and downs of the trail, beside pools and boulders, towered over by magnificent cliffs, towards their campsite for the night. The Hungerford Track, up Pierce’s, was passed, followed by Little Blue Gum and then the first “reliable water†stop was reached by about 3pm. At about the same time, the bus had been driven to Neats Glen, the end point of the walk, where it was parked outside a Coffee shop. Jon then transported Erika and Jo-Anne to the top of Perry’s Lookdown, where they would begin their descent to the Blue Gum. This they reached by about 4.30 pm, and picked a campsite. Erika made a cup of tea… As light began to fail, the walkers passed through The Blue Gum Forest and on to Acacia Flat. Erika made another cup of tea… All were reunited, and it was good. Tents pitched, cooking began, and a full moon rose above the canopy. Spoiled somewhat by the fires lit by other campers, despite the prohibition on fires, which we chose to honor. Reluctantly. Well fed and bloody tired, we went to bed about 9-ish, a night distinguished by the comforting howls of dingoes, and far too much light for James, in the open, in his bivie bag. A mild night, no significant dew and no frost, but a slightly foggy morning. Atmospheric. 500m past Acacia, we filled up at the second “reliable†water stop and galloped on along Govetts Creek towards Junction Rock. At a food stop just short of the rock, the three GPS bearers “didst confer mightily†about differing estimates of direction and distance to this landmark, which was now clearly visible to those of us without equipment. Aristotle would have been proud of them! A mammoth effort climbing the unending stairs got us to Beauchamp Falls for lunch. We had knocked off a lot of verticality, and lunch was well deserved. A bit of gratuitous food swapping took place, and Erika made…..Ill bet you can’t guess! The falls expose a sequence of rocks from the coal measures of the Permian up to the sandstones and shales of the lower Triassic. Thence on through the Grand Canyon, some times painfully slowly up the steps, past the Evans Lookout track, through and beside the boulder strewn stream bed. The Canyon supports a wealth of “ferny stuff†(technical term) and can be quite atmospheric. The sections towards the top show the entrenched meanders of Greaves Creek, meanders formed before the uplift of the mountains. Finally, Neats Glen, the car park, and the bus, parked outside the coffee shop, where we had the best coffee in the world! And Erika had…HOT CHOCOLATE! How predictable is that? Then, shouldering our packs for the last time we climbed into the magic school bus and Jo-Anne drove us all home, where we all slept happily ever after. We had successfully completed a substantial and classic walk. Mark did an excellent job of navigation and scouting ahead, supported by the amiable James, who revealed tantalizing glimpses of his past escapades. John and Roz had lots of good food, good gear and experience, supporting the relative new chum Deborah with advice and encouragement. Mike staggered about with his walking poles, desperately fighting gravity and Alzheimer’s. The bus, Jo-Anne’s idea, was very popular and successful, eliminating car shuffles, and encouraging socializing, which we all do so well. Jon played his part in the transport arrangements, and met us at the coffee shop. What more can I say? I’d do it all over again? Like hell I would! I thought we were going to Luna Park… Report by: Mike Davies | |