Monthly:March 2023
WONGARRA RIDGE TO WALLS LOOKOUT 31 March 2023 The weather decided to cooperate and off we went to the Bells Line of Road. I had done Walls Lookout to Wongarra Ridge several times, but not the other way around. The views were magnificent as usual. Several climbers were having fun on Mirrorball and we spent some time watching them from Wall Lookout. A short day but a rewarding walk!
LITTLE ZIG ZAG TRACK 30 March 2023 The plan was to walk the Little Zig Zag Track and Rienits Pass in Mount Victoria to prepare for this pesky Arduous Pack Test. Remembering that Rienits Pass was closed at some point, I checked the Blue Mountains City Council website: no mention of Rienits Pass among the many temporarily closed tracks. Good to go!When we arrived at the start of the track, a sign informed us that Rienits Pass was after all […]
VALLEY OF THE WATERS 29 March 2023 After ten days of generally bad weather, I decided to pay a quick visit to the Valley of the Waters to get those legs going. A squall of rain almost made it a non-event, but the sun shone on the rest of the afternoon. There were still a few tourists and locals on the track as well as a commercial group doing Empress Canyon. It was still a lovely walk! The track is […]
2023 HYDRAULICS COURSE 26 March 2023 The hydraulics course was on and I was assisting! As luck would have it, the weather went in sympathy with its own hydraulics show… For me, the highlight of the day is the buoy wall: watching the participants unpacking and packing it back! They did well! I was at the Cat 7 station explaining the finer points of drafting… Then, surprise! I was charged to demonstrate to each group, foam production with the Quenchmaster! […]
BALD HEAD RIDGE 20 March 2023 The mountains were wrapped in mist that contrasted with the heat of the previous day. A nice little walk to Bald Head and Bennett Lookout was on the menu. Views: there were none! The mist made place to drizzle and we reconvene for a hot cup of tea at Karin’s place!
WOLLANGAMBE TWO – DRAFT 18 March 2023 With high temperatures and a high fire danger, we abandoned our plan to visit Kanangra and decided to cool ourselves in Wollangambe Two instead. We entered W2 via the Serendipity Canyon exit with a leisured tea break on the rock platform which was surprisingly devoid of water dragons. The water was rather cold and the sun was not shining any warm rays in the gorge: it is mid-March after all! Swims, wades, scrambling […]
GREAT UNCLE GEORGE 16 March 2023 Kevin wanted to christen his new Bestard boots: I was happy to oblige! So off we went to Great Uncle George on a sunny hot day! I love creeks and waterfalls: this was paradise and we had it for us alone!
ETHEREAL CANYON 15 March 2023 It had been a while since I had visited Ethereal Canyon which, with one constriction, is more a creek than a canyon. Although the 2019-20 fires did damage the area, the creek was mostly untouched and offered the best of rainforest environments: creeks, waterfalls, palm tree ferns, and mossy rocks.
ERSKINE CREEK – NO NAME RIDGE 11 March 2023 The perfect incentive for a 35°C day is the promise of a swim in a creek! Off we went up and then down the No Name Ridge. We reached a long pool on Erskine Creek and threw ourselves in the cool waters of the creek. Following the creek, we took a shortcut back to the Jack Evans Track.
WOLLANGAMBE FIVE 10 March 2023 I had missed out on Wollangambe Six so I was ready for Wollangambe Five. After a steep descent (indicative of a steep ascent), we were walking, paddling, swimming and liloing on the mighty Wollangambe River. The exit did not disappoint: after climbing through the main cliff line, the distance to the cars was about 400 m but the elevation was 200 m!
