Monthly:April 2023
RED HILL 25 April 2023 Red Hill track is a trail in Mount Wilson that leads to the power lines. The end of the track overlooks the south branch of Bowens Creek. It is always interesting to get a bird’s-eye view of the canyons you have visited! The cliffs at the end of the ridge following Bowens Creek looked interesting! Harold had been on the ridge a few years back but had been stopped by the vegetation. So we decided […]
SHOULD I USE THE DECLINATION ADJUSTMENT ON MY COMPASS? 20 April 2023 High-end compasses have an adjustable declination correction: once set to the local magnetic declination, the compass can be used with a map without having to do the conversion between magnetic and true or grid bearings. Click here if you forgot what Magnetic Declination is! ADJUSTING THE MAGNETIC DECLINATION HOW IS IT DONE? Setting the declination on a compass varies from brand to brand. Usually it requires an adjustment […]
SHARPS PASS TO CANYON COLLIERY TRAIL 18 April 2023 We are back in the Norse Gods playground! The intention was to descend into the Grose Valley via Sharps Pass discovered by a member of the All Nations Bushwalkers Club. From a distance the cliffs in the Blue Mountains look impassable but I am always amazed at the number of passages that can get you through the cliffs. After reaching what I privately call Baldr Head, we headed through the pass. […]
HYDRAULICS PRACTICE 16 April 2023 Bernard had organised a practice session at Lawson RFB as the hydraulics assessment looms large! The weather was cooperating for a change: bright sun and little wind! It also helped that we were in the mid-mountains…. The soon-to-be assessed members practiced closed-relay pumping between two cat 1 trucks. Meanwhile the branch operators had fun doing some hose and branch work.
MALAITA POINT 15 April 2023 Wet canyons are over for me in April: it is too cold! Malaita Point is a nice multi-pitch abseil: not technical and with little exposure! The day was glorious with barely any wind. The views on the Jamison Valley and Mount Solitary were outstanding! I would not be anywhere!
THOR HEAD TO VALHALLA HEAD 13 April 2023 A short walk from Thor Head to Valhalla Head. The views on the Grose Valley are always great from both heads. The trees on the slopes are slowly recovering from the 2019-2020 bushfires. Small landslides dot the landscape. With time, the wounds will heal!
CLIFFLINE NORTH OF SPOT HEIGHT 11 April 2023 Another Yuri exploratory walk! The goal was to explore a long cliffline hoping to find interesting ledges, overhangs or caves and of course an exit! We did not see anything mind blowing but it was a good walk! We did find a pass through the cliffs and continued the exploration from the top. The views were magnificent! We could even see Mount Yengo far far away! On the way back, we were […]
IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS 4 April 2023 After being cooped up for a few days, I did a short walk to stretch my legs in my neck of woods. No gracious views, but there were still a few flowers around. Someone has put a bench overlooking creeks and hills. Further along a teepee made of branches suggest that kids are playing in the area. I scared a yellow-tailed black cockatoo who was busy “attacking” banksia cones. Further on […]
