JOURNAL

JOURNAL

WILD BLUE MOUNTAINS
The Spur

100 m Along Coolana Brook

A 100 m Along Coolana Brook 29 September 2024 I had planned to do Scorpion Hill in May but Parks did a hazard reduction in the area: the plan was shelved! Then Coolana Brook and Scorpion Hill were on the program and I jumped at the chance! Four brave souls followed the Woodford Oaks Trail and descended towards Coolana Brook. The cliffs were easy to go through but things changed when we reached the creek that led to Coolana Brook! […]

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In The Ferns

Another Day Of Bushbashing!

Another Day Of Bushbashing! – TO DO 17 September 2024 The goal was a set of pagodas 1.5 km south of Noble’s Canyon. The navigation was straightforward, the vegetation was not! It took us two hours to reach the first set of pagodas: the views were worth it! So was the tea break! We continued on to the edge of the cliffline. After faffing around, we found a passage that led us among a maze of pagodas and ferns through […]

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Forest And Rocks

Tallara Ridge

Tallara Ridge 10 July 2024 I was curious to see what was there: it turns out not much! I wanted an easy walk and this old fire trail fitted the bill. It was pleasant walking but there were not many views for most of the trail! The last kilometre was overgrown and with no break on sight, I turned back! One of the highlights was a rock with engravings although I am not sure that this is an authentic aboriginal […]

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Views On Black Billy Head

Redledge Pass To Rockpile Pass

Redledge Pass To Rockpile Pass 11 June 2024 After some heavy rains in May, the Blue Mountains experienced several landslides, one of which to the west of Redledge Pass. We decided to check out the area and redo the walk we did two months ago. The winds on Narrow Neck were cold and strong. We had decided that we would abort if the ledge was windy and gusty: it turned out to be sheltered for the most part!After checking the […]

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Still Life With Stone And Car by Jimmie Durham

A Sydney Wander Before The Rain

A Sydney Wander Before The Rain 6 June 2024 The rain was scheduled for noon so I went on a photographic wander while indulging in some retail therapy as well! On the list were Forgotten Songs, Barangaroo and Barangaroo Reserve. A surprise awaited me at Walsh Bay with the 2024 Sydney Sculpture Exhibition. I then made my way back to Circular Quay as the rain started!

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Embraced!

2024 Vivid Sydney

2024 Vivid Sydney 5 June 2024 A trip to the Big Smoke! My other half had work to do in Sydney so I went along. Vivid Sydney was in full swing so I had a wander in Circular Quay. The last time I saw a Vivid festival was in 2012 and 2013: 2012 had been great, 2013 less so as the novelty had worn off! Fast forward eleven years and many changes have happened! The installations have spilled to neighbouring […]

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Plotting Coordinates

Operate In Remote Environments – Day 02

2024 Remote Area Navigation Course DAY 2 WRITE UP 2 June 2024 On day 02 the participants were split in smaller groups and rotated through several stations: map reading/navigation, dry firefighting, RAFT trailer, first aid and helicopter operations. In spite of the poor weather, a great weekend!

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Night Navigation

Operate In Remote Environments – Day 01

Operate In Remote Environments DAY 1 WRITE 1 June 2024 The weather was not great but the participants were ready for a weekend of bushcraft and navigation in Nowra. The terrain was not challenging but the vegetation in some area was: swamps, fallen timber and long grasses… Everybody soldiered on…

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Jungaburra Ledge - South Side

Jungaburra Brook Area

Jungaburra Brook Area 29 May 2024 Bill wanted to access a cliff ledge that he had spotted from the Jungaburra ledges. We made several attempts but we could not find an access down to this mythical ledge. As time was getting away, we decided to walk along the north side of the Jungaburra Ledge and exit at Jungaburra Brook. The creek was dry! We continued along the dry brook looking at tracks made by animals. We arrived to a spot […]

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Wentworth Creek

From Lawson Ridge To Wentworth Creek

From Lawson Ridge To Wentworth Creek 22 May 2024 Ever obsessed with Wentworth Creek after a failed attempt the previous month, I proposed to reach it from Lawson Ridge. Two hardy souls joined me for the adventure and off we went along the Lawson Ridge Fire Trail. It took us about 90 minutes to reach the cliff line. We stopped for tea and enjoyed the views on the Kolonga Labyrinth. From there map and compass came out!  The going was […]

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