Monday 26 – Friday 30 August 2019

Mary & Stan and Porcupine Rocks

Stan behind the Rocks

Porcupine Rocks Track

Karen on the way back to Perisher

Dave, Stan & Mary with the walk track sign

All photos by Karen

Day 1 (Tuesday) Porcupine Rocks:  As you can see from the map this walk starts at Perisher Village and heads towards Porcupine Rocks on the escarpment.  We had good snow cover which was firm, and perfect for getting used to the snow shoes.  Our track was 8 km in total, and as the day was fine, clear and sunny we lingered along the way to soak up the magic of the experience.  We came across a lot of very friendly cross country skiiers and several pairs of snow shoers who also couldn’t believe their luck in finding themselves out in the snow on such a gorgeous day.

We hired our snow shoes from Wildnerness Equipment in Jindabyne ($69 for 3 days), and Dave lent me his walking poles which had big crosscountry snow baskets at the base which helped a lot in the softer snow.

Karen

Cascade Trail Map

Starting on the Cascade Trail near Dead Horse Gap

Bridge at Thredbo River

Mid snow shoe

An unburned snowgum forest

Day 2 (Wednesday) Cascade Trail:  Our track today was 8.5 km and as we started walking the trail from the carpark, we were wondering if there would be enough snow to comfortably complete the circuit.  The trail itself had good snow cover, but the surrounding hills were starting to look a bit bare.  However, after crossing the Thredbo River bridge, we headed upslope and into deeper snow.  I’ve spent very little time in snow, and I found this whole experience to be really quite something.

We had the back country above Dead Horse Gap to ourselves on this occasion and Dave unerringly led us off track in a wide circuit, and finished by descending through a mercifully unburned forest of snowgums.  We saw one brumby near the start of the walk and once again, because the weather was fine, we were able to linger a while and enjoy the day.

Karen

Plains of Heaven map

The cornice

Another beautiful snow gum forest

Plains of Heaven

It’s snowing

Day 3 (Thursday) Plains of Heaven:

Having checked the weather forecast the night before, there was a high possibility that it would be snowing  at Perisher today.   However we were delighted to find, on opening our curtains at 7am, to see that it was actually snowing in Jindabyne!

So fully prepared for possible snow showers, we once again headed up Kosciuszko Road towards Perisher.   Today’s start point was Dainers Gap, a popular roadside “play area” for non skiers, about 3 km past Sponars Chalet.   Alighting from our cars we were instantly aware that today was going to be much colder, we would need to wear those extra layers that we had been carrying for the previous two days.

Due to its popularity the first part of the slope was  pitted with deep boot prints, however as we climbed the snowscape changed to softer snow with fewer tracks.  Continuing to climb in a northerly direction we soon left the road well behind, and found ourselves  looking down over the “Plains of Heaven”, a narrow plain between us and Kerry View Hill.   Before descending onto the plain we spent a little time examining an interesting cornice edged in fine icicles.

The initial objective of our intrepid leader Dave, was a Trig Point on Kerry View Hill.   The lighter snow cover on the plain, which often just covered the ground hugging bushes, led to a more cautious stride in order to prevent the snowshoe breaking through the surface.  Though it was a steady climb up Kerry View Hill to the Trig Station, as this was to be our morning tea stop, we could relax and enjoy the magnificent view across to the Main Range.

With snowshoes back on it was time to descend a little to the east before tackling “The Devils Staircase”.  Though the descent, through beautiful snow-gum forest and around granite boulders, was continuous it wasn’t quite as difficult as its name had implied.   Mind you, a few times someone’s snowshoe and boot would disappear as they broke through a false cover of snow.

Though Dave had hoped to push on to the next hill, which also had a Trig Point, we decided that we would have to leave that for the next snowshoe adventure.

A large granite rocky outcrop provided the perfect dry spot for a leisurely lunch before tackling the climb back up “The Devils Staircase”.

As we did not need to revisit the higher Trig, our climb was shorter taking us to a point where we simply followed a contour around the hill.   Soon we were looking back down onto the “Plains of Heaven” not only with the knowledge that it was but a short walk back to the car, but regrettably knowing our days snowshoeing were coming to a close.

This has been an incredible snowshoe camp. We have experienced sunny days and snowy days.  We have walked through open plains, snow gum forests, and around granite boulders.  We have climbed and descended snow covered hills that offered incredible views.   Except for the occasional animal tracks in the snow, we have been alone out there in this pristine environment. We have experienced all this, not only in the good company of fellow members, but also under the expert leadership of Dave, whose knowledge, skills and experience made for an incredible three days snowshoeing.  The snowshoe camp closed with dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Jindabyne.

Mary

Wednesday 28 August 2019

Keeping an eye on the swell

Exploring the rock platform

Stewart and Judith contemplate Pink Pool

Pink algae

Photos by Helen and Mary

The Bay Bushwalkers always like a coast walk and this was no exception as 22 hikers turned up to see the coast between Malua Bay and McKenzies beach. The walk crossed the beach and then hugs the cliff top where the edge of the cliff and property boundary fences are sometimes less than 2 metres apart. With cliff erosion this track will be inaccessible in the coming years. The views from the cliff top to the north and south are truly spectacular.

Our Leader Mark always adds a ‘feature’ to this walk and being close to low tide we were able to traverse the shore platform to the south of McKenzies Beach to the famous ‘Pink Pool’. Spoiler Alert – the pink colour is not produced by the rock outcrops or someone’s attempt to create a gaudy coloured ocean swimming pool. The pink colours are algae growing on the rocks between low and high tide in a small section of the rock platform. Mark’s challenge before he leads this walk again is to have the Latin name of the algae ready to impress the walkers and visitors.

Rob

Sunday 25 August 2019

Cheryl, Mark and Wendy

Ironbark orchids

Karen, Deb, Heather and Susan

Photos by Mary and Rodney

This area is close to home and yet provides lots of opportunities for a forest-focused day out. Nearness to home is attractive so twenty walkers, and a visitor, turned out on this cool cloudy day. While the walk was relatively short (about 7.5 km) it provided good exercise with plenty of small hills. From some points you could get attractive views down to the coast near Malua Bay. Some of the track was a bit gravelly and all of it was dusty following our long dry period.

Although this part of the Mogo State Forest has been well worked over for timber production there are still good specimens of Iron Bark and Spotty Gum, and Banksias were flowering in the understorey. Perhaps the botanical highlights of the morning were the several areas of Iron Bark Orchid high high on the bark of some of their host trees. Some were even at knee height but you had to get off the track to find those. More peculiar was an unusual fungus that no-one could identify, it was christened the “Elephants Foot” on account of its extraordinary shape.

On our return we encountered a couple of horsemen out enjoying a ride in the forest, an excellent way of covering the ground quickly and seeing the forest from a higher vantage point.

Rodney

Thursday 22 August 2019

Leaving McKenzies Beach

Wild water

Cliff descent

Photos by Helen

Beaches, cliff tops and rock platforms are usually the attractions on the McKenzies Beach to Circuit Beach walk, however big seas and strong winds saw Brian substitute urban exploration for rock hopping!

While the cliff tops afforded magnificent views of wind swept seas and dramatic skies, the bush tracks surprised with patches of wattle and maidenhair fern, thriving despite the dry conditions and walking high on the sand was the only way to keep dry feet on the beach sections. Morning tea at Cafe Three66 at Mosquito Bay was somewhat extended as a reward for braving the cold winds and, more importantly, for catching up with friends. The final section around Lilli Pilli headland was more sheltered from the winds and saw the 8km walk completed by lunch, as expected.

Thanks to Brian for leading and organising the transport for the day.

Christine

Saturday 17 August 2019

Denise with wattle in bloom

Yellow tail cockatoo

Mary, Denise and Geoff tackle a hill

Native golden everlasting daisy

Photos by Helen

On a great day for walking, thirteen very lucky bushwalkers were out in the hills of Moruya’s State Forest, enjoying each other’s company and pleasant surroundings.

The weekly bulletin had described the walk as “hilly” and our leader, Mary delivered on that. Most hills as usual felt upward, but what goes up most come down, so our knees also got a downhill workout.

The walk also lived up to its name “Golden Gully” with a good stand of golden flowering wattle trees, followed by the gold of some yellow tailed cockatoos and then golden everlasting daisies struggling to flower in the dry conditions.  We were also on the look out for Acacia cognata (Bower Wattle) that had previously been seen there, and this too, we think, was delivered, pending confirmation from the Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens staff.

So, thanks Mary, success all round and we are fitter for it!

Helen

Wednesday 14 August 2019

Margaret with low hanging eucalypt blossom

Taking a break to admire the coast south

Margaret, Amanda and Denise

Simeon hauls out a heap of dumped rubbish

Photos by Jane & Denise

With the sun’s warmth gradually strengthening and no breeze, it was the perfect day for a walk by the ocean.  Bob led 11 walkers and a Batemans Bay visitor through Congo village to the start of the Dreaming Track.  Soon walkers were admiring the banksia spikes and watching honey eaters dart between shrubs.  Two different species of flowering gums were also able to be inspected as the blossoms hung low over the track.

Several walkers, yet to see a whale this season, were determined to do so and scurried to every vantage point along the route in the hope of a sighting.  They had to wait until our morning tea stop where a few lucky bushwalkers saw a humpback in the distance.  Most walkers had to be content with seeing a whistling kite wheeling overhead.

After the break, our group turned off the Dreaming Track onto an disused and somewhat overgrown road that took walkers through forest and on toward abandoned pasture land. The remains of a log cabin homestead, a nearby dam, much appreciated by wildlife, and an overgrown stockyard were testament to the area’s former use.

The native trees in this vicinity had rough bark trunks that  were a contrast from the familiar spotted gums seen so frequently on walks.  The 10 kilometre circuit behind them, walkers headed for their cars and inspected the carton of empty beer cans that Simeon had carried out after finding them dumped in a mostly pristine bushland.

Thank you Bob for a really enjoyable walk.

Denise

Sunday 11 August 2019

Gay, Sharon and Donna starting off

Mary, Stan and Rodney at Durras Lake

The group at Punt Arm

Twisted spotted gum forest

Emily Miller Beach

Wasp Head rock platforms

Old timber mill steam boiler

Photos by Karen & Rodney

The tracks in and around the South Durras area and through Murramarang National Park  have been “regulars” on the Club’s walk calendar for many years, and the recent 15 km walk demonstrated once again what this area has to offer.

Starting at the ocean boat ramp the 12 walkers headed north to Murramarang Beach, then west through open forest to the shore of the lake at Punt Arm.    This arm of the lake has an important link to the timber industry of the late 1800s, as it was here that large logs cut from the surrounding forest, were loaded onto steam driven punts to be transported around to the boat ramp near the mouth of the lake.

From here we headed south, then east onto part of the old Benandarah Road arriving at the  back door of Durras.   Within a few minutes we were back walking through the spotted gum forest heading to Dark Beach where, on the rocky outcrop you can see direct evidence of volcanic action.  The sand on Dark Beach is dark because many volcanic minerals and rocks are dark coloured.  It is interesting to note that the next beach has white sand.  Any one interested in geology will find that the Murramarang area has much to offer.

After lunch we headed to Emily Miller Beach, named after a ship wrecked nearby in 1879, and then to the start of the Wasp Head track, where we quickly exited down onto the rock platform.  However it wasn’t long before the high seas saw our leader searching for Plan B!  So, with feet on one wall of rock and bottom and hands on the other, we shimmied our way up to higher ground.  Then it was just a matter of continuing around the Wasp Head rock platform, another interesting geologic area, to Mill Point where an old rusty boiler reminds us of the Timber Mill that once stood here.  The final short stretch of beach walking returned us to our cars.

Mary

Thursday 8 August 2019

Judith, Jill, Gillian and Amanda

Bob and Elaine

Mary with a reclining Ainslie & Mike

Photos by Rodney

Though brisk breezes were caressing us with chilly strokes, we set off to enjoy the forest on the way to view arms of the little-known Meroo Lake.  This small water body near Termeil is typical of many “occasional” estuaries which only open to the sea after heavy rain.

Not so typical is the forest, which in this area is the southern extent of Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera), and in large specimens is a very valuable timber.   The regrowth forest we walked through had been logged several times in the past, but was now populated with abundant small Turpentine, reigned over by majestic large Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata).

Many of these larger trees had significant crown damage, indicating that they suffered by exposure to high winds from lack of similar sized companions.  Bracket fungi on parts of their trunks also indicated water intrusion causing internal rot.

Soon we settled for our morning tea on some logs by the north arm of the lake, where the wind ruffled the surface, giving the usual mesmerising effect of moving water.   Having satisfied various cravings, we began the return, this time on a different track, which also led us through impressive forest featuring large specimens of Woolly Butt (Euc. longifolia) and Grey Gum (Euc. punctata), also known as “monkey gum” for its attraction to koalas.  Grey Gum are notable for the yellow stripes of newly exposed bark.

On return to the cars, we gathered to thank our leaders Stan and Mary and for remarks on the walk.    Mary said she had decided that this should be known as the “Tree of Big Walks”.    We applauded her novel description.

Bob

Tuesday 6 August 2019

Walk distance – 16.2 km

It was a cold and frosty start to the morning but the view of the Castle and Byangee Walls from our cottages was sensational.  It is difficult to put into words just how stunning it was to wake up to such a beautiful view.  This morning 13 bushwalkers braved the cold, starting the walk from the Bhundoo Bush Cottages.  We made our way to Longfella Pass, located on the Pigeon House North Firetrail.  It was a steady climb with some very steep pinches so it wasn’t long before the fingers thawed out and the layers peeled off.  Once at the top of the pass, we had morning tea and enjoyed the stunning views back out to the Castle, marvelling at the fact that we had been standing on the top of Byangee Walls less than twenty four hours earlier.

View of The Castle & Byangee from Bhundoo Bush Cottages

Looks cold (except for the bloke in shorts)

Slightly steaming walkers

Low level forest

The Castle and Byangee Mountain

After morning tea we continued along the fire trail onto the plateau, thankful for the nice flat track.  Alas, this wasn’t to last for too long before camp leader Barry located our exit point into the dense bush.  Time to glove and gaiter up!  We commenced our bush bashing down to the edge of the escarpment where we explored some lovely sandstone ledges and overhangs.  We had our lunch here and once again, there were some stunning views to enjoy whilst eating and relaxing.  After lunch Barry’s excellent navigational skills guided us back onto the fire trail where 5 walkers returned to the cottages.  The remaining 7 continued along the Pigeon House North Firetrail which was a good track.  We followed this gently ascending track which afforded some spectacular views of the western side of Pigeon House.

Sandstone overhang

and a good lunch spot

Barry, John, Lois, Rachael, Lin, Donna and Bruce behind the lens

We eventually reached the original, rarely used, National Park trail which was very steep, rising nearly 200 vertical metres in 650m.  It took 30 minutes to scale, passing some beautiful boulders with rock orchids on top, thankfully out of the reach of hungry animals.  This trail ended at the beginning of the myriad of ladders that wind their way up to the summit.  After a short breather we prepared ourselves for the final ascent of the mini camp.  We reached the top enjoying the use of recently installed ladders which felt much safer than those of the past.

Once at the top, we had a quick afternoon tea, admiring the views for which Pigeon House is famous for.  It was a feeling of accomplishment looking back over the Castle and Byangee Walls, retracing our previous days steps.  Whilst it was chilly, the conditions were perfect with a big blue sky.  Many photos were taken but it was soon time to depart.  So we headed off back down the ladders and onto the track leading to the car park where Jill and Tony were waiting to transport us back to the cottages where a hot shower, camp fire and nice hot coffee were waiting.

Pigeon House summit from the west via very overgrown and rugged track

Steep climb behind Pigeon House

Western approach to summit of Pigeon House

View from Pigeon House summit

Everyone had a fantastic time on this mini camp.  The cottages were excellent and the company was even better!  A special thanks to Barry for organising this camp.  We all appreciate the time and effort that you put into it to make it happen.

Report by Donna; Photos by Barry, Jill & Helen

Monday 5 August 2019

The Window near the saddle

Looking down from the Window

Byangee’s sandstone walls

Climbing through rock chimney to ascend Byangee Mountain

Using the rope through the rock chimney

Walking across the flat top of Byangee

View of the Castle from the group’s lunch spot

Barry and Pigeon House Mountain

Budawangs View (part 1)

Budawangs view (part 2)

Boronia subulifolia coming into flower on the summit

Byangee Walls

Maggie descending the through the rock chimney

Lois going down

Waiting at the bottom

Ferns at entrance of Cathedral Cave

Cathedral Cave

Photos by Barry & Jill

Byangee Mountain is that mesa like Sydney sandstone plateau which sits between The Castle and Pigeonhouse Mountain in the Budawangs.  It is regarded as the lesser sibling of the three only because it is one wedding cake layer lower than the other two which flank it.

But it is an impressive mountain in its own right, surrounded by an almost impenetrable 100 metre high cliffline.  It is caterpillar shaped with a top area of 85 hectares and guards the exit of the Clyde River from its confines of the gorge into the broader valleys of Yadboro, Brooman and beyond.

Thankfully, the cliffline does have a chink in its armour and it was this one narrow broken slot in the rock which attracted the 13 Club (and guest) walkers to climb Byangee’s summit and admire the wonderful views.  Although the route is reasonably straightforward, the total climb is a 350 metre lift from the Long Gully Car Park.  Punching through the cliffline requires a degree of physical strength and reasonable balance, but for those who suffer vertigo it is not very exposed.

On top we enjoyed lunch with a magnificent 360 degree panorama without hindrance of vegetation – the seemingly endless broad Clyde valley in front, The Castle to the right, Pigeon House to the left, the Gorge behind.

The weather was excellent, the company exceptional and many thanks goes to Barry for organizing and leading this walk, one of a two day exploration in the area.

Track Notes

A foot track from the Long Gully car park, crosses the Yadboro River (currently not running it is so dry) and ascends the ridge east of The Castle Creek.  At the base of The Castle, it follows the cliffline east to Castle Gap.  Along the way, a visit to Cathedral Cave, a large slab of rock which leans closely to the cliffline, is worthwhile for a pleasant tree fern shaded rest.

From Castle Gap the track follows the base of Byangee Mountain cliffs on the north side for 600 metres where a cairn indicates the immediate climb up a steep broken, narrow gully.  One chockstone in the defile requires some physical effort to overcome but a resident rope aids the task.  After a fast lift of about 80 vertical metres the track goes east again for 50 metres on a wide ledge before popping up the last 10 metre lift onto the edge of the plateau.  From there the full 85 hectares is available for wandering.

Except for the wettest years, there is no water available.

Ian