Lizard Point via The Steamers

13 April 2007 12km
Lizard Point was unfinished business for both Baz and I. Baz had tried to go there once before (via Mt Superbus) with his mate Gardy, but a navigational error caused them to miss out. Last year (see 13 April 07 entry) Baz and I tried to get there via The Steamers, but found that due to the steep terrain and sometimes close scrub, we couldn't pull it off as a day walk. We turned back that day after lunch on top of Mt Steamer.

So 13 months after our last attempt, Baz and I returned with Gardy, Cory, and Alex Briggs to do the same route as an over-nighter. It took us about 6 hours to get there and about 5 to return. A long time for a walk that's only about 6km (horizontal distance on the map). There's a lot of very steep ground, thick and varied bush, and occasional scrambling. With a ~20kg pack, it's one of the hardest walks I've done in recent years. Whilst we needed to carry plenty of water as there is no water-point on this walk, our packs could have been lighter - certainly mine could. We ate very well and had a couple of litres of wine with dinner.

Alex and I used this as a training walk and gear shakeout for Larapinta which is only 4 weeks away. It's the first time I've used my new tent (MSR Hubba Hubba) and my new mattress. It was a useful exercise for both of us, and resulted in a new shopping list for me.

Throughout this walk the views south to Mt Superbus and north along the Main Range are spectacular. But the views from the jutting buttress of Lizard Point are really something to remember. The sunrise lighting up the length of the Main Range is absolutely beautiful.

Good company, good food, heavy packs, difficult terrain. A great adventure. I loved it.

Photos:

Larapinta Training Walks.

19 April. The Gap to The Gap via Mt Coot-tha (start Paten Rd, End Moggill Rd). 6.5km, 2hrs with short breaks. Wore Vasques. Party: Craig Johnston, Damian Field, Daryn Grantham, myself. Carried only day pack with 2l water.
28 April. The Gap to Sir Samuel Griffith Dve return (start and end Paten Rd). 5.8km. 1hr 15mins. Rucksak 15.5kg. Start 0540, Samuel G Dve 0620, end 0655. Steady pace, didn't push, no rests. Wore Vasques. Minor hot spotting both feet.
1 May. Kulgun Circuit (start and end Paten Rd). 3.2km. 55mins. Rucksak 16kg. Start 0540, end 0635. Steady pace, didn't push, stopped for photos. wore Zamberlans. Air smokey.
3 May. Kulgun Circuit (start and end my house). 5.2km. 1hr 50mins. Rucksak 23kg. Start 0630, end 0750. Steady pace, didn't push, no rests. Wore Zamberlans. Party: Craig Johnston, Alex Briggs, Spencer, myself. Air still smokey.
10 May. Simpsons Falls Picnic Area return (start and end my house). 12km. 2hr 30mins. Rucksak 23kg. Start 0620, end 0850. Steady pace, didn't push, rest/coffee at Simpson's Falls picnic area. Wore Zamberlans. Party: Craig Johnston, Alex Briggs, myself.
7 Jun. Simpsons Falls return (start and end my house). 10km. 2hr 15mins. Rucksak 20kg. Start 0615, end 0830. Steady pace, didn't push, brief stop at Falls as they were flowing (hooray!). Wore Zamberlans. Party: Alex Briggs, myself.

Baroon Dam to Kondalilla Falls picnic ground.

11.7km, about 5hrs I think. Walk party was Amanda Belton (who proposed this walk), Baz & Sandy Andersen, and Alan & Karen Simpson. This was a Medium/Hard rated walk, but apart from the heat when in open sun (a small part of the walk) it was quie easy. A lovely walk beside palm and vine forested streams. Spectacular views of the Gorge, Lake Baroon & Obi Obi Creek. Stopped near the end of the walk for a refreshing swim in the main swimming hole at the top of the falls. Met Mikarla, Grace and Spence at the picnic ground for a BBQ lunch with some gourmet treats, seafood, and good wine. Finished off with a dip with the kids in a smaller pool further up from the main falls pool. A great day.

Bald Rock walk

Left home at 5.30am to be at the Cunningham's Gap carpark by 7am, in time to head off down the wrong track. So started on the right track at 7.20 and was on top of Mt Cordeaux by 8.30 having walked through spookily misty forest. Cleared countless spiders webs on the way so I was sure that no one had walked the path before me today. From Mt Cordeaux the view was clear to the west but a solid wall of white to the east. I watched the dense mist roll around Mt Cordeaux from the east to completely envelop the peak in minutes.

By 9.14am I was on Bald Rock, initially with views to the west between streams of mist blowing in from the east. The air was warm but the mist was quite cold. After a few minutes the mist thickened until there were no views in any direction and it was very quiet indeed. After a cuppa the descent started at 9.40am with grey rainclouds rolling in over the peaks. On the way down passed eight walker - four with poles - on their way up.

The waterfall at the big switchback was flowing strongly (see pic below), so I stopped there for a few minutes to take in the beautiful sound. By 11.30 I was back to the carpark having avoided making a blood donation to the many leaches that were out today.

Gap to Gap via Mt Coot-tha

Today Spence and I walked from the end of Paten Rd in The Gap to the end of Moggill Rd also in The Gap, via Mt Coot-tha. According to the signs along the way it's about 6.5km, but it feels further.

The route is basically our Paten Track from Paten Rd to the pond, Maculata Track to Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Stringybark Track to the top of Simpson's Falls, the northern track of Eugenia Circuit, the northern section of Fairywren Circuit to Grey Gum picnic area, south on Sir Samuel Griffith Drive to Range View picnic area, then back down to The Gap via Highwood Road trail and Moggill Road Trail.

Gap - Simpson's Falls walk

Wet weather and alternate trails.



I haven't done a wet weather walk in years, so today I took advantage of the rain and cool temperature and did the walk from Paten Rd in The Gap to Simpson's Fall picnic ground - with some variations.

When Spence and I did this walk a couple of days ago, I noticed a flat on the other (southern) side of the creek-line from the junction at the start (western end) of the Quarry Trail , Kulgun Circuit, and Paten Rd Track. At the time Spence and I speculated on whether it might be an old vehicle track, such as a fire trail. Today, not far along the Paten Rd Track, I crossed the creek-line through heavy undergrowth to find out. Sure enough there was an old vehicle track. It's actually two tracks cut side by side - one higher, one lower - running parallel to the southern bank of the creek-line. The lower track looks like the older of the two as the trees overgrowing that track are higher (at around 10m) than those on the higher track (at around 3m). I followed the tracks west initially and found an easy by well hidden narrow access track from the sign at the junction mentioned above. Following the tracks east they peter out as they drop to cross a minor north-south watercourse with an old rusted iron pipe (see picture below), and then reappear after climbing back out of the watercourse. About 30m past the watercourse there were a couple of flat rocks, one atop the other (see photo below), on the left hand (northern) side of the track. Looking south and uphill from the rocks I could see what I thought was the walking track we usually use which runs from the pond at grid 966624 (where the eastern ends of the Paten Track and Quarry Trail meet) up the hill to meet the Bardon Trail. After following the overgrown tracks about another 170m east to where the turn left and peter out as they meet the creek-line, I went back to the stacked rocks. From the rocks I headed south up the hill to meet the walking track just below the big stump and bench seat at appx grid 962626, not long before the track meets Bardon Trail.

From there I took the usual route through to Simpson's Falls picnic area. Along the way it rained heavily providing the lovely wet weather walk I was hoping for. Simpson's falls were flowing much better than when I was there a couple of days ago - maybe 20 litres per minute compared to 1 litre per minute last time. Some 200m along the track from the upper cascade of Simpson's Falls I noticed an old wooden bridge, which I have never noticed before (see photo below). The bridge had no railings but was still very solid, and was on the path the track used to take.

Here are some photos (all taken with my phone so not great quality):

Gap - Simpson's Falls walk

Today Spence and I did the walk from Paten Rd in The Gap to the Simpson's Fall Picnic ground. This walk starts near our home, so it is the walk we do most often. Nonetheless, it's been some months since I've done it.

We started at 11.30am and finished at 1.10pm, after taking our time and stopping to look at various tree and plants along the way. Normally we take the Maculata Track from the pond at grid 966624, over the un-named hill with the comms tower on the summit (grid 957626), to cross Sir Samuel Griffith Drive at the start of the Stringybark Track. For a change we took the Bardon Trail passing directly beneath the comms tower. We haven't taken this track before, so it was interesting to see the tower and the discarded machinery nearby.

Everywhere there was new growth of grass, bushes, and trees due to the recent rains. However, despite the rain the water level in the pond was still about 1.5m below the outflow level. The eucalypts we saw had nearly all completed their shedding of bark, and some had striking new bark of green or pink.

The falls were flowing (finally!), but only just - maybe 1 litre per minute across the whole width of the cascade.

Here's a map of the area:



Here's a capture of the same map as an overlay on Google Earth:



And some photos:

The Team on Ngungun

Today we had a work team-building day for which we went to the Sunshine Coast. We had a great fair dinkum pub lunch at the Beerwah pub, then walked up Ngungun. I really enjoyed seeing everyone on the summit, even though there were more than a couple of bemused faces. Hopefully Baz and I can convince a few of the team to come on some of our adventures.

Here's some photos, some of which were taken by Brant (brantwinter.com):