A cold weekend up the mountains. An icy wind was blowing from the south west. It was chilling! I had travelled up to the Blue Mountains with John, Chuin Nee and their baby, Jasper. I had convinced them that Hanging Rock on Burramoko Head at Blackheath would be a great place to take photographs. The light would be best at dusk and at dawn – so it would be necessary to camp at the nearby Baltzer Lookout.
Pete Harvey was a very well respected and admired walker in SUBW. He had served the club in many roles including a term as president. His sudden death shocked his friends from the club. On the weekend after his funeral service, Tom Murtagh of SUBW organised a memorial walk in the Baal Bone – Blue Rocks part of Gardens of Stone National Park. This was an area that Pete loved to walk in.
We had a large contingent of walkers, including Dave and Nicole’s little baby Oli (6 months old) on his first overnight walk.
Being a memorial for Pete Harvey, our original intention was to get to Mt Harvey near the Red Rocks. An ambitious plan! We almost made it. We camped about a kilometre south of the mountain and reached a high pagoda overlooking it on the Sunday morning. Continue reading
Castle Head is one of many headlands on the Narrow Neck Peninsula south of Katoomba. It is named after the feature it looks down on – the Ruined Castle.
As well as bushwalkers, it is also a place used by recreational abseilers. They descend off the head down to the Ruined Castle. There is also at least one rock climbing route up Castle Head. Continue reading
The Red Rocks is a geographical place name for the cliff line of the Capertee Valley between Mt Dawson along to Point Nicholson and then to Point Anderson. These cliffs generally face west, and so the massive sandstone bluffs are a magnificent red colour when viewed from along the Great Dividing Range further west. This contrasts to the much smaller outcrop of the Blue Rocks, limestone bluffs near Pantoneys Crown.
I take broader definitions for these colourful place names. I use the Blue Rocks for the area near or on the Wolgan – Capertee divide west of Hughes Defile and the Red Rocks for east of there to the Pipleline Track. Further east is denoted as the Mount Morgan Plateau.
Not long ago I completed two daywalks along sections of the Coastal Track in Royal National Park. This is first class coastal walking. The scenery varies from making your way along the tops of mighty cliffs, hiking through moors, along sandy beaches or clambering over headlands.
I headed up the mountains with Digi Dave for three days of photography. We spent time at Wentworth Falls and Blackheath.
Asmodeus pool
First spot we visited was the Nature Walk at Wentworth Falls. This was was pleasant but bot that great. I was expecting more having walked part of it many times on the way to Empress Canyon high up in the Valley of The Waters. It starts by traversing at the head of the valley through bush – but very close to houses. Nothing special. Then is descends through a hanging swamp to Edinburgh Castle Rock and things start to improve. Continue reading
It had been many years since I had walked to Sassafras Gully at Springwood. Growing up in Springwood, this was a popular destination for family bush walks when I was very young. I had learnt to swim in a big pool in Glenbrook Creek. I knew the tracks well.
This time, I set off from Faulconbridge with a camera and tripod. The Victory Track starts near the railway level crossing. It soon leaves the houses and enters a world of ferns and tall trees. The creek picks up pace and soon tumbles over Clarinda Falls. Continue reading
I thought it was about time to return to Mt Solitary. It was the start of my holidays – and I thought a three day trip would be good. This would allow some time to potter around on the mountain. My intention was to take photos – but also to seek out some good sites for photography.
I walked from Katoomba. My plans to descend to the Federal Pass Track via the Furber Stairs were put on hold when I found the top of the track shut with tape. It was closed for helicopter operations. No problem. This would give me the chance to walk east along the Prince Henry Walk to Echo Point and the descend via The Giants Stairway. This was a little further – but I had plenty of time. Continue reading
Burning Palms is a very pleasant beach towards the south end of Royal National Park. I walked there from Otford with Chuin Nee, John and Jasper.
Our walk was a circular path – first along the escarpment – high above the sea, then down through rainforest and a palm jungle to the beach itself. We returned by the path to Garrawarra and then back along the tops to rejoin the track that we had used on the way in. Continue reading
I returned to the waterfalls of north Lawson on another photographic trip. After a week of fairly wet weather I was hoping for high water levels – but I was disappointed. Levels were low and I had to work hard to some photographs.
At least this time, I could cross the creeks easily! I started walking from Lawson and headed down first to Fairy Falls. Then down the steps into Dantes Glen and St Michaels Falls. Continue reading
