195210
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision | Next revisionBoth sides next revision | ||
195210 [2016/06/22 15:42] – tyreless | 195210 [2016/06/23 15:23] – tyreless | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 552: | Line 552: | ||
---- | ---- | ||
- | THE FIRST GANGERANG WALK. | + | =====The First Gangerang Walk.===== |
By Maxwell Gentle. | By Maxwell Gentle. | ||
- | After visiting Kanangra Walls, via Gingra, in August, 1928, my next ambition was t walk over the Gangerang Range. On joining the | + | |
- | Sydney Bush Walkers in 1929, I learnt that this range was unknown to club members, and the data givcn on available maps was very limited. | + | After visiting Kanangra Walls, via Gingra, in August, 1928, my next ambition was to walk over the Gangerang Range. On joining the Sydney Bush Walkers in 1929, I learnt that this range was unknown to club members, and the data given on available maps was very limited. |
While fellow member, Myles Dunphy, tempted me with descriptions of the Upper Kowmung gorge, somehow the rugged heights of Gangerang proved the greater attraction. | While fellow member, Myles Dunphy, tempted me with descriptions of the Upper Kowmung gorge, somehow the rugged heights of Gangerang proved the greater attraction. | ||
- | A Burragorang cattleman, | + | |
- | Gangerang, and information given by him indicated the best places to climb the range, and its low cliffs, also where water might be found. | + | A Burragorang cattleman, Michael Maxwell, had been on part of Gangerang, and information given by him indicated the best places to climb the range, and its low cliffs, also where water might be found. |
- | While I was on a Friday evening train journey on Eight Hour weekend, 1929, a chance meeting with Gordon Smith, at Valley Heights, | + | |
- | resulted in having company on my Gangerang walk, instead of going alone. | + | While I was on a Friday evening train journey on Eight Hour weekend, 1929, a chance meeting with Gordon Smith, at Valley Heights, resulted in having company on my Gangerang walk, instead of going alone. |
- | I knew that Gordon would see the distance because he was 50 miles champion road walker of Australia. Needless to say we made good progress on the walk out from Wentworth Falls that night, to our camp site at the Sunset Rock. No tent, blankets or sleeping bags were | + | |
- | carried and we slept on a bed of leaves by a log fire. Fortunately the Wbather | + | I knew that Gordon would see the distance because he was 50 miles champion road walker of Australia. Needless to say we made good progress on the walk out from Wentworth Falls that night, to our camp site at the Sunset Rock. No tent, blankets or sleeping bags were carried and we slept on a bed of leaves by a log fire. Fortunately the weather |
We reached our breakfast site on Cox's River at 8.30 a.m., and the Cox-Kowmung junction at 12 noon. | We reached our breakfast site on Cox's River at 8.30 a.m., and the Cox-Kowmung junction at 12 noon. | ||
- | At 2.30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon we commenced to climb the Gangerang Range, from a point one mile further up the Cox. The ridge was at first a lightly timbered grassy slope, and rose very steeply | + | |
- | for about 1,400 feet, then becoming boulder strewn, with thicker | + | At 2.30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon we commenced to climb the Gangerang Range, from a point one mile further up the Cox. The ridge was at first a lightly timbered grassy slope, and rose very steeply for about 1,400 feet, then becoming boulder strewn, with thicker |
- | growth. A low cliff with a cave was skirted here, being similar to the | + | |
- | rocks on the adjacent Mt. Kookem. A fine view opened out up the Cox | + | About four miles from our viewpoint could be seen the low cliffs of Gangerang plateau, and so we continued to ascend the ridge we were on, which was seen swinging more to the southwest, in that direction. |
- | gorge, as far as the " | + | |
- | About four miles from our viewpoint could be seen the low cliffs | + | Our route lay through a thick forest of Turpentine and Eucalyptus saplings, but we sometimes enjoyed a glimpse of the mountain country northward to Mt. Mouin and Clear Hill. One of the best views was looking down Little Ti-willa Creek and across the Kowmung |
- | of Gangerang plateau, and so we continued to ascend the ridge we were on, which was seen swinging more to the southwest, in that direction. | + | |
- | Our route lay through a thick forest of Turpentine and Eucalyptus saplings, but we sometimes enjoyed a glimpse of the mountain country | + | Nightfall found us camped on a bed of leaves by a log fire, and we each had a two quart billy of water, which we had carried up from the river. |
- | northward to Mt. Mouin and Clear Hill. One of the best views was | + | |
- | looking down Little Ti-willa Creek and across the Kawmung | + | At daybreak next morning we continued walking along the thickly timbered flat topped ridge, which soon commenced to rise steeply, and eventually reached the foot of the low cliffs of sandstone and conglomerate. |
- | Byrnes Gap, and Tonalli Range. | + | |
- | Nightfall found us camped on a bed of leaves by a log fire, and | + | A way up was found through a break in these cliffs (Gentles Pass) on the Ti-willa Creek side, and then, after walking |
- | we each had a two quart billy of water, which we had carried up from | + | |
- | the river. | + | Later we walked southward over a slight rise, and then across the main marsh of the plateau, in the direction of a high hill, which we then thought to be the Gangerang peak. On reaching its crest we could see higher land ahead, and further progress was temporarily halted by a precipitous canyon, |
- | 31. | + | |
- | At daybreak next morning we continued walking along the thickly timbered flat topped ridge, which soon commenced to rise steeply, and eventually reached the foot of the low cliffs of sandstone and | + | This creek was later to be named "Dex Creek", |
- | conglomerate. | + | |
- | A way up was found through a break in these cliffs (Gentles Pass) on the Ti-willa Creek side, and then; after walking | + | After crossing Dex Creek, a well defined quartzite ridge led us along to the highest point of the range (Mt. Cloudmaker) at 12 noon, where marvellous views opened out over Kanangra gorge, and the famous walls, glowing in the sunlight. |
- | 6 | + | |
- | Later we walked southward over a slight rise, and then across the main marsh of the plateau, in the direction of a high hill, which we then thought to be the Gangerang peak. On reaching its crest we cculd see higher land ahead, and further progress was temporarily halted by | + | The ridge then became very spectacular, |
- | a precipitous canyon, | + | |
- | This creek was later to be named "Dex Creek", | + | A very steep climb followed and presently we came to the foot of Craft' |
- | After crossing Dex Creek, a well defined quartzite ridge led us | + | |
- | along to the highest point of the range (Mt. Cloudmaker) at 12 noon, where marvellous views opened out over Kanangra gorge, and the famous | + | Our campsite for the night, in the cave with the dance platform, was reached at 4 p.m., a little over a day's walk from the Cox-Kowmung junction. |
- | walls, glowing in the sunlight. | + | |
- | The ridge then became very spectacular, | + | On Monday morning Gordon was more at ease, walking along the old cart track to Jenolan Caves. We passed through the Grand Arch there at 1.30 p.m., and continued walking along the road for another 11 miles before being given a ride in a service car to Mt. Victoria, in time to catch the 7.15 p.m. train to Sydney. |
- | and rose again about three times, and then swung southward. After a series of dips and knobs, the rock hopping over the very hard type of quartzite became easier, and the now grassy ridge descended steeply | + | |
- | to Gabes Gap, the lowest saddle on the range in this section. From this gap it was possible to look west down a dry creek bed to Kanangra Creek, while a gully with tree ferns dropped down on the east side to Gingra Creek. | + | Thus ended a good three days walk, but the next few months saw the first ascent of Mt. Paralyser and Thurat, the first visit to Mt. Guouogang, and the first walk along Yellow Dog. |
- | A very steep climb followed and presently we care to the foot of Craft' | + | |
- | passing a number of caves, formed by the overhanging walls, we found | + | I remember standing on Mt. Moorilla, after a spell of torrential rain, in June 1930, when the view from there was really a picture, as it included five big waterfalls |
- | ourselves on the main ridge again, which, after less than a mile, ended under the walls of Kanangra Tops. A break in the walls, | + | |
- | the south, provided a way up. This wa3 later to be named 'Smith' | + | It was good to walk along the well defined ridges of this predominantly quartzite country. The experience gained in bushwalking there was essential to us in 1931, when we ventured into a relatively dry Capertee-Colo area, which is only partly surveyed, but otherwise of rugged sandstone country, deeply intersected by precipitous ravines. |
- | Our campsite for the night, in the cave with the dance platform, | + | |
- | was reached at 4 p.m., a little over a day's walk from the Cox-Kowmung junction. | + | ---- |
- | On Monday morning Gordon was more at ease, walking along the old | + | |
- | cart track to Jenolan Caves. We passed through the Grand Arch tier' | + | |
- | at 1.30 p.m., and continued walking along the road for another 11 miles before being given a ride in a service car to Mt. Victoria, in time | + | |
- | to catch the 7.15 p.m. train to Sydney. | + | |
- | 32. | + | |
- | Thus ended a good three days walk, but the next few months saw | + | |
- | the first ascent of Mt. Paralyser and Thurat, the first visit to Mt. Guouogang, and the first walk along Yellow Dog. | + | |
- | remember standing on Mt. Moorilla, after a spell of torrential | + | |
- | rain, in June 1930, when the view from there was really a picture, as | + | |
- | it included five big waterfalls | + | |
- | made. | + | |
- | It was good to walk along the well defined ridges of this | + | |
- | predominantly quartzite country. The experience gained in bushwalking there was essential to us in 1931, when we ventured into a relatively dry Capertee-Cole area, which is only partly surveyed, but otherwise | + | |
- | of rugged sandstone country, deeply intersected by precipitous ravines. | + | |
WHAT PLACE-NAMES MEAN TO US. | WHAT PLACE-NAMES MEAN TO US. | ||
.....................rwlmoramaalmo=101101.....mmowisso.o. | .....................rwlmoramaalmo=101101.....mmowisso.o. |
195210.txt · Last modified: 2016/06/25 17:33 by tyreless