User Tools

Site Tools


195210

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
195210 [2016/06/22 15:42] tyreless195210 [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 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, -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. +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 was fine and clear, and we made good time with our light !acks, walking down Kedumba Pass next morning.+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 was fine and clear, and we made good time with our light packs, walking down Kedumba Pass next morning. 
 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 under- +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 undergrowth. 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 gorge, as far as the "Konangaroo Creek" area, mentioned in Surveyor Govett'writings, and its western tributary, rising near the "highest land", called by the Blacks of his time (if the word can be written as they pronounced it) "Kuo-uogang". 
-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 "Konangaroo Creek" area, mentioned in Surveyor Govettls writings, and its western tributary, rising near the "highest land", called by the Blacks of his time (if the word can be written as they pronounced it) "Kuo-uogang"+ 
-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 River to Byrnes Gap, and Tonalli Range. 
-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 River to +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 thenafter walking a mile on a lightly timbered, stony ridge on the plateau, a stop was made for breakfast by a running stream, in a swampy upland gully. 
-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, which a creek from the marsh had cut right through the ridge we were on (a geographical rarity). 
-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", and the high hill "Bolwarra". The view west extended across the Kanangra gorge, while eastward could be seen the grassy flats of the Lower Cox Valley. 
-conglomerate. + 
-A way up was found through a break in these cliffs (Gentles Pass) on the Ti-willa Creek side, and thenafter walking amile on a lightly +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  timbered, stony ridge an the plateau, a stop was made for breakfast by a running stream, in a swampy upland gully. + 
-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, and ran westward, resembling a great heap of boulders, coming to a point on top. It dipped 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. 
-a precipitous canyon, Which a creek from the marsh had cut right through the ridge we were on (a geographical rarity). + 
-  This creek was later to be named "Dex Creek", and the high hill Bolwarra". The view west extended across the Kanangra gorge, while eastward could be seen the grassy flats of the Lower Cox Valley. +A very steep climb followed and presently we came to the foot of Craft's Wall, which we avoided, by keeping on its east side. After passing a number of caves, formed by the overhanging walls, we found ourselves on the main ridge again, which, after less than a mile, ended under the walls of Kanangra Tops. A break in the walls, 100 yards to the south, provided a way up. This was later to be named "Smith's Pass". From there it was easy going west past Mt. Maxwell and over a narrow neck to the iron ladder. 
-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, and ran westward, resembling a great heap of boulders, coming to a point on top. It dipped +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's Wall, which we avoided, by keeping on its east side. After + 
-passing a number of caves, formed by the overhanging walls, we found +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 on the side of Thurat, which are not usually running. Next day, the first descent of Ti-willa Buttress was made. 
-ourselves on the main ridge again, which, after less than a mile, ended under the walls of Kanangra Tops. A break in the walls, loo yards to + 
-the south, provided a way up. This wa3 later to be named 'Smith's Pass". From there it was easy going west past Mt. Maxwell and over a narrow neck to the iron ladder. +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 an the side of Thurat, which are not usually running. Next day, the first descent of Ti-willa Buttress was +
-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

Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki