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200008 [2023/08/16 14:03] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1200008 [2023/11/12 15:59] (current) – kennettj
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 various local lookouts. various local lookouts.
  
-4 LAG 
- [Page 6 The Sydney Bushwalker August 2000 
  
-_| 
  
-THE WOLLEMI RANGE+**THE WOLLEMI RANGE**
 by Rik King by Rik King
  
-Trips of only a few days involving four +Trips of only a few days involving four different maps invariably have a daunting aspect to them, inducing forebodings of late returns - and this trip was no exception, since the aim was to walk the length of the 
-different maps invariably have a daunting +Wollemi Range and return in four days. Indeed, four map sheets are needed to cover that range - Six Brothers, Mt Morgan, Gosper's Mountain and Wirraba.
-aspect to them, inducing forebodings of late +
-returns - and this trip was no exception, +
-since the aim was to walk the length of the +
-Wollemi Range and return in four days. +
-Indeed, four map sheets are needed to cover +
-that range - Six Brothers, Mt Morgan, +
-Gosper's Mountain and Wirraba.+
  
-The Wollemi Range, which is a major +The Wollemi Range, which is a major feature of the park, rises at the junction of the Colo River and Wollemi Creek and thence meanders in a predominantly north west direction to join the Wirraba Range 
-feature of the park, rises at the junction of +some 3 km. west of Mt. Wirraba. Because of its various twists and turns, to follow the range involves doing a traverse of 23 km.
-the Colo River and Wollemi Creek and +
-thence meanders in a predominantly north +
-west direction to join the Wirraba Range +
-some 3 km. west of Mt. Wirraba. Because +
-of its various twists and turns, to follow the +
-range involves doing a traverse of 23 km.+
  
-Nonetheless, our party - Bill Capon,+Nonetheless, our party - Bill Capon, Marella Hogan, Fazeley Read, Bob Milne and Rik King assembled early on a Thursday morning in July, on the Culoul fire trail off the Putty road, having previously positioned 
 +a car at a strategic point in the Putty area. A piecemeal descent of Crawford's Lookout was made, and in early afternoon the 200m down Wollemi Creek to the entrance of Munee Creek was covered. Then, nearby, 
 +we climbed up the small east west running creek to collect water at the highest feasible point, just as had been established on a preparatory trip. After a steep climb out of the creek, dusk saw us on top of the range at that point just before it swings sharply towards Girribung Creek at the west.
  
-Marella Hogan, Fazeley Read, Bob Milne +Our first camp saw Bill's usuai feverish sorting through his pack to produce numerous unsuitable or superfluous objects brought along for the trip - dual ropes, an avocado, a lime etc. etc. His customary 
-and Rik King assembled early on a Thursday +rummaging did not go unnoticed, although the major preoccupation of the party was as to when we might need to turn back should our progress turn out to be too slow.
-morning in July, on the Culoul fire trail off +
-the Putty road, having previously positioned +
-a car at a strategic point in the Putty area. +
-A piecemeal descent of Crawford's Lookout +
-was made, and in early afternoon the 200m. +
-down Wollemi Creek to the entrance of +
-Munee Creek was covered. Then, nearby, +
-we climbed up the small east west running +
-creek to collect water at the highest feasible +
-point, just as had been established on a +
-preparatory trip. After a steep climb out of +
-the creek, dusk saw us on top of the range at +
-that point just before it swings sharply +
-towards Girribung Creek at the west.+
  
-Our first camp saw Bill's usuai feverish +Next morning was fine, and it led on to a warmish day, but on this section, the range is level and open and we made good progress.
-sorting through his pack to produce +
-numerous unsuitable or superfluous objects +
-brought along for the trip - dual ropes, an +
-avocado, a lime etc. etc. His customary +
-rummaging did not go unnoticed, although +
-the major preoccupation of the party was as +
-to when we might need to turn back should +
-our progress turn out to be too slow.+
  
-Next morning was fine, and it led on to a +Our surmise, however, that the fire of the mid-nineties, that swept over from Gospers Mountain would have eliminated the underbrush, was only partially correct - and this we were to realize later in the trip.
-warmish day, but on this section, the range is +
-level and open and we made good progress.+
  
-Our surmise, however, that the fire of the +Shortly after lunch we happened upon a large quantity of water in a shallow depression on a flat rock. This water of slightly green tinge was collected, but relegated to reserve status. It moved considerably up the scale of social acceptability a day later when all we could manage to collect was 2 litres of dark water (referred to colloquially as  blackwater), which, even after filtration through Bill's handkerchief, remained resolutely black!
-mid-nineties, that swept over from Gosper's +
-Mountain would have eliminated the +
-underbrush, was only partially correct - and +
-this we were to realize later in the trip.+
  
-Shortly after lunch we happened upon a +Late afternoon, the unmistakeable blue bulk of Mt. Yengo rose up to the north east. And then, for our second night as "the last lights off the black West went" we pulled into a makeshift camp spot.
-large quantity of water in a shallow +
-depression on a flat rock. This water of +
-slightly green tinge was collected, but +
-relegated to reserve status. It moved +
-considerably up the scale of social +
-acceptability a day later when all we could +
-manage to collect was 2 litres of dark water +
-(referred to colloquially as  blackwater'), +
-which, even after filtration through Bill's +
-handkerchief, remained resolutely black!+
  
-Late afternoon, the unmistakeable blue +After tea, the lovely, lilting laughter of Fazeley echoed across that remote high ridge as we relaxed around the campfire, recalling events from our collective 100 years of bushwalking; and during that night, light rain provided several cups of much needed water. Next morning, Marella, faithful as ever, had 
-bulk of Mt. Yengo rose up to the north east. +the fire going before dawn. Across the chasm that is Munee Creek we saw "the glorious sun uprist". We were off for the day, full of promise of many small descents and ascents. Bill relentlessly followed the 
-And then, for our second night as " the last +serpentine progress of the range, undeterred by the empty promises of many competing side ridges. Bob, ever alert to any flagging in the level of navigational confidence, clarified any contentious matter by the GPS he carried. Before lunch the appearance to the west of the cleared side of Gosper's Mountain provided a boost to morale, since by now the combination of Hakea and Mountain Holly, particularly on the tops of small hillocks, was beginning to make its mark. By mid-afternoon, however, a longish climb saw us stumble gratefully onto the Mt. Wirraba road (a Hakea free area), at the end of the Wollemi Range. 
-lights off the black West went" we pulled +
-into a makeshift camp spot.+
  
-After tea, the lovely, lilting laughter of +Thence we headed north east up to a green camp spot on Wirraba - the loveliest of all mountains. There, nightfall was clear and cold, with only a faint glow seen through the stately gums towards the south east sky, to remind us of the presence of a teeming city of 4 million people.
-Fazeley echoed across that remote high ndge +
-as we relaxed around the campfire, recalling +
-events from our collective 100 years of +
-bushwalking; and during that night, light rain +
-provided several cups of much needed water. +
-Next morning, Marella, faithful as ever, had +
-the fire going before dawn. Across the +
-chasm that is Munee Creek we saw "the +
-glorious sun uprist". We were off for the +
-day, full of promise of many small descents +
-and ascents. Bill relentlessly followed the +
-serpentine progress of the range, undeterred +
-by the empty promises of many competing +
-side ridges. Bob, ever alert to any flagging +
-in the level of navigational confidence, +
-clarified any contentious matter by the GPS +
-he carried. Before lunch the appearance to +
-the west of the cleared side of Gosper's +
-Mountain provided a boost to morale, since +
-by now the combination of Hakea and +
-Mountain Holly, particularly on the tops of +
-small hillocks, was beginning to make its +
-mark. By mid-afternoon, however, a longish +
-climb saw us stumble gratefully onto the Mt. +
-Wirraba road (a Hakea free area), at the end +
-of the Wollemi Range. +
  
-The Sydney Bushwalker: First Edition July 1931 +Around the breakfast fire next morning, as the daylight filled the sky, we sat silent and absorbed. Indeed, the clear cool day was ideal for our 12 km walk down to Wollemi Creek in the east. This section of the walk we each did at individual pace, the first walkers clearing from the road the early morning lyre birds.
-Official publication of The Sydney Bush Walkers Inc. +
- | The Sydney Bushwalker August 2000+
  
-Page 7 | +This ridge top road affords fine views, alternately, of Gija and Dumball Creeks to the south, and Wollemi Creek to the north. From its high points, Mt Yengo dominates the northern aspect, then moving across the 
- +skyline Mt. Poppong, Mt. Kindarun, and finally the deep blue massif of Monundilla. A look behind shows the unmistakeable, long low profile of Mt. Corricudgy against the western sky.
-Thence we headed north east up to a green +
-camp spot on Wirraba - the loveliest of all +
-mountains. There, nightfall was clear and +
-cold, with only a faint glow seen through the +
-stately gums towards the south east sky, to +
-remind us of the presence of a teeming city +
-of 4 million people. +
- +
-Around the breakfast fire next morning, as +
-the daylight filled the sky, we sat silent and +
-absorbed. Indeed, the clear cool day was +
-ideal for our 12 km walk down to Wollemi +
-Creek in the east. This section of the walk +
-we each did at individual pace, the first +
-walkers clearing from the road the early +
-morning lyre birds. +
- +
-This ridge top road affords fine views, +
-alternately, of Gija and Dumball Creeks to +
-the south, and Woillemi Creek to the north. +
-From its high points, Mt Yengo dominates +
-the northern aspect, then moving across the +
-skyline Mt. Poppong, Mt. Kindarun, and +
-finally the deep blue massif of Monundilla. A +
-look behind shows the unmistakeable, long +
-low profile of Mt. Corricudgy against the +
-western sky: +
- +
-the weather does its worst {or best) just +
-as the original inhabitants did for +
-thousands of years. This should be +
- +
-the easiest "major" wet season +
-expedition we have ever run. +
- +
-Fly in, fly out Waierfalls, gorges, beautiful +
-pools, Aboriginal art and a lost city" where +
-you can sit in a rock shelter and relax while +
- +
-Phone +
-for our +
-brochure+
  
 "Yet who would stop or fear to advance "Yet who would stop or fear to advance
 Though home or shelter he had none Though home or shelter he had none
 With such a sky to lead him on? "  With such a sky to lead him on? " 
-At this stage, time was not of the essence, 
-and many cups of tea were drunk by the side 
-of Wollemi Creek by a somewhat dehydrated 
-party- 
-"Sure I had drunken in my dreams, 
-And still my body drank ".  
-Finally, there was the 8 km walk back along 
-the side of Putty Creek to reclaim the car. 
  
-We had seen few traces of tracks on the +At this stage, time was not of the essence, and many cups of tea were drunk by the side of Wollemi Creek by a somewhat dehydrated party- "Sure I had drunken in my dreams, And still my body drank ". Finally, there was the 8 km walk back along the side of Putty Creek to reclaim the car. 
-range, and no fireplaces or any other signs of + 
-people.+We had seen few traces of tracks on the range, and no fireplaces or any other signs of people.
  
 1. God's Grandeur, G. M. Hopkins. 1. God's Grandeur, G. M. Hopkins.
  
-2. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, +2. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, S. Coleridge.
-S. Coleridge.+
  
 3. Stepping Westward, W. Wordsworth. 3. Stepping Westward, W. Wordsworth.
  
-4. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. +4. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. S. Coleridge.
- +
-S. Coleridge. +
- +
-oo0g00 +
- +
-in Comfort +
-11 days: January 9-19 2001 +
- +
-Do you want to see Kakadu at ifs lush, green, +
-tropical best without having to worry about +
-camping in the rain?+
  
-Would you like to relax in beautiful, natural 
-pools while you soak up the sights and scents 
-of the bush around you? This is the only trip 
-any tour operator offers which takes | 
-you far off the beaten track by 
-doy and brings you back to a 
-comfortable bed at night. 
  
- [Page 8 The Syduey Bushwalker August 2000 
  
 FINDING AND CONSERVING FINDING AND CONSERVING
200008.txt · Last modified: 2023/11/12 15:59 by kennettj
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