Du Faur Creek from Mount Wilson

 

 

I did Mount Wilson to Du Faur Creek last week with my Thursday adventure group. All new territory for me.

 

 

Carnivorous sundew flowers

 

 

A bit tangled up going down to the creek

 

 

 

 

We're over the other side!

 

Awaiting their return

Hanging Rock: picnics, poseurs, and panic

My Thursday adventure bushwalking group has been talking about Hanging Rock for quite a while. It's a smallish bushwalk, but quite high in the adventure stakes. Some people just can't bring themselves to jump over THAT GAP. And as for that narrow little pointy platform at the end.......

We finally made it last week, and gee it was worth it. The views over the Grose Valley are magnificent, and the buzz you get from conquering the thing! Specially when half the party chicken out and stop well short.

Let's be honest, the jump across 'that gap' is pretty easy. Nobody falls down it. People have died though, doing slack rope walks and base jumps. It's really easy to spook yourself in these situations though. Best just to walk up to the gap and jump without looking down. You can do that afterwards.

There are lots of excellent videos of people's Hanging Rock exploits. Do a quick search of 'Hanging Rock Blue Mountains', and you'll see all the crazy scary stuff first. I like the slightly less scary ones myself, like the 'training videos' I forgot to show my fellow walkers before our expedition. Here's a nice one, almost designed to put you off:

Click here: Scaredy-cats video

There's also a very unbushwalkerly looking lady, Melinda, who's produced a whole stack of  'bushwalker training videos'. She's busy selling make-up and lipstick, I notice, but she's doing a great job promoting our sport too! 

Click here: Melinda's visit

Photo credits: Paul (4th photo), Fiona (5th photo)

Rock Island

My Thursday Survey adventure walking group goes from strength to strength. Last week Harold took us to Rock Island (and Little Rock Island), in the Wollemi National Park, thirty or so kilometres north of Clarence and the (now defunct) Zig Zag Railway.

Here we are, heading towards our twin goals (rugged up against the snow and sleet that initially greeted us).

Coming down off Little Rock Island, and looking towards a Sphinx-like structure  on the southern end of Rock Island.

The 'islands' are large rocky plateaux, surrounded on all sides by steep-sided canyons with flowing creeks. Otherwise it was all rather dry. It hasn't rained much for months here, after all.

In one of the canyons, approaching the ascent onto Rock Island proper.

There's a big rock overhang, with its very own stalagmite and stalagtite.









And here's the way up onto Rock Island. A rather narrow slot. We wondered at first whether it was wide enough, so sent one of the larger members of the party up first. No problems!

The view from our lunch spot on Rock Island. One of our company exploring the fabulously tempting nearby pagodas.

There's another excellent rock overhang on the way out. We named it 'One Hand Cave', after the single hand stencil we saw there. (Then we saw a second one - must be 'Two Hands Cave')



Yet another terrific day out for the Thursday Surveyors!