Remarkable Mountains
Just spent the weekend in Mt Remarkable National Park - specifically, Alligator Gorge and Mambray Creek.
The primary reason for this trip was k8eus's Expeditions 1, but us leaders (LS and I) weren't actually on the hike with them... Friends of k8eus can read about her hike on her LJ, but here's what LS and I did...
Friday night we stayed at Wilmington Caravan Park. Leaders in a cabin, Venturers in tents :)
Saturday, after dropping of the Venturers at the incorrect starting point (but still not a bad one), we drove down into Alligator Gorge and did the Ring Route hike. Walking up the gorge was very very beautiful.
After a climb out of the gorge we could see this:
We got back to the car park at 2.00 and then had lunch down in Blue Gum Flat, and then headed down to Melrose for the evening, booking into a cabin in the Caravan Park there, and having a very nice dinner at a local restaurant.
Sunday we drove through Port Germein Gorge to the Mambray Creek camp ground. Lots of wildlife around - Emus, Kangaroos, and Kookaburras, mostly.
First we did the walk up to Sugar Gum Lookout, which took about one and half hours to get up to the top.
On the way back down, LS suggested we go off the path... well, it was a road, really, and bush bash our way back to the creek at the bottom. After dodging through some trees, we found a creek tributary and followed it back to the path by the creek. The last little bit was a scramble down some boulders.
Back at the camp ground, we had lunch (annoyed by Emus and Kookaburras) and then headed off to do the Davey Gulley walk, on which we saw quite a few roos. By the time we got back, the Venturers were waiting at the cars (and had been for half an hour) and it seems like their hike had been quite a success, despite the overnight coldness (-3 at Melrose, apparently, probably colder in the Park!). So then we packed up and headed home, this time by the scenic route, having dinner in Clare.
The walks were enjoyable and it was very good fun despite the cold weather. Pity I ended up sleeping in too much this morning. I'm lucky to have a job where lateness isn't a problem at the moment... and a shame I have to get a new job in a few months time :)
The primary reason for this trip was k8eus's Expeditions 1, but us leaders (LS and I) weren't actually on the hike with them... Friends of k8eus can read about her hike on her LJ, but here's what LS and I did...
Friday night we stayed at Wilmington Caravan Park. Leaders in a cabin, Venturers in tents :)
Saturday, after dropping of the Venturers at the incorrect starting point (but still not a bad one), we drove down into Alligator Gorge and did the Ring Route hike. Walking up the gorge was very very beautiful.
After a climb out of the gorge we could see this:
We got back to the car park at 2.00 and then had lunch down in Blue Gum Flat, and then headed down to Melrose for the evening, booking into a cabin in the Caravan Park there, and having a very nice dinner at a local restaurant.
Sunday we drove through Port Germein Gorge to the Mambray Creek camp ground. Lots of wildlife around - Emus, Kangaroos, and Kookaburras, mostly.
First we did the walk up to Sugar Gum Lookout, which took about one and half hours to get up to the top.
On the way back down, LS suggested we go off the path... well, it was a road, really, and bush bash our way back to the creek at the bottom. After dodging through some trees, we found a creek tributary and followed it back to the path by the creek. The last little bit was a scramble down some boulders.
Back at the camp ground, we had lunch (annoyed by Emus and Kookaburras) and then headed off to do the Davey Gulley walk, on which we saw quite a few roos. By the time we got back, the Venturers were waiting at the cars (and had been for half an hour) and it seems like their hike had been quite a success, despite the overnight coldness (-3 at Melrose, apparently, probably colder in the Park!). So then we packed up and headed home, this time by the scenic route, having dinner in Clare.
The walks were enjoyable and it was very good fun despite the cold weather. Pity I ended up sleeping in too much this morning. I'm lucky to have a job where lateness isn't a problem at the moment... and a shame I have to get a new job in a few months time :)