Campfire ‘Masterchef’

There may have been a deluge in Sydney that weekend, but further out it was only the occasional drizzle and haze, which made for some lovely, atmospheric walking. The party was coming to the campsite in three groups to suit everyone’s schedules- Dave, Tom, Albert, Peggy and myself met mid morning and took the usual path up the Blue Rocks. The fog…

Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass

Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass

My run of luck with good weather on recent walks held up again as I left home on saturday morning under a clear starry sky, despite the radar showing a rain cell sitting on inner Sydney. I met up with Anne at Central Station, and with one person calling in sick, and other with urgent family business, and unfortunately a couple of simply no-shows, we boarded the 8.18am train along with what seemed to be a coven of wicked witches heading to the Mid Winter Festival at Katoomba that day. At Strathfield…

Overnight walk to Wollangambe Crater

Overnight walk to Wollangambe Crater

The weather forecast wasn’t great. In fact, with each passing day conditions seemed to be getting worse. Predictions of clouds turned to showers which then became rain. So much for my inspired plan to admire the “supermoon” from the stunning surrounds of Wollangambe Crater! Despite deteriorating conditions we pressed on, setting off early on Saturday morning. We probably…

Long weekend on the upper Kowmung

Long weekend on the upper Kowmung

The June long weekend always means bushwalking to me. Sure, it’s my wife’s birthday, so I probably should spend it with her, but the thought of three days in the mountains breathing the crisp winter air is always too alluring. With Myles Dunphy’s classic sketch map of the Kowmung hanging on my study wall, I knew I wanted to explore a new section of this stunning wild river, but it wasn’t until a couple days out that I finally made up my mind. The section…

Lawson Empire Pass

Lawson Empire Pass

Having anxiously watched the weather development over the weekend, things were looking hopeful on saturday night when the radar showed an area of immunity to the rain around Katoomba and Lawson. Early on sunday morning it took an ominous development when the radar showed heavy rain in the same area. Still, we…