Extended Valley of the Waters and National Pass

Extended Valley of the Waters and National Pass

Saturday’s weather forecast had been for windy, cloudy conditions, with a chance of rain. As it turned out, while the cloud was with us the whole day, the temperature was mild, and the only rain we experienced came from Wentworth Falls being tossed around in a gentle, warm breeze. The absolute…

Dunphy’s to Dunphy’s via Cloudmaker

Even after a long cool drink at Dex’s, I as pretty much down with lugging my pack up hills so I pitched my tent in the choicest spot then carried just a few essentials for the short stint up to Cloudmaker, where I was just in time to act as official photographer for a party that had ascended from the Kowmung via Compagnoni Pass. The late…

Mt Kaputar Exploration Easter 2014

Mt Kaputar Exploration Easter 2014

Yes, yes, I know this was a while ago, but I promised at the time to write the trip report, so here it is. Hope you are happy. If I have misremembered anything, I take no responsibility. Mount Kaputar is an extinct volcano, and the area surrounding it is full of basalt plugs, lava terraces and volcanic dykes, making for a very different landscape to our usual haunts in the Blue Mountains. The plan…

Tinderry Peak

Tinderry Peak

The mostly untracked Tinderry Ranges are just south of Canberra, near the small village of Michelago. If you are on your way to the Snowy Mountains they are a prominent feature to the east of the Monaro Highway. I have wanted to climb 1619m high Tinderry Peak ever since I saw it about 12 years ago. On Saturday…

Fresher’s trip 2014

Fresher’s trip 2014

Through out the weekdays I was tightly keeping my eyes on the weather forecast hoping the pathetic raining days could be gone in the weekend, even the last day I even called Chantal to asked her whether I should postpone or press on regardless, although up until saturday morning weather report of Glenbrook showed there will be 5mm rain fall each day during the weekend, the god of luck actually treated us well, no strong sun, no crazy wind, no rain. Temperature was…

Jugglers Canyon

This was a ‘suitable for beginners’ trip to learn canyoning skills. We assembled at the Browns Siding Café in Medlow Bath at 10.00 for coffee and second breakfast before the short drive to the beginning of the walk. It had been raining heavily in Sydney, but by the time we got to the mountains the skies had cleared to a pleasant day of drifting cloud and patches of sunlight. We began…

McMasters – Maitland Bay – Kilcare

McMasters – Maitland Bay – Kilcare

Sunday morning dawned with a clear sky on the Central Coast, but it wasn’t to last. By the time we arrived at Woy Woy Station around 10am the rain was teeming down. Nevertheless it was “press on regardless”, as Martin, Marta and myself set off for the start of the walk above McMasters Beach where Ali was waiting. A car…

North Lawson Kids Picnic

North Lawson Kids Picnic

If you are a parent, you get to have more fun in the bush if your kids are having fun in the bush. And I have learnt a few things about how to get my kids to have fun in the bush, including: Never describe what the planned activity as going on a walk. Walking is boring! But caves, pagodas, creeks and waterfalls are all lots more enticing. Apply small…