2005 SUBW Freshers Trip

Party: Armando Ortega, Nicole Philps, Kay Leah, Jackie Quang, Jiri Svec, Dave Lee, Tom Gleeson, Jo Boyd, Hugh Rayner, Andrew Meares, Helen Smith, Patrick Miller, Kate Lord, Paddy & John Nafari, James Bevan, David Carmichael, Nazih Chammas, Aurelie Tailleur, Richard Gray, Greg Smith, Thalia Anthony, Mark O'Donnell + plus the rest of greg's group (I didn't catch their names).

I met Jo & Armando at the end of Mt Vic Falls Rd then we shuffled people from Mt Vic Station and dropped 2 cars at Evans Lookout. We all gathered to admire the view overlooking Victoria Creek. For many this was their first time walking with a full pack. Some discovered that fitting borrowed packs to unfamiliar backs can be a difficult process. After several adjustments were were underway. Paddy had the best deal, as John carried both their gear on his back.

Victoria Falls Lookout

The descent from the lookout was pleasant over well constructed steps. My mind went back to the first time I did this walk, nearly ten years ago. Back then the track was a rough scree slope and I remembered bum sliding my way down. There were no such problems today. Leaving the slopes we entered the cool forest and were soon greeted by Victoria Cascades. Patrick enjoyed a swim while the more adventurous scrambled up the side of the falls.

Victoria Cascades

L-R - Jiri, Dave, ?, ?, Tom

After a brief break we continued on to Victoria Falls, a thin sheet of water which plunges at least fifty metres over a large overhang. There was plenty of time so many scrambled up behind the falls and had a shower.

Victoria Falls

We followed the undulating path as it crossed then sidled the creek banks down to Burra Korain Flat where we lunched on an assortment of gourmet jaffles. The weight of a full pack left Kay's legs feeling a bit wobbly after the descent, so she decided to head back with Patrick (who had just come in for the morning). Following the Grose downstream led us past views of hanging rock to the south and later, pierces pass to the north. We stopped for a break near the turnoff to pierces', where Dr Jo taped up Kate's rolled ankle.

Jo tends to Kate's ankle

Soon after we arrived at little blue gum forest - our camp for the night. David & Nazih joined us a few hours later after descending from lockleys. It was an eventful night by the fire.

Next morning in Little Blue Gum

A lazy breakfast amongst the cool of the blue gums had us away by 10. At Blue Gum Forest David led Aurelie and Jackie back up to lockleys. The rest of us continued on past Acacia Flats before stopping to collect water from Orang Utan Creek.

Blue Gum Forest

Dave C in Blue Gum Forest

Following Govetts Creek upstream led us to Junction rock for lunch, where we were joined by Richard (who had come down from perrys) and Greg's party (Thalia & Mark + others who had come from evans). It was an enjoyable hour or 2, jaffling & swimming being the main activities. The other priority was, of course, polishing off the remaining beverages from the night before. As we left the rock, Jiri, as Dave's deputy beer officer, dutifully announced that he was drunk. The group then split in two. Tom led a party through the grand canyon while the rest of us headed back up the Horse Track. Somehow we all arrived at evans at the same time. Greg then helped us shuffle everyone back to the Gardeners for refreshments. Thanks Greg.

View from Evans Lookout - Mt Banks, Govett Gorge, Fortress Hill

Fortress Walls

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Page last updated 19/12/2005

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