Wentworth Falls (about one fifth)
After early rain, I had a terrific bushwalking day at Wentworth Falls. (The photo shows about one-fifth of the actual falls).
I started with my favourite: Darwin's Walk, where the great man walked along the Jamison Creek (back in the 19th Century). The upper reaches of the creek are regenerating from a fire about two years ago (you guessed it - another fire bug) and the creek itself is
recovering from heavy flash flooding back in February - a massive storm from a collapsing cyclone that decided to dump 300mm IN ONE HOUR on Wentworth Falls (and Leura). ONE HOUR??!!! That's 10 TIMES MORE than Nairne's had in the last seven months!
Several of the walking tracks are still waiting repair - part of the Undercliff Track (and Overcliff?) are still out, as was part of the Prince Henry Walk (PHW) at Leura yesterday.
I started with my favourite: Darwin's Walk, where the great man walked along the Jamison Creek (back in the 19th Century). The upper reaches of the creek are regenerating from a fire about two years ago (you guessed it - another fire bug) and the creek itself is
recovering from heavy flash flooding back in February - a massive storm from a collapsing cyclone that decided to dump 300mm IN ONE HOUR on Wentworth Falls (and Leura). ONE HOUR??!!! That's 10 TIMES MORE than Nairne's had in the last seven months!
Several of the walking tracks are still waiting repair - part of the Undercliff Track (and Overcliff?) are still out, as was part of the Prince Henry Walk (PHW) at Leura yesterday.
Jamison Valley, from WWF
Apart from the birds (especially the robins), the best part was meeting a local - Peter - not far into my walk. Peter has a fabulous knowledge of the local history plus a wonderful love of bushland and its animals. I felt like I was on a guided history tour! It was absolutely WONDERFUL! He told me about the floods - apparently the Jamison was running THREE METRES above its current level, which explained why some of the paths seemed more cut out than usual and of course explained the huge amounts of debris and damage (mostly repaired) to the bridges and boardwalks. Apparently 18 people had to be rescued from the lower walking tracks. That no-one was killed is amazing. Even the roads in WWF were flooded (and this is HILLY country). Katoomba apparently had a measly 150mm in one hour. A drought.
I also learned from Peter about how the tracks were cut into the rock faces (by a few men with pickaxes - light years before WHS/OHSW was invented). AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! NO WAY will you get me even WALKING on some of those tracks, let alone cutting them out of a rock face.
Peter DID coax me to retry the Undercliff Track (to the car park turnoff) - AND I made it (well, obviously)! It's so much easier when you have someone with you, plus the track HAS been improved since I last walked it.
I continued along the Shortcut Track to the Conservation Hut. Again, another area that's recovering from fire (and where I saw a pair of robins).
I also learned from Peter about how the tracks were cut into the rock faces (by a few men with pickaxes - light years before WHS/OHSW was invented). AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! NO WAY will you get me even WALKING on some of those tracks, let alone cutting them out of a rock face.
Peter DID coax me to retry the Undercliff Track (to the car park turnoff) - AND I made it (well, obviously)! It's so much easier when you have someone with you, plus the track HAS been improved since I last walked it.
I continued along the Shortcut Track to the Conservation Hut. Again, another area that's recovering from fire (and where I saw a pair of robins).
The Bird Report: southern yellow robins (at least 4 today! WOW! They are so beautiful), Scrubbies (bossy), sulphurs, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, striated thornbills
(I think, certainly had striations), spineys, clogs, red-whiskered bulbul, ravens, pied currawongs...and heard treecreepers and assorted other tweeting friends.
My photos of the flood debris caught in the trees aren't clear enough to reproduce here, but I've included some pics of the early morning PHW (Katoomba end), which includes a photo of a landslide (from February too), and WWF.
Still deciding on tomorrow's walk(s).
Happy writing and bushwalking
Bo
x
PS Did I mention they have fabulous ferns here? :)
PPS Did I mention that Peter's heard of some spooky stories about Mt Solitary?
(I think, certainly had striations), spineys, clogs, red-whiskered bulbul, ravens, pied currawongs...and heard treecreepers and assorted other tweeting friends.
My photos of the flood debris caught in the trees aren't clear enough to reproduce here, but I've included some pics of the early morning PHW (Katoomba end), which includes a photo of a landslide (from February too), and WWF.
Still deciding on tomorrow's walk(s).
Happy writing and bushwalking
Bo
x
PS Did I mention they have fabulous ferns here? :)
PPS Did I mention that Peter's heard of some spooky stories about Mt Solitary?
