Mt Wilson Mt Irvine Bushwalking Group Volume 21 Issue 7 July 2011

HAZELBROOK AND LAWSON WALKS TOPIC declaring the park was OUR JUNE temporarily closed due to helicopter activity associated WALK with track reconstruction in the WATERFALL CIRCUIT AT area. A quick call to the BMCC LAWSON AND TERRACE number quoted on the sign FALLS CIRCUIT AT determined that the work had HAZELBROOK been cancelled due to the th windy conditions and we were Friday 17 June 2011 free to continue. (How did we There is an old adage that warns ever manage without the you should be careful of what ubiquitous mobile phone?) you wish for. Last month we changed our schedule to slot As the terrain levelled at the these two circuits in, hoping the bottom of the stone steps the waterfalls would still be running Winter in the Bush muddy conditions prompted the well following the good rains tucking of trouser cuffs into early in the year; then the socks (my shorts wouldn’t heavens opened! Flooding on the Central and reach) and we continued North Coast, torrential downpours in the toward Lawson Creek. Soon, through the area and steady rain for days on end in forest canopy, we caught a glimpse of the the mountains. (In a note received recently silver veil of a waterfall. At creek level we from bushwalking group co-founder Mary made our way through a mossy fern-filled Reynolds, she stated their rain gauge at Mt bower to arrive at the base of the first falls for Wilson keeps overflowing in this appalling the day, Adelina. A narrow band of water weather.) drops into a shallow pool before flowing down the creek line bordered by moss covered th Then, lo and behold, Friday 17 dawned to a boulders. clear blue sky; we are blessed. Perfect conditions in which to walk these gullies and These falls are named after Adelaide Mary view the plentiful bounty from the skies Wilson, daughter of Henry Wilson, publican tumbling over the rock faces as it courses of The Blue Mountains Inn at Lawson toward the Nepean and so out to sea to begin (Lawson Public School now occupies the site). the life giving cycle once more. In 1882 he organised the building of a track to these falls as an added attraction for guests at Eleven gathered in Honour Avenue (named to his inn and tourists generally. (Adelaide, or recognise those who served in WW1) on this Adelina as her father called her, must have clear but windy morn, eager to explore this been a rather flamboyant dresser for she was new walk for the group. Our progress was known locally as The Blue Mountains Parrot.) brought to an abrupt halt however by a notice The falls were known as Adelina before 1871 2 Mt Wilson Mt Irvine Bushwalking Group but then became known as Livingstone Falls a sandy beach. These falls were named for the after the famous Scottish doctor. In 1910 they Federation of in 1901, curiously reverted to Adelina; a victory for local history however the name was given in 1889; over Dr Livingston, I presume. obviously a decision by someone full of We then made our way along the western bank optimism. Previous to this they were known as of Lawson Creek accompanied by that Hays Cascades after Joseph and Eliza Hay magical sound of water burbling and gurgling who had extensive land holdings in the area. as it rushes down the gully, often hidden We retrace our path for a short distance and below the overlapping circles of tree fern now take the previously ignored stone steps; a fronds. There are beautiful examples of the sign, painted on the rock long before Smooth-barked Apple (Angophora costata) metrication, indicates it is half a mile to here. Some rise from colourful mats of Cataract Falls. We climb up past a lookout, discarded bark; their trunks, now clothed in which is temporarily closed, and drop back freshly exposed garb, are irresistible to touch. down to, and cross, Cataract Creek. The track Contrasting with these smooth colourful as we approach Cataract Falls is stunning. On trunks are those of the Sydney Peppermint our left the land slopes down beneath a thick (Eucalyptus piperita ) clothed in rough fibrous tree cover to the creek. On our right are rock- bark. As the track leads us deeper into the faces and overhangs dripping luxuriantly in gully Blue Mountains Ash (Eucalyptus bright green mosses and tiny ferns; the oreades) become more prominent, their brilliant green of the moss is emphasised at smooth white trunks towering up out of the one point by the salmon pink trunk of an confines of the gully; their rather sparse Angophora surrounded by vivid orange canopies now able to catch the sunlight. Today medallions of discarded bark. An old lichen these tall slender trunks, rising above skirts encrusted wooden sign high on a tree trunk formed by ribbons of discarded bark, sway indicates we are at Cataract Falls. slowly back and forth; a majestic wind- These falls drop in two distinct stages into a powered ballet performed to a symphony of wide shallow pool with a cavernous rock water music. overhang to the right. Fallen and beautifully Presently we arrive at the junction of Lawson distorted moss-covered tree trunks surround and Ridge Creeks and descend to the base of the pool. Under the watchful eye of a stony the thoughtfully named Junction Falls. Here face peering from the rock in which it is the waters of Ridge Creek first drop in three carved we take the track that leads us to the main ribbons to a rock shelf then fan widely to middle of the falls. From here someone cascade into a shallow pool. Nearby Lawson notices an object in a tree at the top of the Creek leaps in a single bound from atop a falls; is it a nest, perhaps a bird, what could it large rock protuberance onto fallen boulders be? below. It is decided this is a perfect spot for We now emerge onto a fire trail that we follow morning tea. along a ridge for a kilometre or so, surrounded A timber bridge then leads us across Lawson by the golden blossom of the Sunshine Wattle Creek which we follow for about three (Acacia terminalis) , then drop down to hundred metres. The rocky slope on our left Terrace Falls Creek, our second venue for the contains many small caves partially hidden day. After a stroll along Terrace Falls Road, behind the vegetation while to our right the with a shower threatening after such a clear swaying Blue Mountains Ash put on a morning, we arrive at the eastern entry point rhythmic encore performance. We ignore the of the Terrace Falls Track. stone steps on our left and continue on to Dropping down past some huge moss- Federal Falls on Cataract Creek. These are a shrouded sandstone tors we pass between two delightful set of falls in a small amphitheatre giant Mountain Grey Gums (Eucalyptus surrounded by lush vegetation and containing 3 Mt Wilson Mt Irvine Bushwalking Group cypellocarpa) growing no more than a metre that Anne was from Sydney and she joined us apart, they form an impressive gateway to this for part of the remaining circuit. magical area. We turn left across some fallen Pushing on we cross Terrace Falls Creek with tree trunks and pass a grove of Coachwood the help of an improvised hand-held handrail (Ceratopetalum apetalum) ; their lichen- and head toward Willawong Pool. We pass an mottled trunks towering up past a gigantic old stone fireplace on the left now completely triangular rock overhang. Soon we are at clothed in vivid green velvety moss; this area Pyramid Falls, falls which consists of three is known as Picnic Point. Shortly on the right major drops each spreading wider as they is a high rock wall, parts of which are descend into a delightful ferny dell. There is blackened by fires from times of Aboriginal no visible outlet from the pool at the base of use of the area as a shelter; clumps of a grass- these falls, the water obviously flowing like plant cascade from the ledges above. At underground to emerge further down the gully. Willawong Pool, a beautiful sheltered spot, we Back on the main track we continue the rather look across to a small cave under a large steep descent through this most beautiful of boulder at the edge of the water. It is at this landscapes. The open eucalypt forest gives pool that Lawson Creek, along which we had way to rainforest consisting mainly of walked this morning, meets Bedford Creek. Coachwood with the rough dark trunks of a We return to the main track and make our way few scattered Sassafras (Doryphora sassafras) upstream beside Terrace Falls Creek. This area adding contrast to the scene. There is an is absolutely enchanting, green pervades the abundance of ground ferns and many Rough whole scene; mosses, lichens, ground and tree Tree Ferns (Cyanthea australis) hold their ferns and dense rainforest foliage dominate in fronds aloft on gently curving trunks. To our this verdant little valley. We cross the creek left we are looking down into an extremely below Little Terrace Falls, a stunningly steep-sided gully, at its base the waters of beautiful double cascade, then make our way Pyramid Falls reappear to cascade and tumble along the creek line. Here, in this fern-filled over mossy rocks on their way to Bedford gully, the creek flows in a series of exquisite Creek. The track leads us past ferny banks and small cascades that link tiny limpid pools set rock outcrops; we duck under a dripping rock among large mossy boulders; a sight to overhang and after negotiating some rustic behold. We recross the creek below Salote stone steps nestled in the thick leaf litter we Pool and soon we are at Terrace Falls. arrive at Bedford Pool. We had planned to have lunch on the grassy bank on the other How lucky we are to see these falls under side of the pool however the creek was too these conditions! From a wide base on a high to cross. Instead we carry on to a large smooth rock shelf the terraces step up the rock overhang beside the track and settle down gully becoming narrower as they ascend. I on the long natural rock bench seat didn’t count them but I believe there are conveniently located there. twelve terraces. Over these terraces wide silver ribbons of water drop from step to step Perched here we are looking down through tall with thin argent threads spreading to the edges straight tree trunks to a long clear pool with of the terraces; the cascading water water cascading in from two sources; the luminescent against the dark rock. The water upstream of Bedford Creek and from the accumulates momentarily in a wide shallow of Terrace Falls Creek. It then pool before streaming over the rock shelf past escapes across rocky rapids to continue its a huge pyramidal boulder topped with Rock combined downstream journey. As Libby was Felt Fern (Pyrrosia rupestris) and a host of distributing slices of her delicious bushwalkers other minute and delicate ferns. We stand cake a lone bushwalker appears, perfect transfixed by the sublime beauty of this scene; timing. Libby of course offered the new surely one of the gems of the mountains. arrival, Anne, a piece of cake. It transpired 4 Mt Wilson Mt Irvine Bushwalking Group Our extra walker, Anne, leaves us here to Coxs Road and Lawsons Long Alley – make her way up the zigzag track to Terrace and Hartley Vale Falls Road. (This track with its skilfully made The group last explored Coxs Road in 2007 stone steps was built in 1892 by Thomas and Lawsons Long Alley in 2002; this will be Gallagher for the grand sum of fourteen the first time we have combined these two pounds.) We continue on toward Victor Falls, routes in the same walk. This walk is crossing the creek once more via what remains approximately 9km with an ascent of about of some stepping stones on a rock shelf. We 250 metres on the return from the valley; the then climb into more open forest and glimpses climb is however fairly gentle. The walk of the falls are seen through the trees. A offers spectacular views, the history of these sidetrack leads us down to the base of Victor convict-constructed mountain crossings and of Falls. In these conditions of plentiful flow in Hartley Vale, forested slopes, open grazing the creek there are in fact two falls dropping land and marshy creek lines. over the cliff, one on each side of the gully. The falls were named in 1918 for the Meet at the Lawson Track Head parking celebration of victory after World War 1. area which is on the right hand side about From 1882 until that time they were known as 1.25km along Mt York Road (opposite the Bass Falls for Surgeon George Bass of the Berghofer Pass Track) at Mt Victoria at ship Reliance who, with two companions, 9.00am, or at Merry Garth at 8.30am. made an attempt in 1796 to cross these There will be a short car shuffle to the walk mountains. start point at the Mt York Lookout. Your The track then leads us up past a cliffline and early notification of attendance would help swings sharp right to deliver us back to the fire Libby in organising this shuffle. trail which returns us to the top of Cataract Bring morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and Falls at Lawson. From the bridge above the plenty of water. falls we can see that object spotted in a tree this morning from the middle of the falls. Was Contact Libby Raines on 4756 2121 (after it a bird? Was it a nest? No, it was a pair of 7pm) or Helen and John Cardy on 9871 Reg Grundies; men’s undies high in a tree, 3661 or on mobile 0418 646 487 if you need therein lies a tale I’m sure. to leave a message. Soon we are back at the cars ending an ______exhilarating walk through a stunningly FUTURE WALKS (Tentative schedule) beautiful landscape; nine substantial waterfalls th on six different creeks – magical! Friday 19 August – Kanangra Walls th Footnote: Historical details and anecdotes and Friday 16 September – Six Foot Track; sources of place and feature names were Megalong Cemetery to gleaned mainly from Keith Painter’s ‘Pocket Pal’ series of booklets for this area and from BUSH CARE Brian Fox’s ‘Upper Blue Mountains Bush Care is held on the second Friday of Geographical Encyclopaedia’; both invaluable each month from 9am to Noon. Any help, sources of information relating to these even for a short time, would be appreciated mountains and their walking tracks. both by the other workers and by the native John C vegetation. OUR JULY WALK 8th July 2011 at Galwey Lane near Jalscene th Friday 15 July 2011 12 th August 2011 at Sloan Reserve A Little History, a Touch of Victory, a Contact Libby or Beth Raines on 4756 2121 Little Mystery and Lots of Scenery for details