Hidden Falls 2020

Over 80 mm of rain midweek replenished mountain creeks ensuring good flow.

10 adventurers set off at 8:15 am for Hidden Falls. “where are we going, where is it ?’ – “well, it is hidden, but see all those mountain peaks, well, we don’t have to go up there!”. Phew. Wilfred and Dyso confer, “not a steep climb today, only to about 300 mr isn’t it” - “Yep, easy day, not long in distance either”. So after a pleasant track walk for about an hour, into the creek, and start the long 2.7 km rock hop boulder scramble through pretty cascades and pools. But slippery rocks and boulders meant lot of going bush, where sometimes it was easy, other times a tangled mass of jungle, vines and thorny crap – some of the biggest thorns in the region ! At one area, our group had split up, main group went left, some went right, into the jungle. Then we stopped to re-group – where are the other 2 blokes? Downstream on the other side, could see jungle moving – gorillas ? that was them, in heavy jungle. When they caught up “that was not a good route!” they exclaimed. “oh, our side was nice” we responded.

Another blockage due to wet boulders, a pool, and creek bank heavily vined, Wilfred was in the lead at this point (must have been rough, where did Dyso slink off to ...?), time to go up and over. So we climbed, then climbed more, slipping and sliding, tangled in vines, but a cliff blocking us from getting down. So higher up we go “hope we are not going to peak 770” I thought. Wilfred asks, “waterfall is on this side isn’t it?” – “no - other side” Dyso cheerfully responds, and “we need to get back down to Cave tree”. Was that some groans from the back I heard ? Dyso then promised “within an hour we will be at the waterfall having lunch”. Some dubious looks about that boast. “We will be at the cave tree soon, if we can back to the creek!”. We had climbed about 100 mr up from the creek – doesn’t sound much does it, but when you are bashing through vines and feet slipping on the steep slope ... !

We stopped whilst Wilfred assessed a way down. Dyso gleefully exclaims” Look, there is the top of the waterfall” pointing to other side of the gorge. High above the gorge on the other side, a bit higher than where we were, the top of the waterfall could be seen. Now that did not result in joyous bursts, just “what, we have to go all the way down to the creek, then all the way up the other side?” – “Yes!”. “Why didn’t we go up the other side?” – “ well, there are some big cliffs on that side........... ”. Finally we find a steep way down back to the creek, often sliding on our rears. But it was a good route, we were back in the creek at the cave tree and opposite the waterfall climb. Great plan. Cave tree – well it is a strangler type fig tree, and the roots have made a cave like aperture, with creek flowing around, framed by a low palm, very scenic. Quick rest, then we climb up to the waterfall, past the lower cascade (which is impressive by itself). Dyso says “just around the corner to go” which is met the usual derision. “No, trust me, us leaders are always right” –“ yeah, heard that before” someone responded. Then “80 mr to go”, and sure enough, we crested the hill, and there was Hidden Falls top tier. A great waterfall and pool. And it wasn’t even lunch time yet. We could have found another jungle hill to play in first ! But being kind, our leaders allowed us an early lunch. Two brave souls had a swim, the rest admired the view. It was chilly at this spot.

Time to head home. Wilfred and Dyso are seen conferring – that cannot be good ! Dyso announces “ We are going to try another route on way home, high on this side, stay out the creek”. That was not greeted with spontaneous joyness – just looks of trepidation (wonder why - something about past Wilfred shortcuts ?). Off we go, straight into tangled vines and rocky scree slopes, most of which are loose. Our greyhounds go ahead and trail blaze a bit as well. We are forced lower to the creekbank, where the going was easier. We zoom along, cross the creek, easy walking through rainforest (jungle at times). We find great rainforest trees – giant strangler figs, buttress root trees, and others. A fascinating “Plate” tree is found. We halved the time coming back. Quick swim at the rockslides, then along the track back to the cars. Highest elevation 386 mr. Distance 9.7 km total.

KD