Mount Bellenden Ker - Trip Report

Date: 29-30 August 2020
Leader: Graeme
Participants: 3

With approvals organised in advance by Graeme and route beta obtained from the Tablelands Bushwalking Club, our small group set off for an overnight ascent of Mount Bellenden Ker. Access began on a farmer's private property, and after gaining permission, we followed the bitumen road to the start of the track and began the long climb.

From the outset, this was a wet walk. Rain fell for much of the trip, and the mountain lived up to its reputation for being damp, muddy, and misty. The rainforest was dripping, the track was slippery, and the views were mostly hidden behind clouds. Although we knew there were big landscapes all around us, we only caught brief hints of them through the mist.

The route climbed steadily and relentlessly through thick Wet Tropics rainforest on a rough, sometimes overgrown track. We stopped at the water refill points on the way up and carried secateurs, cutting back vegetation as we went to help keep the route open. Leeches made occasional appearances, adding to the classic Bellenden Ker experience.

Higher up, the track eventually brought us near Tower 6, where there were two small white emergency shelter boxes with styrofoam-insulated walls, more like giant eskies than mountain huts. This was our overnight area, and it made a good place to drop the heavy packs before the final push.

By this point Graeme had had enough of the climb and sensibly decided to turn back and rest, while Luen and Anneliese continued on to the summit. From there, the route followed the summit ridgeline across to the true top, passing small streams that were flowing well thanks to the constant rain. Even right near the summit there was plenty of water about, and the whole ridge had that quiet, soaked, cloud-forest feel that makes this mountain so memorable.

With the summit reached, Luen and Anneliese returned to camp, where all three settled in for the night and slept well despite the damp conditions. By morning, the mountain was still wet, so the descent demanded care, especially on the muddier and steeper sections. We retraced our steps all the way back down, taking it steadily to avoid slipping, and eventually made it back out the same way we had come in.

This was a proper North Queensland overnighter - steep, wet, leechy, and hard going, but rewarding in that special Bellenden Ker way. Thanks to Graeme for organising access for the trip.

The background details on Bellenden Ker access, the cableway route, water points, Tower 6 shelters, and the typically wet and misty conditions align with what we were told.

- Luen