Mt Spec Three Day

Bullocky Tom’s Track – Waterfall Ck – Bambaroo Track
3 day walk, long weekend 4-6^th October 2014

Summary - Start from Paradise Waterhole (Big Crystal Creek, Mutarnee) 60km north of Townsville. Walk up Bullocky Toms track to DCK shelter, overnight. Day two, walk to and down top part of Waterfall Creek, return to DCK shelter. Monday, walk down Bambaroo track. Requires car shuttle at start and finish.

Saturday Day One 4^th October :

Four walkers on the list. Make slight change to meeting point plan based on that, and meet at Elanor Creek at 0700 (6 km north of Frosty Mango). Position two vehicles on private property for end of walk. Then into the troopie and drive to start point at Paradise Waterhole. Start walking at 0730.

An overcast humid morning. The whole day stayed like that. Pleasant walking conditions, albeit humid. Rock hop across Crystal Creek which is not a challenge with low water. Dawdle thought the lowland scrub, past Lanskeys old hut, along undulating scrub track, through burnt out scrub. Cycads and grass trees resplendent with green tops amongst a landscape of black and brown, looked good in early morning light. Arrive at Cairn Creek for smoko at 0900. Good water flow here for water refill. The cairn has grown significantly – somebody fixed it up on Thursday. Must be the best cairn ever. Then the steep climb up Bullocky Tom’s track, arrive at the lookout at 1030, for smoko number two. After a suitable break, continue the climb to arrive at Gold Falls at 1200 for lunch (lot of refreshment stops on this trip). Only one brave soul dared to swim here in the brisk water. After a nice lunch break, we walk on undulating tracks, two creek crossings. Through Johnstone’s Clearing, we decide to take the long route and go via the lower tin mining races and the old bower (signs of recent activity, not bad for a 30 yr old bower), to come in from Garde's Battery to DCK shelter at 1600. Past the second bower (also active) on the downhill part to Garde’s. 14 km today, approx 800 mr altitude climb. Make a nice cup of tea, hot shower. There was an exclamation from a female going to the shower ‘WILFRED !! There is a bat in the shower !!’. So that little creature was relocated. Same female, earlier upon arrival ‘WILFRED !! There is a snake on the tin’.  After our showers,  have dip and bikkies. Next weekend is Rosemary’s birthday (last year she carried a cake in to celebrate her birthday), this year we got no cake from her ! (but got dip and bikkies instead). Nice dinner later, with ‘shelter cellared’ wine and port.

Sunday Day two 5^th October – Waterfall Creek.

A chorus of bird calls awakes us. Last year we could not achieve Waterfall Creek due to wet conditions. So this morning anxious glances at the overcast sky. Start walking at 0810, easy track walking in rainforest to Shay’s Clearing (mainly downhill) about 1 hr, then along the old road for 10 minutes (past cassowary dropping), down a rough track for 5 minutes to Waterfall Creek and top cascade. Short smoko break here. Some dark clouds blow over, but the rocks are dry so we decide to go for it. Bit of bush bash through bracken ferns for 200 metres, then rock hop along the creek, down several nice cascades and small waterfalls. We find pink tape along the way in the bush alongside the creek – hmhmhmm, wonder who that is from ? Come to a drop off blockage, so a short overland bit to get around this. Creek scenery is very nice. Shortly after, we arrive at the destination at 1100 – one hour from the top cascade (I allowed 2 hours). Great views of the start of main waterfalls drop-off. Waterfall Creek was known as ‘a thousand waterfalls in a day’. Being early, we decide to go a bit lower down this top waterfall cliff face for a view around the corner. ‘There is a pool down below, lets aim for that’. How hard can it be ? From memory of two years ago, this was steep, exposed, and a bit uncomfortable. But decide to try it again. Scramble down the cliff face, it was uncomfortable for some of us. I picked a spot to go down, but sent Rosemary down first while I ‘supervised’ from above (ladies first – right ?). Well it looked all right from above, but after watching Rosemary, now I am not sure. Rosemary made it, albeit the last bit looked interesting. So I go down, and get stuck at the last bit, embarrassingly. We all make it, go further down, back and forth to find good ways, until we reach a large platform at bottom of the waterfall at 1130, with excellent views over the cane farms and north to Ingham. This is part of the waterfall area you can see from the highway. Another waterfall drops below us, but we have had enough for today. Plus, again dark clouds blow over, which we watch and keep in mind a retreat route if it rains. Pink tape is evident in the scrub here too.

1230, time to return, looking up at the waterfall and cliff we need to climb. Going up is easier, but still scrambling over the cliff face to find better routes. Then the walk back up the creek, which despite my promise of being flat, we discover is all uphill, nothing hard though. The scenery is worth it. There had been a few isolated rain drops along the way. Arrive back at the top cascade, we all bravely have a dip in the pool. Then lay on the flat rocks to dry and warm up. Back up the track, on the way to Garde’s lookout. Crossing over on the old tree (with cable installed to guide) above the creek I notice a black object on the log, I have gone a few meters when I realise it is a black snake curled up on the log ‘None shall pass!’. Back to the bank, wait for it to decide it no longer wants to block our path – finally it slid off the tree into the creek three meters below. Cross over, then up the hill to Garde's lookout for another smoko break and superb views. Walk along the track, with threats of a diversion to Foxlees lookout (Suzanne was dead against that), we arrive back at DCK Shelter at 1700.

Elizabeth was here with six friends for an overnighter, they came in from the dam. Wilfred had left a list of chores for her to do upon her arrival – chop firewood, prepare fire for our hot showers, cook our dinner, vacuum the pool,  massages for us men, plus more. Well, the fire was going, she claimed to have prepared more firewood, and dinner preparation had started, albeit, all aided by red rehydration liquid. So that was pretty good. Her friends even carried a guitar in ! The obligatory wine and cheese for pre-dinner ritual. We had a great dinner from Chef Elizabeth, lamb red curry, all fresh ingredients. Followed by lot of chocolate. She even presented Wilfred with genuine German pretzel – to which Wilfred exclaimed ‘what the hell is that ? – that is not a pretzel !’.  It was sausage shaped. Then the guitar was out and songs were in order. Elizabeth showed her skills with musical spoons to support the guitar and songs. A good night, set new standards for shelter entertainment. We had three sleep in the bunk room, five on the verandah, others in tents. Nobody on the verandah noticed the rat running around at 0100 (apart from me), which was found in the trap in the morning (fawn-footed melomys).

What could possibly go wrong ?

Monday Day three 6^th October – us hardy walkers had our usual cereal and fruit breakfast. Elizabeth and her crowd had a feast of eggs, baked beans, toast and other food. We bade farewell to them at 0900, to head off for an easy day walk down the Bambaroo track. We will be at Frosty Mango at 1530 and home early. Looking forward to it. Past Garde's lookout (one hour), turn onto the Bambaroo track, then shortly after turn left to the side track to the creek, water flowing, for smoko at 1100.  Moving on, a nice sunny day, downhill all day, ice cream at the end, home early, what could possibly go wrong ?

100 meters on, tree down. Cut our way through branches and wait-awhile. Ah well, that is ok, gotta expect one tree down, all good. 100 metres on, wait-a-while down all over the track. Cut our way through. Usually, when we get to the crap Wilfred takes over the lead and I retreat to hide at the back. Was not happening today. 100 metres on, another tree down and wait-a while over the track – no sign of the track, an impenetrable forest in front. More cutting and bashing the way through. Sometimes I went around the blockages to re-find the track alignment, then call back to the others and we work towards one another clearing the track. And so this continued for the rest of the day. Into the grass tree area, stopped at Devils Nest for lunch at 1315. The grass tree area was a delight after the rainforest wait-a-while experience. Then back into the rainforest, more downed trees and wait-a-while. About 1400, I started cursing a fair bit as the non-stop downed trees and wait-a-while continued. Then started to get into stinging tree area as well. Happy Happy Joy Joy. Finally arrive at the magnificent fig tree area, visit the giant strangler tree. There are several trees down in this area which impairs the photogenicness of the buttress trees - more work for the future. Wilfred says ‘well, lets go home, all be easy now’. Back onto the track, overgrown with vines, lantana and other crap. Cut our way through. Gingerly through the stinging tree forest, then more vines to cut through. Can’t wait till we get to the sugar cane grass field, that will be a joy compared to this crap we say. Finally stagger out of the forest into the sugar cane grass – ten feet high, thickly matted, dense. Where is the path ? No sign of it, just tall think matted crap. Curse. Bash, trip, stagger our way through this - ‘have we stopped having fun yet?’.  Get out of that, onto the comms tower track, relief. Down the 4WD track, arrive at the cars at 1645 – two hours behind the plan. What a  day !  I exclaim ‘This used to be my favourite track – now I am not so sure’. Short drive to Frosty Mango, life is good and bright again.

Another great weekend adventure in superb country with good company. Thanks to Suzanne and Wilfred for their hospitality at DCK shelter, and Elizabeth for a great dinner. And happy birthday Rosemary (even though you did not bring a cake this year).

Regards
Keith