p***@gmail.com
2006-09-22 13:48:50 UTC
Our party of 6 gentlemen in 2 cars arrived at the Yanakie gate at
approximately 7.30 pm on friday the 15th September. With administrivia
taken care of we headed for the 5 mile gate car park where we changed
into our walking clobber and dumped a car for the sunday pickup. Lots
of wildlife on the 5 mile road into the car park.
A cosy ride in the back of johnno's car 6 blokes and packs headed to
telegraph saddle. By 8.40 pm we were walking the track to sealers in
darkness with head torches. The track was easy to negotiate in single
file though we didn't get a visual on the regrowth from the recent
fires. We find nightwalking the first night to be pretty cruisy and the
10km to Sealers was an easy walk. The fine weather helped. We reached
windy saddle by 9:20pm. We reached Sealers Cove at 10:50 and made camp,
boiled the billy then turned in for the night.
We awoke at about 6 am. Packup, breaky, cuppa's and a walk back the
track to get some water for the day's toil. As a group we are still
slow to get moving in the morning but perhaps that is where the
pleasure is.
We departed sealers cove(where the track meets the cove) at 8.00 am and
walked the beach. We noted some small campsites in the ti-tree and
potable water flowing over the rocks into the cove. The water is about
60m from the end of the beach when you start rock hopping. It would be
a good place to camp in future though I suspect the water would dry up
in summer\late autumn. We rock hop around to the large boulder we can
see from the shoreline, although I suspect we were about 100m from this
point when we decided to go inland. At 8.50 am we burst into the scrub
and begin our ascent.
The scrub is extremely thick from the word go and our garden gloves and
gaiters held us in good stead. We navigated by feel and were roughly
heading towards the large boulder face. Every now and then we thought
we were on some sort of pad but it would peter out, only to require
more bush bashing. We were ascending quickly and the significant
physical effort for little distance was preying on our minds. We
probably battled away with this thick scrub for a couple of hours
before reaching the main spur and vegetation reduced. Once on the spur
we had to deal with the many fallen trees that ambushed our upward
ascent. Perhaps we were just out of fitness, but with 19 kg packs we
found ourselves having to stop every 100m during one particularly steep
section.
Our first good view was a group of large scalable boulders that had a
flat upper area. It was not the highpoint of the mountain but it did
provide relief and fine views across to sealers and back towards windy
saddle. We probably spent 20-30 minutes here getting photographs and
footage. We thought we would push on and get to the highpoint for
lunch. Once again we came across a lot of fallen trees and we found
hiking the ridge through the ti-tree pretty hard going. We reached a
small spot near some rocks which overlooked Sealers cove at 1 pm and
had lunch. Boots were removed and we ate like kings. Weather was fine,
sweaty shirts were hung out to dry. Later, our Nav man Matt K
calculated that were on the highest point of the Cathedral. 2:10 pm we
departed following our planned route. There was some discussion of
sidling the ridge then going straight down. vegetation keeps us on the
ridge top. Walking along the ridge was much harder than anticpated, we
expected it to be more open and as such easier walking. The ti-tree was
really thick and at times difficult with packs on our back. When
confronted with some of the large boulder formations we skirted them on
the right hand side and found this path really tough. I suspect we
reached the cleared top of the larger peak (540m)at about 3.30 pm. It
was such as respite to have a small clearing allowing us magnificient
views across sealers and beyond. We were all pretty satisfied for 10
minutes. The sun was setting and there was pressure to get down to 5
mile beach. We also had to walk the beach to miranda creek before our
walking day was done. Back into the ti-tree and we dropped just off the
ridge line about 10-20m looking for our spur down. There was a sense of
urgency in the group and as such not much dv or many still photographs
were taken. Matt K was the only one who got photographs of 5 mile beach
and action shots of the society on our way down.
Following the spur down was pretty easy as you can see the beach to the
right or infront of you. Vegetation at times is pretty thick. We
strayed off the spur at one stage and righted ourselves by navigating
through a gully, tough call but we were rewarded with a good small
stream of water of which we filled our bottles and then continued. As
we got closer to the beach losing elevation we tended to drift off the
spur and just gunbarrelled towards the sand. Our blokes on point, got
us to the beach at 6.15 pm. We dropped to the sand elated at our
efforts. After a 45 minute break on the beach we mustered our energy
reserves and began the 5 mile hike to miranda creek. It was now dark
and many of our party tuned into to radios or mp3 players for the long
haul. The beach section was no fun. The steep beach and inconsistent
surface taxed all members. We were fortunate that we had mild weather,
when we stopped for breathers the wilderness was beautiful and
confronting. Our party strung out according to abilities and stride. We
communicated via uhf radio. By 9 pm our man on point made camp at
miranda creek and sought water for dinner. The rest of the group
shuffled in at 9.30 pm. Tents went up, boots were cast aside, clothes
were changed and meals were prepared. The physically long day was not
conducive to eating and a few members cooked their meals but after a
couple of bites retired.
Sunday saw the party having to negotiate the relentless jeep track back
to 5 mile gate. The group shouted themselves a sleep in and readied
themselves for a 10-10.30am departure. Everyone ate a good breakfast,
making up for a dropped meal last night. Spirits were good. The
campsites in the ti-tree are delightful, we enjoyed being out of the
wind. On our way out, as we rounded the inlet we saw our nemisis
shrouded in cloud. Collective satisfaction. Not much to report on the
jeep track, it's as dull as ever and from the beach to chinaman's creek
the weather was hot and walking was a tad uncomfortable. One of our
party was feeling poorly so we divided up gear amongst the 6 of us.
Lunch was had at Chinaman's creek, where there was good water and
bountiful mozzies. We arrived at the carpark at 5 pm. A great walk now
that I look back at the photographs and very satisfying. The views are
superb.
approximately 7.30 pm on friday the 15th September. With administrivia
taken care of we headed for the 5 mile gate car park where we changed
into our walking clobber and dumped a car for the sunday pickup. Lots
of wildlife on the 5 mile road into the car park.
A cosy ride in the back of johnno's car 6 blokes and packs headed to
telegraph saddle. By 8.40 pm we were walking the track to sealers in
darkness with head torches. The track was easy to negotiate in single
file though we didn't get a visual on the regrowth from the recent
fires. We find nightwalking the first night to be pretty cruisy and the
10km to Sealers was an easy walk. The fine weather helped. We reached
windy saddle by 9:20pm. We reached Sealers Cove at 10:50 and made camp,
boiled the billy then turned in for the night.
We awoke at about 6 am. Packup, breaky, cuppa's and a walk back the
track to get some water for the day's toil. As a group we are still
slow to get moving in the morning but perhaps that is where the
pleasure is.
We departed sealers cove(where the track meets the cove) at 8.00 am and
walked the beach. We noted some small campsites in the ti-tree and
potable water flowing over the rocks into the cove. The water is about
60m from the end of the beach when you start rock hopping. It would be
a good place to camp in future though I suspect the water would dry up
in summer\late autumn. We rock hop around to the large boulder we can
see from the shoreline, although I suspect we were about 100m from this
point when we decided to go inland. At 8.50 am we burst into the scrub
and begin our ascent.
The scrub is extremely thick from the word go and our garden gloves and
gaiters held us in good stead. We navigated by feel and were roughly
heading towards the large boulder face. Every now and then we thought
we were on some sort of pad but it would peter out, only to require
more bush bashing. We were ascending quickly and the significant
physical effort for little distance was preying on our minds. We
probably battled away with this thick scrub for a couple of hours
before reaching the main spur and vegetation reduced. Once on the spur
we had to deal with the many fallen trees that ambushed our upward
ascent. Perhaps we were just out of fitness, but with 19 kg packs we
found ourselves having to stop every 100m during one particularly steep
section.
Our first good view was a group of large scalable boulders that had a
flat upper area. It was not the highpoint of the mountain but it did
provide relief and fine views across to sealers and back towards windy
saddle. We probably spent 20-30 minutes here getting photographs and
footage. We thought we would push on and get to the highpoint for
lunch. Once again we came across a lot of fallen trees and we found
hiking the ridge through the ti-tree pretty hard going. We reached a
small spot near some rocks which overlooked Sealers cove at 1 pm and
had lunch. Boots were removed and we ate like kings. Weather was fine,
sweaty shirts were hung out to dry. Later, our Nav man Matt K
calculated that were on the highest point of the Cathedral. 2:10 pm we
departed following our planned route. There was some discussion of
sidling the ridge then going straight down. vegetation keeps us on the
ridge top. Walking along the ridge was much harder than anticpated, we
expected it to be more open and as such easier walking. The ti-tree was
really thick and at times difficult with packs on our back. When
confronted with some of the large boulder formations we skirted them on
the right hand side and found this path really tough. I suspect we
reached the cleared top of the larger peak (540m)at about 3.30 pm. It
was such as respite to have a small clearing allowing us magnificient
views across sealers and beyond. We were all pretty satisfied for 10
minutes. The sun was setting and there was pressure to get down to 5
mile beach. We also had to walk the beach to miranda creek before our
walking day was done. Back into the ti-tree and we dropped just off the
ridge line about 10-20m looking for our spur down. There was a sense of
urgency in the group and as such not much dv or many still photographs
were taken. Matt K was the only one who got photographs of 5 mile beach
and action shots of the society on our way down.
Following the spur down was pretty easy as you can see the beach to the
right or infront of you. Vegetation at times is pretty thick. We
strayed off the spur at one stage and righted ourselves by navigating
through a gully, tough call but we were rewarded with a good small
stream of water of which we filled our bottles and then continued. As
we got closer to the beach losing elevation we tended to drift off the
spur and just gunbarrelled towards the sand. Our blokes on point, got
us to the beach at 6.15 pm. We dropped to the sand elated at our
efforts. After a 45 minute break on the beach we mustered our energy
reserves and began the 5 mile hike to miranda creek. It was now dark
and many of our party tuned into to radios or mp3 players for the long
haul. The beach section was no fun. The steep beach and inconsistent
surface taxed all members. We were fortunate that we had mild weather,
when we stopped for breathers the wilderness was beautiful and
confronting. Our party strung out according to abilities and stride. We
communicated via uhf radio. By 9 pm our man on point made camp at
miranda creek and sought water for dinner. The rest of the group
shuffled in at 9.30 pm. Tents went up, boots were cast aside, clothes
were changed and meals were prepared. The physically long day was not
conducive to eating and a few members cooked their meals but after a
couple of bites retired.
Sunday saw the party having to negotiate the relentless jeep track back
to 5 mile gate. The group shouted themselves a sleep in and readied
themselves for a 10-10.30am departure. Everyone ate a good breakfast,
making up for a dropped meal last night. Spirits were good. The
campsites in the ti-tree are delightful, we enjoyed being out of the
wind. On our way out, as we rounded the inlet we saw our nemisis
shrouded in cloud. Collective satisfaction. Not much to report on the
jeep track, it's as dull as ever and from the beach to chinaman's creek
the weather was hot and walking was a tad uncomfortable. One of our
party was feeling poorly so we divided up gear amongst the 6 of us.
Lunch was had at Chinaman's creek, where there was good water and
bountiful mozzies. We arrived at the carpark at 5 pm. A great walk now
that I look back at the photographs and very satisfying. The views are
superb.