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Wollemi National Park: Cliffs, Pagodas and Ravines

NW of Koopartoo via Koopartoo Ravine, Koopartoo

Pass, Koopartoo Point and Koopartoo Gully

Friday 1st April 2016- Track Notes

Short title Cliffs, Pagodas and Ravines NW of Koopartoo – Part 1

Date Friday 1st April 2016

Leader Yuri Bolotin

Maps, etc. Department of Lands Ben Bullen topographic map, 8931–4S, 1:25000, second edition, WGS 84.

Walk description and route

Park at GR 412 209 on Wolgan Rd and climb NW into a tributary of the Wolgan River. Find a way up to the tops at around GR 407 220. Spend some time exploring in that area, perhaps going south to the cliff cline and the views. Then return via GR 412 222 or via Minotaur Lair. About 6km. Exploratory.

Rating 6, M, LTW, S333E Gear issues Have clothes to change into in the car for afterwards. 2 litres of water. GPS,

PLB, appropriate head and footwear, electrolytes, maps, compass.

Numbers 2 places left

Meeting point Pymble 0545, McDonalds carpark Richmond 0640, Lithgow Salud Coffee 0800, Wolgan Road 0820

Transport Club cars.

Comments Scrambling, exposure.

Close of Bookings

ASAP

Enquiries Yuri Bolotin, yuribolotin@gmail.com; 0413 715 943 Michael Keats, mjmkeats@easy.com.u, 9144 2096

The Party

Yuri Bolotin, leader, Brian Fox, Michael Keats, Jafar Calley, Ian Starkey, Daryl Watson, Harold Thompson, Berenice Torstensson, Marion Davies and Emanuel Conomos, Members and Linda Eggington and Chris Brown, guests, 12.

The Weather

A glorious sunny, still autumn day with light variable cloud. Occasional puffs of cool breeze at some high spots. Temperature range, 14 to 27 degrees.

Background Notes

Brian Fox has undertaken some research about the euphonious name Koopartoo, should it be Koompartoo?

Burnum Burnum (Harry) 1936-1997 Indigenous leader, sportsman, public servant and educator refers to Koompartoo, as a fresh start." Or ‘new beginnings” I wonder if Koopartoo was misspelt and the ‘m’ missed out. Hubert Alfred Tweedie moved from Cullen Bullen where he was born to Koopartoo in 1953 The outdoors was in his blood so, in 1953, Grandpa, his mother and "brood" relocated to "Koopartoo" near Newnes Ref: Eulogy as read by his grand-daughter, Jean Ticehurst, 2004.

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Taylor, G.J, Newnes- History of a Blue Mountains Oil Shale Town p.31…The first butcher shop was opened in 1906 by H.E. Tweedie… This is too much of a coincidence. The connection of the Tweedie family with Newnes is a long one. Track Notes

Plot of the walk overlaid on an aerial photograph. Recorded and prepared by Marion

Davies.

Plot of the walk overlaid on a topographic map. Recorded and prepared by Marion Davies

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An Earth Star, Geastrum triplex. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

The walk today is a continuation of a planned high density exploration of the dissected plateaux surrounding Newnes. The walks documented in The Gardens of Stone National

Park and beyond, Book 2, provide a taste of the area and are indicative of the potential for challenging off track walking. What we did and experienced today was euphoric. At 0904 the vehicles were parked on the Wolgan Road, just south of the Wolgan River crossing and access track to the Old Coach Road. On 17th March 2016 we headed north west on a very steep gradient to reach the base of the lower cliff line. Today, with knowledge of the micro topography, our way of route was more WNW, an easier grade and a more direct route into the Koopartoo Ravine.1 Since our last visit there has been little rain however the Earth Star fungus, a dramatic puff ball species was thriving. It was one of few of any species to relieve the dry and drab forest floor. The only activity of note on the talus slope was widespread construction by ants busy building defences against potential heavy rain. I wonder when as the prolonged dry is making survival desperate for many heavily water dependant species, particularly in the deep canyons. By 0946, GR 406 213 we had entered the constriction of the ravine, the animal pad we were following was now hard against the base of the cliffs. Minutes later we cross the dry watercourse and began scrambling up the rock filled creek bed. As recently as our last visit these rocks were damp and slippery. Today they were dry and I had no problem maintaining a good grip.

1 Koopartoo Ravine is a short tree fern filled canyon which allows access through the cliff line from the Wolgan Road to

the mesa of high ground above. Located 1.3km north, north west of the Koopartoo homestead. Named by Michael Keats on

a Bush Club walk 17th March 2016. Ben Bullen Topo Map, GR 404 215 to 404 216.

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In Koopartoo Ravine. Photo: Brian Fox.

At 1010, GR 404 216, we were above the glorious lower section of the ravine and at a creek junction. It was here on the last walk that after morning tea we headed up the main ravine to the north. Today after morning tea we headed NNE climbing rapidly to the base of the cliff line.

In researching for the walk, Yuri had identified a potential access slot that if it was negotiable would provide a short cut to explore the cliff edge. It is an extremely colourful area, the orange cliffs rise from an exposure of the Chocolate Shales (The Mount York Claystone). In the sunshine this was a truly beautiful place. Checking with the aerial photo we needed to

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Yuri and Michael below the top cliff line. Photo: Brian Fox.

explore about 100m further south, GR 405 217. This was no hardship. The cliff base walking was generally easy and at 1024 we stood at the bottom of the slot. While it may have been possible for Brian to negotiate the first 3m (he did try), it would have been a real challenge for the rest of the party. Frustratingly we could see that beyond this initial point the slot probably went all the way.

There was nothing else for it but to retrace our steps and try our luck at another spot about 100m further north. It was now 1058, GR 405 218. As if preordained we found ourselves walking up and easy graded pass. It was only the last few metres where there was a small scramble required. The top of the pass is at GR 406 219. This easy walking pass we have named Koopartoo Pass.

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By 1104 we

were gazing at a

view of the dual

cliff lines of a

point,

(retrospectively

named Corn

Paddock Point)

we had climbed

before – from

the Corn

Paddock2.

When we were

exploring that

area we had

mused on the

proposition that

perhaps we

could have

walked across

the plateau top

and descended

Koopartoo

Ravine. Well

we now know

that such a walk

is possible and

we also know

that the exposed

rocky areas are

worthy of

exploration. A

loop walk

climbing up

Corn Paddock

Point and

descending

Koopartoo

Ravine (or vice

versa is now on

the ‘to do’ list.

This was just

the beginning.

Our plan was to

reach the cliff

edge and

Brian, Yuri and Michael below the top cliff line, western side of Koopartoo Point. Photo:

Emanuel Conomos.

2 The Corn Paddock property derives its name from the river flats adjacent to the homestead. The flats were used to raise

corn to feed the pit ponies employed by the Newnes Industrial Complex operation from about 1905 to 1920. Correspondence

Doug Coats, owner of the Corn Paddock 29th August 2014

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Brian Fox on a plinth on the eastern side of Corn Paddock Point. Immediately above Brian’s

head is Koopartoo Point. Koopartoo Ravine is hidden in between. This picture was taken by

Michael Keats, 29th August 2014.

the southern- most extension of Koopartoo Point. By 1138 we were there, right on the edge.

On the way there we had enjoyed glimpses of the western section of the Wolgan Valley, of

Donkey Mountain, and from time to time views of the cliff lines towards Newnes. The

alignment of the former Wolgan Valley Railway, including its recession into Penrose Gully

could be traced all the way across the talus slopes.

Once at Koopartoo Point, GR 407 213, it was time to put down the packs and explore the area

thoroughly. A deep cleft that threatens to breakaway the nose of the point was explored for

some distance. If you examine the trace you can see where we went. There was no way it

would lead safely to the base of the cliffs. Isolated pagodas had to be climbed and of course

those who did had to be photographed. Five of us stood along the edge for an amazing picture

taken by Harold.

The vegetation on the exposed point area is essentially a Casuarina forest. It is different in so

far as the individual plants have grown up single stemmed and very close together. The dead

needle carpet is special as well.

The real challenge of the walk was about to begin. We were to test a theory that we could

descend the western arm of Koopartoo Gully.3 Yuri had done a lot of homework including a

study of the track notes from Walk 2.21, 15th December 2010.

3 I have named the gully immediately north of Koopartoo Ravine and immediately south of Minotaur Lair as Koopartoo

Gully. It is a trident headed waterway with the western most extension reaching west to GR 410 220 and it joins the Wolgan

River at GR 419 215.

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The

remarkably

easy

Koopartoo

Pass. Photo:

Emanuel

Conomos.

we now set out

walking the

plateau top in

a northerly

direction. The

terrain

alternated

between rocky

shelves and

pagodas and a

mixed heath of

Casuarina

nana and a

Leptospermum

Species.

The top end of

a slot that is

the western

branch of

Koopartoo

Gully was

reached at

1226, GR 409

220.

Peering down

it looked

awesome and

non-

negotiable.

The northern

cliff line is

much higher

than the

southern one

and heightens

the impression

that Koopartoo

Gully is very

deep and

because it is short, also very steep. Forward scouting took place and after about ten minutes

the slot was pronounced accessible and it appeared to go all the way. In any event we

committed to it.

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By 1244, GR 411 220 we had all successfully descended into the ravine like, parallel sided

entry. Even at this high level the sides were over 5m high giving the effect of being in a box

like canyon. Huge multi stemmed eucalypts filled the area. Lunch time was proclaimed. The

edge off hunger some began exploring the upper reaches that had defied earlier entry. It was

not like the Chimera Passageway, being rather open and just a bit plain. By 1306 we had

At Koopartoo Point. Donkey Mountain can be seen on the LHS. Photo: Brian Fox.

Right on the edge of Koopartoo Point. L to R, Daryl, Marion, Michael Emanuel and Brian.

Photo: Harold Thompson.

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packed away lunch and started exploring downstream. The features of the box like canyon

became more exaggerated as the watercourse was followed. Boulders appeared in the stream

bed, the cliffs grew taller and the trees taller still. The gradient of the stream began to

Yuri on Koopartoo Point. Photo: Brian Fox.

accelerate. The boulders became larger and larger. Great drifts of debris mixed in with the

rocks. Route negotiation became complex and progress slowed. Finally at 1326, GR 414 221

we were confronted by a vertical drop of about 15m. Exploration to the sides yielded no

options. Brian assessed the situation and said it was a goer. It took time but two lots of tapes

were set. Brian co- ordinated the descent from the bottom, Yuri from the top and Daryl

positioned himself about half way down on a ledge and the point of tape change over.

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I was first to go down. Now 15m is not all that far and the location of many foot holds made

it all safe. Once down I took on the role of pack transfer operator taking the separately

lowered packs from Brian and stashing them for later retrieval. By 1400 the operation was

complete.

Brian and Michael on the western cliff edge, Koopartoo Point. The profile of Corn Paddock

Point can be seen on the upper left hand side. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

Looking at the northern rim of Koopartoo Gully. The shadow area on the right hand side is

above the exit point from the gully proper. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

Now it was time to assess our position and also test the validity of the notes written in 2010.

Resisting the temptation to go low, we stayed high until we had rounded the enclosing hook

formed by the southern branch of the Koopartoo Gully. A course was then plotted down the

talus slope. The slope is very steep and a lot of movement was easier done by sliding.

At 1435, GR 415 217 a creek fed by a spring was crossed. The ground was wet and boggy.

There was no free flowing water.

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Descending into the top end of the ravine that is the southern arm of Koopartoo Gully.

Clockwise from the top, Marion Linda, Brian and Harold. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

Lunch in the high level ravine that is the southern arm of Koopartoo Gully. Photo: Brian

Fox.

The last section of the walk from the bottom of the talus slope to the vehicles felt unreal. The

ground was almost level, you could walk upright. Somehow it just did not seem right. The

vehicles were reached at 1451. The various GPS units (6) all disagreed violently with each

other. I have taken a sort of average and said the walk was 7.7km and the ascents 524m.

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Marion descending the rough creek bed of the southern arm of Koopartoo Gully. Photo:

Emanuel Conomos.

Ian Starkey descending. Photo: Emanuel Conomos.

Next picture “On the tapes”. Yuri (hidden by the vines, Linda, Daryl, Berenice, Jafar, and

Brian the lower belay. Photo: Emanuel Conomos

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ON the

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Berenice ‘on rope’ while Linda waits her turn. Photo: Brian Fox.

For Emanuel’s pictures click on the following

http://bushpics.jalbum.net/NW%20of%20Koopatoo%20April%201%202016/

For Linda’s pictures click on the following

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kaf563jwb1u041a/AADPXOUaMCKXWIhudwI5-6Kaa?dl=0

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Table of Times, Locations and Grid References

Time Location Grid Reference

0904 Park vehicles on Wolgan Road GR 414 209

0925 Climbing the talus slope GR 410 211

0946 Base of cliffs GR 406 213

0956 Cross watercourse and enter ravine GR 404 215

1010 Morning tea and creek junction, 12 minutes GR 404 216

1024 Exploring slot GR 404 216

1039 At base of high cliffs GR 405 217

1043 Ledge walk GR 405 217

1058 Koopartoo Ravine base GR 405 218

1102 Koopartoo Ravine top GR 406 219

1102 Views west GR 407 216

1126 At Koopartoo Point, 20 minutes GR 407 213

1155 Head north and at top of big slot (Koopartoo Gully) GR 406 214

1216 On open rock platform GR 408 219

1226 Checking a big slot (Koopartoo Gully) GR 409 220

1244 Lunch in Koopartoo Gully, 18 minutes GR 411 220

1306 Exploring downstream in Koopartoo Gully GR 411 220

1326 15m drop (2 tapes 35 minutes) GR 414 221

1423 Circling under cliffs GR 415 219

1435 Cross creek GR 416 217

1451 At vehicles GR 414 209

Michael Keats

for The bush Club Inc.,

25th March 2016

BCPW Cliffs pagodas around NW of Koopartoo returning via Koopartoo Gully 010416- Track Notes