[SUBW-A] Trip Report, Red Rocks, 2-3 Sep 2006

[Ashley Burke]

Trip: Red Rocks Circuit, 2-3 Sep 2006

Party: Gwilym, Jiri, Catherine, Kendy, Ashley

Gwilym, Kendy and I headed to Newnes on Friday night, and after a mild night
we waited on a warm sunny Saturday morning for Jiri and Cat to arrive. When
they arrived we headed directly up a ridge onto one of the plateau areas
above the Wolgan Valley. It was a steep climb, a bit of a shock to the
system so early in the trip, and the hand line was needed to negotiate a
short rocky section. But once on top a gentle ridge walk lay before us, and
only intermittent scrub would impede our progress from now on.

The walking was very warm and pleasant as we wound our way through intricate
sandstone formations towards the familiar dome of Mt Dawson. Some
wildflowers were out and the country was varied and interesting. The warm
day felt more like mid October than early September.

After lunch we drew closer to Mt Dawson and left our packs near a sandstone
defile. We headed for Mt Dawson carrying cameras, water bottles and cups,
for we suspected that we may be able to find water in a small creek on the
other side of Mt Dawson. The summit of Mt Dawson brought tremendous views of
the Red Rocks, views that would only get better as the sun got lower.

Our sortie for water was successful, we found a pool of crystal clear cool
water hidden beneath ferny fronds and tree roots not far from Mt Dawson.

With our packs weighed down with an ample water supply we headed northwards
along the classic Red Rocks traverse. This is a superb clifftop walk
offering frequent sweeping views across the expanse of the upper Capertee
Valley. The walk itself is a wealth of fascinating terrain, with interesting
route finding and rock formations at every turn.

We reached a rock platform that overlooked a huge sandstone pillar and
settled in to camp among the trees nearby. This left us some time to admire
the sweeping scenery as the shadows lengthened and the Red Rocks lived up to
their name. Now was a time for rest and reflection, and for some
photography. The sun dipped down behind Pantoneys Crown and we retreated to
our camp among the trees. Apart from the inconvenience of a burnt billy a
very pleasant evening was had.

We woke to another warm day, but now the wind had picked up and the trees
rustled and moved as we breakfasted. We continued the Red Rocks traverse
northwards until the famous camp site known as The Room. Complete with four
walls, corridors and a nearby verandah overlooking the Capertee this camp
site has been the destination for many a previous walk.

>From near The Room we headed eastwards along a ridge and encountered some
more scrub, as well as some dramatic scenery, with some steep climbs into
and out of narrow and convoluted saddles. Grey clouds scudded by and rain
looked imminent. Light showers dampened the rocks and the scrub as we
continued our walk but it was still warm. We found a dry spot for lunch just
at the point where we were to descend from the ridge back down to Newnes.

The descent into the valley took us through a spectacular deep slot, and
there was an awkward downclimb and even a small tunnel. Finally we reached
the valley floor from which it was an easy 15 minute walk back to the car.

As we drove back over the Bells Line of Road, the heavens opened hammering
the windscreen with drenching rain and hail.

A typically excellent Red Rocks traverse.

Ashley Burke
Phone: +61 2 9476 3531
Mobile: 0414 633 315
Email: aburke at ozemail.com.au