[SUBW-A] Trip Report, Kowmung Mountain, 25-27 Apr 2008

[Ashley Burke]

TRIP: Kowmung Mountain and environs

DATE: ANZAC Long Weekend, 25-27 Apr 2008

PARTY: Nadine, Tom Edwards, Rob, Kendy, Ashley

Two days of perfect cool and clear autumn weather happened to occur slap
bang in the middle of the 3 day ANZAC weekend making for idyllic conditions
for a trip of high camps and great views.

It started with a traffic jam late on Thursday night which delayed our
arrival at a damp and drizzly Kanangra walls. Leaving one car at the Uni
Rover Trail and another at Kanangra Walls we walked in the thick damp cloud
to the Dance Floor Cave and found passable spots to bed down for the
remainder of the night.

Not keen to linger here we set off first thing in the morning in continuing
damp conditions to the Coal Seam Cave for breakfast, and here we warmed up
by the fire as the drizzle stopped and the clouds parted giving us glimpses
of the Kowmung gorge through trees. By the time we set off down the Bullhead
Range the rain had gone for good and the bush was lush and verdant after the
recent rain. A hearty lunch was had on the Kowmung River after heading down
Cambage Spires.

Then it was a steady climb towards Kowmung Mountain which we reached by late
afternoon. To get to the very top we had to get through a band of cliffs and
this required us to ascend a steep and loose weakness in the cliff line, and
the hand line was needed to get humans and packs safely past a large but
loose and unstable foot hold. Once on top of Kowmung mountain we admired
spectacular views in improving weather. By the time the sun went down the
sky was almost completely free of cloud and we enjoyed the clear and cool
air from our comfortable campsite with sweeping views close by. There
followed a great evening by the campfire.

Next morning we began trekking southwards and the hand line was needed once
more to get ourselves and our packs off the southern end of Kowmung
mountain. We then enjoyed some great walking past the outcrop of Chiddy
Obelisk and thence past Mt Yuburra and beyond towards Mt Marrup. We
encountered some scrub and decided to sidle around Mt Marrup and then headed
up to Mt Milo for lunch. By now the scrub was behind us and we had a
delightful lunch in an idyllic spot on Mt Milo, relaxing in the sunshine.
Then it was a beautiful open ridge down to the Kowmung River.

During the late afternoon we climbed to a superb lookout on Mt Lannigan and
this was a perfect place to camp. With our tents and flys pitched amid
casuarina trees we lingered at the nearby lookout point enjoying tremendous
views until the last glows of evening sunlight were lost from the green
ridges and the scene subsided to twilight hues. Then it was back to the
familiar and homely circle of the camp fire.

The last day was shorter in time but in terms of distance travelled it was
still a full day of walking as we wandered up the Uni Rover Trail towards
our waiting vehicle. As we enjoyed an early lunch by water near Mt Goondel a
cold wind picked up and dark storm clouds welled up in the south east. Short
squalls of light rain began just as we got back to the cars. But these
clouds were bringing snow further south so they were more than welcome and
cheered on by the keen skiers among us. And by the time they unleashed their
full fury we were in the Half Way House celebrating the great trip over a
beer.

A great weekend. Welcome to new members Nadine and Tom.

Ashley Burke
Mobile: 0414 633 315
Email: aburke at ozemail.com.au
Web page: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke