All posts by Justin Cairns

For the four (4) walkers, they day started with some concern that we would only see a blanket of white fog for the day. We shouldn’t have worried, as the sky started to open and the views appeared before us.

We started our day walking along Narrow Neck to the top of the Golden Stairs and along the way we saw a lot of bird life. This was the story for the first part of the day – from Lyrebirds through to LBB’s (little brown birds).

We arrived at Ruined Castle in time for morning tea with a view as the fog started to lift and saw glimpses of the end of Narrow Neck and Mt Solitary. Our merry band then started to climb down to the main track. The walk back to the bottom of the Golden Stairs entailed dodging lots of walkers going the other way and skipping over the muddy track.

The track after the Golden Stair turn-off and through to the Scenic Railway was a path less well used. By this time the fog was gone, fewer walkers, the sky a brilliant blue and lovely views appearing in the openings of vegetation. We lunched near the land slip and had great views up the Kadumba Valley, the Three Sisters and Mt Solitary.

Our day finished climbing up the Furber Steps and visiting every lookout on the way to the top. The day finished at the Scenic Railway café with a beverage, several satisfied laughs and a great view.

After a solid day’s walk, I thank our small but merry band for the wonderful company, views, laughs, birdlife, and satisfying weariness.

Despite a paucity of walk description, and forecast high temperatures, 6 walkers packed more water than usual and their sense of adventure for this new walk for the club. The walk is an alternative to the Great West Walk, Glenbrook to Woodford section and was chosen because the original was uninspiring.

After leaving cars at Glenbrook Station, we drove 23klms to the start of the walk at Woodford, parked and headed down the Oaks Firetrail. This is a wide, well maintained firetrail, shared with mountain bike riders. Fortunately, there were only a few mountain bike riders, as those travelling in the same direction as us were travelling very fast. As the temperature rose, the bush flies made their presence known, encouraging us to keep walking at a good pace to keep them out of our faces.

After about 6klms, we left the Oaks Firetrail and turned on to the St Helena Ridge Firetrail, again wide and well-maintained. Areas which had been control burned a  year or so ago were awash with flannel flowers. It was a very impressive display. There was a diversity of wildflowers throughout the day, but none in great numbers other than the flannel flowers.

Afew kilometres further on, we left the wide firetrail and started along a heavily overgrown firetrail, slowing progress. We found a tree throwing good shade for lunch and then pressed on, the trail narrowing to a bush track.

The most interesting part of the walk then commenced with the descent to the creek, the track zig zagging down a steep rocky slope. The temperature was reaching its peak for the day, so it was with relief that we reached the creek and found it had plenty of water. Boots off and feet int eh water. Bliss!

Once cooled and restored, we crossed the creek, followed the creek edge a short distance (and saw a magnificent swimming hole) and then tackled the cliffs, scaling boulders on the way.

By the time we were close to the railway line, water was running low, but by sharing around what we had left, we reached the cars.  Peter shared some chilled drinks he had thoughtfully stored in his vehicle, to the evident pleasure of all. After unding the car shuffle, we stopped at the Lapstone Hotel for a dr ink on the way home.

This walk is a much more interesting option than the original Glenbrook to Woodford section of the GWW as it is through pleasant bush away from the highway. The creek was a high light and worth considering for a swim. However, it would be best done on a day that was not so hot.

Thank you to all for your resilience and team work.