I had suggested a walk at Blackheath to Bob, where we could see the new landslide on Carne Wall and also do circuit around the Braeside Track from Evans Lookout, perhaps linking it with Popes Glen. Some of these tracks had had recent track work, and it would be good to see how they were. Bob suggested that we could also visit the Beauchamp Crack. This sounded like a good plan, so we started from Evans Lookout.
At the carpark we encountered a Lyrebird foraging nearby.
There was a party of birders there, and one I knew thought it was an adult male that had lost his tail.
The weather was a bit misty with some light rain.
So, at Evans Lookout, views were a bit restricted. But, we could least see the new landslide.
We then set off down the track towards the Grand Canyon.
But at the turn-off to the Horsetrack, we deviated and explored a side ridge.
It was not the right one, so we retraced our steps back, and visited the lookout near the Horsetrack. The landslide on Carne Wall was now much clearer.
Here is a panorama shot –
The ridge from here goes to the John Harris Lookout, but we set off down another ridge to the south east. This was the right one and it led to Beauchamp Crack.
The Beauchamp Crack is an interesting natural feature in the cliffs above Beauchamp Falls. It was described by two cavers Erik Halbert and Ross Ellis in their monograph “Sandstone Caves of Blackheath” (Sydney Speleological Society Occasional Paper No 20).
It was named because it is just above Beauchamp Falls, and so named after William Lygon, the 7th Earl of Beauchamp (pronounced “Beecham”). Beauchamp was an aspiring politician, but he lived in an age when the black sheep of British upper class families were sent to the colonies. But, he was sent as Governor of NSW. He had strong interests in the arts and theatre, and later returned to England to resume his political career, but found himself caught in scandal.
As we we were walking out along the ridge, we noticed a huge crack on the side –
It looked very deep.
We made our way back bit and crossed on a false floor to the far side.
Here, we could descend to a lower level –
And look into a very deep pit –
Back up, and further out along the top revealed more of the very deep crack.
We then continued out a bit further, hoping for a view.
We could hear Beauchamp Falls lower down, but could not get a clear view.
So we returned to Evans Lookout. There was still a lot of mist.
We now set off along the clifftop track towards Govetts Leap.
We did a short side trip to see Gossamer Falls below Haywood Gully.
Looking along Griffith Taylor Walls –
As we continued, the mist started to clear.
We could look over and see Horseshoe Falls –
And Pulpit Rock –
At Barrow Lookout, we could see track work material on the Govetts Leap Track.
The ladder looks a bit dodgy –
Another view of Horseshoe Falls –
Regrowth has restricted the view of Govetts Leap from this position –
Brown Thornbill –
Then we set off up the very pleasant Braeside Track.
The track has certainly been improved.
At the Railway Water Supply Dam (1906), we stopped at one of the picnic tables for lunch.
Just above the dam is the dirt road. We followed it back to Evans Lookout Road and then walked back to Bob’s car.
I think we made the most of the cold bad weather by visiting some interesting places.