I spent an enjoyable weekend in the mountains with a large group of friends camping at Asgard Swamp at Mt Victoria. It was a birthday camp for one of the participants, but we all celebrated being out in the bush at such a nice place.
Pinnacle at Liversidge Hill – Grose Valley
Digi Dave and myself headed up to Leura on the Friday afternoon and went to the Sublime Point Lookout to photograph the sunset. Unfortunately it was very cold and windy, and also quite overcast – so there was no sunset to photograph. We camped that night at Perrys Lookdown at Blackheath. The morning light was nothing special at dawn, and the cold wind persisted.
Cliffs of Kings Tableland from Sublime Point
Pinnacles of Kings Tableland from Sublime Point
We planned to meet the others at the campsite, so after breakfast at Blackheath, we went to Mt Victoria and then along the Victoria Falls road, past our carpark to the lookout at the end. After a few photos, we drove back and them set off for the campsite.
Asgard Swamp
We were soon out of the worst of the wind and it was much more pleasant in the sun in the shallow valley. We crossed the creek at the first swamp and then continued on to the second Asgard Swamp to the campsite. No one else was there yet, so we had the first choice of the campsites. After lunch, other members of the party arrived in dribs and drabs.
In the late afternoon, I went on a walk to Thor Head, about 20 minutes away along a track. Not far along the track, it is worth turning off and walking 50 m to a rock outcrop. This provides a good view of a spectacular detached pinnacle down the Grose Valley below Liversidge Hill. Some friends – Mike, Jean and Pat had recently climbed this pinnacle.
From Thor Head, you can see another detached pinnacle – the incredible Lost Pillar below Dalpura Head on the far side of the Grose Valley.
Thor Head also offers panoramic views of the upper Grose Valley.
That evening, we had a pleasant time sitting around a warm fire.
I got up in time for dawn from Thor Head, but again, it was not a very atmospheric sunrise.
Later on the Sunday, some of us walked directly up from the campsite to the top of Asgard Head. A little past the high point in a nice platform with excellent views of the Grose Valley, Burra Korain Head and Victoria Falls.
More photos from the weekend are online – Friday afternoon at Sublime Point, Perrys Lookdown and Victoria Falls Lookout, and most photos here at Asgard Plateau.