Sassafras Gully Walk – 17 April 2013

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Dave Noble

It had been many years since I had walked to Sassafras Gully at Springwood. Growing up in Springwood, this was a popular destination for family bush walks when I was very young. I had learnt to swim in a big pool in Glenbrook Creek. I knew the tracks well.

SassG 12

This time, I set off from Faulconbridge with a camera and tripod. The Victory Track starts near the railway level crossing. It soon leaves the houses and enters a world of ferns and tall trees. The creek picks up pace and soon tumbles over Clarinda Falls. Continue reading →

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Mt Solitary Walk – 13 – 15 April 2013

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Dave Noble

I thought it was about time to return to Mt Solitary. It was the start of my holidays – and I thought a three day trip would be good. This would allow some time to potter around on the mountain. My intention was to take photos – but also to seek out some good sites for photography.

MSol 21 (1)

I walked from Katoomba. My plans to descend to the Federal Pass Track via the Furber Stairs were put on hold when I found the top of the track shut with tape. It was closed for helicopter operations. No problem. This would give me the chance to walk east along the Prince Henry Walk to Echo Point and the descend via The Giants Stairway. This was a little further – but I had plenty of time. Continue reading →

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Burning Palms Walk – 7 April 2013

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Dave Noble

Burning Palms is a very pleasant beach towards the south end of Royal National Park. I walked there from Otford with Chuin Nee, John and Jasper.

BP 10

Our walk was a circular path – first along the escarpment – high above the sea, then down through rainforest and a palm jungle to the beach itself. We returned by the path to Garrawarra and then back along the tops to rejoin the track that we had used on the way in. Continue reading →

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Empire Pass Walk – 6 April 2013

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Dave Noble

I returned to the waterfalls of north Lawson on another photographic trip. After a week of fairly wet weather I was hoping for high water levels – but I was disappointed. Levels were low and I had to work hard to some photographs.

EP 2

At least this time, I could cross the creeks easily! I started walking from Lawson and headed down first to Fairy Falls. Then down the steps into Dantes Glen and St Michaels Falls.  Continue reading →

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Easter on the Lower Kowmung River

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Dave Noble

The Kowmung River is a declared wild river. It is one of only 7 declared wild rivers in NSW. It is also in a national park that has world heritage status. The Kowmung River and its valley is also a place of remarkable natural beauty. It would seem incredible then that the Kowmung River is under threat.

LKR 5

Twenty years ago, the Kowmung was under the same threat. The river then was in a national park, but the area then did not have world heritage status, nor was the river a declared wild river. A conservation battle took place – and the outcome then was the river was saved.

LKR 4

The threat twenty years ago the issue was the raising of the wall of Warragamba Dam by 23m. This is the threat that has raised its head again. The details this time are slightly different. The failure of the Warragamba Dam wall is no longer an issue, but flood mitigation remains. Infrastructure NSW has recommended that the dam wall be raised to provide a buffer to prevent major flooding on the floodplains downstream of the dam. Continue reading →

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Hat Hill Canyon – 24 March 2013

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Dave Noble

Stacey had organised a trip down Hat Hill Canyon at Blackheath. With her were Asaph, Martin, Pepe, Dave W and myself.

HaH 3

It was a nice warm day in the mountains – bright and sunny. Nice conditions temperature wise – but fairly poor lighting for canyon photography.  Continue reading →

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Cityscapes – 23 March 2013

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Dave Noble

I had a few hours in the city between social engagements – and had a camera with me. So I decided to spend those hours trying to capture some images of the city and harbour.

City 8

I started in Hyde park and then walked to the Botanic Gardens. On the way I was hit by a storm. I had to shelter under a tree. Fortunately there were plenty of trees at the Gardens! The storm passed over fairly quickly – and there was a nice double rainbow for a while. Continue reading →

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Terrace Falls Walk – Hazelbrook – 17 March 2013

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Dave Noble

On Sunday of last weekend I went up the mountains with John, Chuin Nee, Jasper and Digi Dave to do a walk to Terrace Falls and a bit of photo-pfaffing.

TF 7

I don’t think I had been to these waterfalls before – and it turned out to be a very beautiful area. A little earlier I had purchased  copies of some small “Pocket Pal” guidebooks to some Blue Mountains walks written by Keith Painter and published by Mountain Mist Books (available online from that website). One of these was on Terrace Falls. As well as details for the walk it had a lot of botanical and historical information of great interest. Continue reading →

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Help Reserve the Ben Bullen State Forest – Gardens of Stone

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Dave Noble

Passing on an important email from Tara –

 

Help reserve the 
Ben Bullen State Forest
Gardens of Stone
Blue Mountains Conservation Society
Help reserve the Ben Bullen State Forest forever from open cut coal mining
 An open cut coal mine is proposed to destroy over 800ha of the beautful Ben Bullen State forest near Cullen Bullen. But we can help to STOP this.
Right now, we have a unique opportunity to protect this forest forever by making it a State Conservation Area
The Office of Environment and Heritage, under the NSW Minister for Environment Robyn Parker, has noted that the Ben Bullen State Forest has been identified as suitable for reservation under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Please send an online letter to help make this happen!
Sincere thanks, Tara Cameron
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Photographic Events

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Dave Noble

Two wilderness photographic events are on the horizon.

Blue Mountains photographers, Ian Brown, Len Metcalf and Mike Stacey have an exibition of their photographs of the Blue Mountains at the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre at the end of Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath from April 3 t0 30.

Atmospheres flyer web

 

The second event is a new book of photos of the Tasmania’s Tarkine Wilderness by Chris Bell. Chris is a very talented wilderness photographer living in Tasmania. The book can be ordered online via his website- www.chrisbellphotography.com . Take a look at the website to see some of his stunning images.

TheTarkine-cover200

It is being launched by Bob Brown this Saturday (16 March) at Gleebooks in Glebe Point Road.

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