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Showing posts with label cascade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cascade. Show all posts

Thursday, 25 June 2015

KATOOMBA FALLS WALKING TRACKS BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

KATOOMBA FALLS WALKING TRACKS BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

The Katoomba Falls area was one of the first in the Blue Mountains opened up for tourists to enjoy. Local residents probably made the first rough tracks from the vicinity of today’s railway station down to the number one attraction – Katoomba Falls. The opening of the nearby coal mine around the same time made access easier to this area and the basic network of tracks we know today was in existence well before 1900.

Quite a lot of my videos and blogs have been about this area. In fact, we seem to have lunch or afternoon tea in the reserve nearly every week. Here is a list of these – with links – which will help you to explore the area from the comfort of your own home (or from along the track, if you are so inclined).
The illustrations come various old guide books I’ve downloaded through Trove.
Videos
Katoomba Falls Walking Tracks 25th June 2015 
Katoomba Holiday Part 2 21st May 2015 
Katoomba Holiday Part 1 8th May 2015 
Cascade St to Katoomba Falls Reserve 17th January 2015 
AShort Round Walk at Katoomba Falls 21st November 2014   
Katoomba Falls to Scenic World 12th September 2014 
The Round Walk Katoomba Falls 4th July 2014 
Katoomba Cascades to Echo Point 25th January 2014 
Furber Steps Katoomba Falls 23rd January 2014 
The Round Walk Scenic World to Katoomba Falls and Return 24th August 2013 
Katoomba Cascades and Reid’s Plateau  3rd August 2013
Blog Entries
Furber’s Step Katoomba Falls 22nd January 2014 
Katoomba Falls to the Bottom of the Upper Falls 5th December 2013 
The Round Walk Katoomba Falls 15th September 2013 
Katoomba Falls Reserve 26th August 2013 
The Orphan Rock 21st August 2013 
The Katoomba Cascades and Reid’s Plateau 3rd August 2013
Please let me know via the comments section below or on individual blogs or videos if you find something that should be corrected (or added).



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Wednesday, 24 September 2014

THE NATIONAL PASS WENTWORTH FALLS NSW AUSTRALIA

THE NATIONAL PASS WENTWORTH FALLS 
NSW AUSTRALIA

The Cliff Ledge section of the track
So much has been written about this famous walk, and so many photographs taken, that it almost seems unnecessary to add to them. However, this is my own experience of the Blue Mountains that I am writing about, so I make no further apologies.
My earliest memories of the National Pass go back to a time just after World War 11, possibly before my father began working at Wunderlich’s brick and tile factory in Sydney, which would place it in 1945. The only thing I can actually recall is being carried across the shaky and dangerous bridges at the bottom of the Falls. Goodness knows when the last repairs had been made to them.
Much more recently, my own children did the walk 
Roland, Yvonne and Lyndall Paix 1978
at a tender age in 1978. On my recent walk, I encountered numerous seniors, so if you’re getting on in years don’t let your age be the deciding factor. True, there are lots of steps to get down into the valley and return, but just take these slowly and all should be well.
The round walk easily divides into 5 sections and each one has an interesting history of its own.
The best place to find car parking is at the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area, and since your walk is going to take around 4 hours it makes sense to arrive early to be sure of finding a spot. Carry your lunch with you and enjoy it along the track. Make sure you have plenty of water as well, 
Empress Falls Valley of the Waters
since drinking from the many streams you will encounter is not  recommended. The alternative car park at the Conservation Hut is often filled up by patrons enjoying the fine food on offer there.
Sylvia Falls Valley of the Waters



I recommend that you take the Short Cut Track from the bottom car park, which is a pleasant walk of 15-20 minutes leading to the Conservation Hut. Historically, there has been a track between these 2 areas for over 100 years, because it made round trips possible.  This is Section 1. 
Section 2 is the magnificent descent into the Valley of the Waters. If you love the sound and sight of falling water, this place is for you. Take the steps and ladders slowly and savour every moment in this magical place. People like you have been coming here for 120 years and it isn’t difficult to see why.
Section 3 (the first part of the actual National Pass section) begins at the final creek crossing just above Lodore Falls and takes you onto the extraordinary cliff ledge leading around to the bottom of the first drop of Wentworth Falls. Before 1906, it was possible to go further down into the valley and follow up Jamison Creek to the bottom of the second fall, but it was only the completion of the ledge track that allowed easy access to bottom of the first 
fall. All along this section (and up the Grand Stairway) the National Parks and Wild Life Service has installed commemorative plaques and information panels telling of the restoration of the track and the environment through which it passes. These are a valuable addition to your walking experience.
The area immediately below Wentworth Falls is like a magnet which draws lots of people to it, many of whom descend the stairs and return the same way. If you want to find this place peaceful and quiet, then avoid school holidays and weekends.
Materials used during the restoration of the track
Section 4, the stone stairway up the cliff face,  is surely the highlight of the National Pass adventure. Completed in 1908, it made the round trip as we know it possible. You can discover lots about this magnificent feat of engineering in many places, but here are two of the best. The first I will simply call “a very special presentation”, which you may access here. The second is the NPWS site which is also excellent.
Den Fenella Falls
Section 5 consists of the track from the creek crossing to the Wentworth Falls picnic area. This route, more or less, has been in use for 150 years.
My own video of this walk may be found here. Unfortunately, my camera battery failed just after I  had passed behind Den Fenella Falls, so this part of the trip is not included. One day I’ll do the trip again (and again, if my body permits me) and there will be a new video to record the event.
NOTE: THE PASS IS CLOSED DUE TO ROCKFALLS AS AT AUGUST 2019 AND HAS BEEN FOR OVER A YEAR.

Vera and John Paix on the Grand Stairway June 1958
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Thursday, 13 February 2014

CARRINGTON PARK TO THE LEURA CASCADES, KATOOMBA NSW AUSTRALIA

CARRINGTON PARK TO THE LEURA CASCADES, KATOOMBA NSW AUSTRALIA

The first stage of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk was opened at Echo Point in October 1934 by the Hon ES Spooner, Minister for Local Government in the NSW parliament. This covered the section from Katoomba Falls to Echo Point.
It took some time for the second stage to be completed. It was necessary for the Katoomba Council to acquire land in various places without which the track would have been rather too close to houses. It still is in the last sections approaching Gordon Falls. It was here, at Elysian Rock lookout, that Hon EA Buttenshaw, Minister for Lands, officially opened the section from Echo Point to Gordon Falls. Buttenshaw Bridge at this spot is named after
Direction indicator at Kiah Lookout
him.
Between Carrington Park and Leura Cascades there are 7 named lookouts, each with its own special features. All but one of these is relatively close to the walk. The exception is Copeland’s Lookout, which is approached by a 5-10 minute walk out to a point of land far enough away from the comparatively busy Cliff Walk to make it a very peaceful spot. The lookout is surrounded by a rock wall, similar to some at Wentworth Falls.
William Copeland opened one of the first stores in Katoomba and went on to serve on the local council and in many other civic capacities. He died in 1928. Just when the lookout was named after him is uncertain, but like many of the view points along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, it was probably before 1900.
Possibly Copeland's Lookout
Along the track to Copeland’s Lookout are numerous graffiti dating back 100  years or more. I certainly don’t advocate defacing the environment in this way, but it is true that they can be very interesting and occasionally historically important. Two in particular stand out and neither is all that conspicuous, though when they were fresh they probably were.
The first is a painted inscription on a flat section of rock largely protected from the weather. It says, with simple assurance, “GOD LOVES ME”. The second is more complex. Keith Painter refers to it in his excellent booklet on the Prince Henry Cliff  Walk on page 33.
 (You can purchase a copy of this and Keith’s other books from Mountain Mist Books here.) 
The inscription reads: “TRIX CHEERS 20.9.14 C.E.ABBOTT”. Keith then comments “I wonder if Trix and C.E. survived the war?”
We can now say beyond a doubt that they did! We know from the Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 18th December 1915, page 12, that Clarence Edwin Abbott married Beatrice Cheers at St John’s Church Darlinghurst. Furthermore, the Herald announced their Silver Wedding anniversary on Wednesday 13th, 1940, page 10. Clarence died in 1956 aged 69 and Trix in 1972.

My video of this walk is here while that of the Carrington Park to Echo Point walk is here. 
Christmas bush is plentiful along this track

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Thursday, 5 December 2013

KATOOMBA FALLS – TO THE BOTTOM OF THE UPPER FALL

KATOOMBA FALLS – TO THE BOTTOM 

OF THE UPPER FALL
The Katoomba Falls area has always been popular with walkers and I guess it always will be. I’ve met many other walkers along the tracks and it’s great to see them enjoying the beauties of the place. Its proximity to the rides at Scenic World is partly the reason, of course, which provides opportunities for a number of round trips.

The track down to the Federal Pass level (where the Scenic Railway terminates) goes through two stages, coinciding with the descent through the two cliff-forming sandstone layers. Between the two is a prominent claystone bed which nearly always causes the top cliff line to be set back a little from the lower. This means that all the waterfalls from Katoomba to King’s Tableland at Wentworth Falls are split into upper and lower sections. This division is very obvious at Katoomba Falls.

The track into the valley descends on the right shortly after you leave Cliff Drive at the old Katoomba Falls Kiosk. It goes down into a rain forest world through a gap in the cliffs which may have once been the course of Kedumba Creek. A minor waterfall (also in two stages) called Witch’s (or Witches) Leap is soon seen on the right. The main Katoomba Falls may be seen from Rainforest Lookout soon after; just below this is the turnoff to “Under the Falls”, as it has often been called. It isn’t really under the falls, rather the spot is between the upper and lower falls.                                                                                                            
The brink of the lower Witch's Leap fall
Along this track you will cross the Witch’s Leap stream again, right at the brink of its second drop. Shortly after, you will arrive at the cascades between the two Katoomba Falls. You get an altogether different view of the falls here. Unfortunately its has proven to be a dangerous place for those who want to look at the bottom fall, which is why there is a solid safety rail well back from the edge. Not everyone takes notice of that, of course, and in summer people like to paddle around and take a shower. They are no doubt unaware of some of the grim events that happened here.

In July 1907 there was a cold snap which caused much of the waterfall to freeze over. This has happened a number of times, but on this occasion 
SMH July 9, 1907
the attraction of the frozen fall was too much for some visitors and two people died as a result of the slippery conditions. You may read about the tragedy in many newspapers of the day, but the Sydney Morning Herald of Tuesday 9 July 1907, page 7, is as good as any (See Trove). A similar freeze occurred in July 1922. A   few years ago we encountered a sizable icicle near Wollumai Lookout, between Katoomba Falls and Echo Point, so I guess this is a phenomenon that can still happen, even if it rarely does!

The 1907 event attracted a photographer who took pictures for and of tourists amongst the ice. A few of these survive and may be seen at the Blue Mountains Local Studies site here .

Several Wild Walks files are relevant to this walk. Katoomba Cascades here and Katoomba Falls Circuit here .

Finally, my video of the walk to “Under the Falls” may be seen here . My  Blue Mountains You Tube playlist may be found here. You will find videos of the Round Walk, Katoomba Cascades etc in the Blue Mountains playlist. In  other playlists - on gem hunting/mining, Glen Innes and New Zealand. Please comment and subscribe.

Icicle near Wollumai Lookout 2007

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Sunday, 17 November 2013

LEURA CASCADES, BLUE MOUNTAINS NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA

LEURA CASCADES

BLUE MOUNTAINS NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA
The Leura Cascades area is accessible from either Katoomba or Leura by the Cliff Drive. It came to prominence when the Katoomba swimming baths were constructed in 1913, but the area was already the focus for a number of popular walking tracks, notably those leading to the Federal Pass and the two Leura falls (commonly called the Bridal Veil (upper falls) and Leura Falls (lower). The legacy from those times is a great network of tracks providing lots of different routes commencing at the cascades picnic area (see the blog entry on this dated 5th October 2013).

Two significant events which have left their mark on the area were the decision to bring the Leura-Katoomba sewer pipes down into the Jamison Valley via this route and the floodlighting of the Cascades in 1932.

I have found it difficult to piece together the history of sewerage schemes in the upper Blue Mountains, but it would appear that Katoomba at least had a system operating by 1910. (Cast iron pipes alongside the Katoomba Falls valley walks are dated 1909.) A similar system probably operated via the Leura Falls Gap; both seem to have operated on a septic tank/filter bed system with the semi-purified effluent then being discharged into the creek. 

Newspaper reports show that the Leura Creek route was being considered for major augmentation in the following decade. The sewage treatment plant which eventuated was finally opened in 1935, only being replaced a few years ago by the deep drainage tunnel which takes sewage from the upper Blue Mountains by gravity down to the treatment works at Winmalee. See the “Sydney Morning Herald” (NSW: 1842 - 
From the SMH November 18 1935
1954), Monday 18 November 1935, page 8 (via “Trove”).

The Leura-Katoomba floodlighting was part of the major improvements to tourist facilities carried out during the Great Depression, which was vital in keeping people employed in those difficult times. The complete article about the opening makes good 
From the SMH December 5 1932
reading. See the “Sydney Morning Herald” (NSW: 1842 - 1954),  Monday 5 December 1932, page 9 (via “Trove”).

The floodlit Cascades August 1968
Just when the Leura Cascades lost its floodlights I don’t know, but the remains of posts and wires may still be seen beside the track. As you make your way from the picnic area down to the Bridal Veil Falls, you won’t notice these things because of the beauty of your surroundings. The removal of the sewer lines and the floodlights has brought the area closer to what it once must have been.                                
                                                           
For my video of the walk, click here . 
See the 2013 photo of the same location at the top of this page
From an album of Harry Phillips photos presented to Frederick John Spellacy dated 12 April 1935.
As an Alderman on Katoomba Municipal Council and local bus operator, John Spellacy was instrumental in the floodlighting of the Three Sisters and Leura Cascades, officially opened December 3, 1932.

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