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196607 [2016/08/11 08:39] tyreless196607 [2016/08/11 11:10] tyreless
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-THE RIDGE - JIM DROWN +=====The Ridge.===== 
-There is a ridge that runs out from the Dudawang Range just this side of Currockbilly. It is really rather charitable to call it + 
-a ridge: rather it's a series of mountains indifferently stuck together +Jim Brown. 
-by a spine of quartzite. Between the Dudawang Range and this Ridge the + 
-Yadbora Creek is spawned, and runs north for a few miles before it turns eastward below Tog Tog Mountain. +There is a ridge that runs out from the Budawang Range just this side of Currockbilly. It is really rather charitable to call it a ridge: rather it's a series of mountains indifferently stuck together by a spine of quartzite. Between the Budawang Range and this Ridge the Yadbora Creek is spawned, and runs north for a few miles before it turns eastward below Wog Wog Mountain. 
-If you look across to the south-west from Mt. Renwick, or better + 
-still to the south from Admiration Point just below Corang Trig, you will see the Ridge, but you will get a quite erroneous impression of it Apart from the final plunge into Yadbora Creek it appears quite a reasonable example of the ridge-maker's art, complete with a few humps and saddles, rather spectacular, but not especially formidable. +If you look across to the south-west from Mt. Renwick, or better still to the south from Admiration Point just below Corang Trig, you will see the Ridge, but you will get a quite erroneous impression of itApart from the final plunge into Yadbora Creek it appears quite a reasonable example of the ridge-maker's art, complete with a few humps and saddles, rather spectacular, but not especially formidable. 
-The proper angle for viewing is from the Dudawang Range itself, a mile or so north from Currockbilly. From that angle you can see how the Rige reaches out from the main north-south massif, first high, rocky and treeless. About miles east it plummets down 800 feet into a timbered + 
-saddle, then sweeps up 600 or 700 feet to a square forested top. +The proper angle for viewing is from the Budawang Range itself, a mile or so north from Currockbilly. From that angle you can see how the Ridge reaches out from the main north-south massif, first high, rocky and treeless. About 1 1/2 miles east it plummets down 800 feet into a timbered saddle, then sweeps up 600 or 700 feet to a square forested top. 
-TWO big spurs drop away from the northern face of this bluff. + 
-One - the nearer - the westerly - The Ridge - falls quickly at first, then flattens out (flattens- that's a lie!) and continues to urdulate along beyond the upper end of Yadbora Creek. After a couple of miles that look +Two big spurs drop away from the northern face of this bluff. One - the nearer - the westerly - The Ridge - falls quickly at first, then flattens out (flattens- that's a lie!) and continues to urdulate along beyond the upper end of Yadbora Creek. After a couple of miles that look tolerably flat it falls into another saddle, goes up 300-400 ft on to hump-backed Sugarloaf, drops 300 ft and promyny rises 500 ft to another square block of mountain. At this point the elevation is about 2600 ft, something over 1000 ft below Currockbilly and 2000 ft above Yadbora. Several ridges plunge off into the creek which has now changed to an easterly course. 
-tolerably flat it falls into another saddle, goes up 300-400 ft on to hump- + 
-backed Sugarloaf, drops 300 ft and promyny rises 500 ft to another square block of mountain. At this point the elevation is about 2600 ft, something over 1000 ft below Currockbilly and 2000 ft above Yadbora. Several ridges plunge off into the creek which has now changed to an easterly course. +When I traversed the Ridge - or rather, traversed part of it - early in April, I was in a good position to make comprrisons, as it was only a few weeks earlier that I had followed the Gangerang Range out from Kanangra to Mount Moorilla and back - and that's another ridge designed somewhat on the Dig Dipper principle. The main difference lies in the repeated rise and fall of The Ridge while Gangerang is content with one really good saddle - Gabes Gap. 
-When I traversed the Ridge - or rather, traversed part of it - early in April, I was in a good position to make comprrisons, as it was only a few weeks _earlier that I had followed the Gangerang Range out from Kanangra to Mount Moorilla and back - and that's another ridge designed somewhat on the Dig Dipper principle. The main difference lies in the repeated rise and fall of The Ridge while Gangerang is content with one really good saddle - Gabes Gap. + 
-There is another important distinction. Gangerang has been trodden by many feet, so that even in the unrelievedly rocky spots you can follow +There is another important distinction. Gangerang has been trodden by many feet, so that even in the unrelievedly rocky spots you can follow the scraps of many boots - in fact I found Gangerang easier than ever before, the track more obvious, if the gradients unimproved. On The Ridge there had been others before me, but their numbers must have been small, there was little evidence of their passage so picking the way was a "do-it-yourself" job. 
-the scraps af many boots - in fact I found Gangerang easier than ever before, the track more obvious, if the gradients unimproved. On The Ridge there had been others before me, but their numbers must have been small, there was + 
-little evidence of their passage so picking the way was a "do-it-yourself" job. +Before tackling The Ridge, of course, it was necessary to get to the vicinity of Currockbilly. You may assault it from the rear, coming in off a timber cutter's track about six miles north of Mongarlowe: or you can sneak up on it from the north, using another timber trail that leaves the Mongarlowe Road near a property called Tilloween and following along the crest of Budawang Range. The latter is slightly longer, but gives you a scenic preview of the Ridge and a big sweep of country to east and north. 
-Before tackling The Ridge, of course, it was necessary to get to + 
-the vicinity of Currockbilly. You may assault it from the rear, coming in off a timber cutter's track about six miles north of Mongarlowe: or you can +With a 3 a.m. departure from Sydney, and using back roads from Marulan via Bungonia and Dallen Ford, I de-bussed at 8.45 on the Saturday morning near Willoween. The dawn had been misty and clouds were still lifting off the Budawang Range as I crossed the paddocks to pick up the logging trail at the foot of the ascent. The day promised brightness, but more heat than I preferred. 
-14. The Sydney Dushwalker July, 1966 + 
-sneak up on it from the north, using another timber trail that leaves the Mongarlowe Road near a property called Tilloween and following along the-crest of Dudawang Range. The latter is slightly longer, but gives you a scenic preview of the Ridge and a big sweep of country to east and north. +It is not much of a climb to the top of Budaway Range at that point, and less than an hour from the car I breasted the ridge and was looking out to a hazy blue gulf with The Castle, Mt. Renwick and Pigeon House forming a jagged northeastern skyline. The Ridge, much closer, looked quite imposing and when one ran an eye along its turbulent length and mentally worked out times and distances well, just a bit disquieting. 
-With a 3 aim. departure from Sydney, and using back roads from MerUlan via Dungonia and Dallen Ford, I'debussed at 8.45 on the Saturday -mca-rthag near Willcween. The dawn had been misty and clouds were still lifting off the Dudamang Range as I crossed the paddocks to pick up the logging trail at the foot of the ascent. The day promised brightness, but more heat than I preferred. + 
-It is not much of a climb to the top of Dudaway Range at that point, and less ti-an an hour from the car I breasted the ridge and was looking out to a hazy blue gulf with The Castle, Mt. Renwick and Pigeon House forming a jagged northeastern skyline. The Ridge, much closer, looked quite imposing and when one ran an eye along its turbulent length and mentally worked out times and distances  well, just a bit disquieting. +For something like a mile and a half the timber road continued south along the crown of the range, ascending gradually. Thenjust before the ridge narrowed and became rocky, the road ended, and it was a slow scramble through fairly dense undergrowth, down to a small saddle and up the other side. 
-For sotething like a mile and a half the timber road continued + 
- south along the crown of the range, ascending gradually. Thenjust before +At this point the vegetation on Budawang Range undergoes a change. The bigger trees disappear, the crest is a quartzite knife-edge, sally gum grown closely and there is a species of knee deep rush-like cutting grass. The range begins to rise steadily towards the south, and there are glimpses to the barren tops towards Currockbilly. On the right the fairly level farm land along the Mongarlowe Rd is about 1000 ft below: to the left the slash of Yadbora Creek, then The Ridge, and the smoky blue of the Belowra Creek and Clude River valleys beyond. 
-the ridge narrowed and became rocky, the road ended, and it was a slow scramble through fairly dense undergrowth, lawn to a small saddle and up the other side. + 
-At this point the vegetation on Dudawang Range undergoes a change. The bigger trees disappear, the crest is a quartzite knifeedge, sallygum grown closely and ther4 is a species of knee deep rushlike cutting grass. +Higher and near Currockbilly even the sally gum ends and there is a faintly Kosciusko-ish look about the rocky hills and their thin reedy grasses, and steep bare sides. The ground is too rocky and too littered with small growth to allow a good striding gait. You pick your way. Maybe 1 1/2 miles an hour less if you stop much. 
-The range begins to rise steadily towards the south, and there are glimpses to the barren tops towards Currockbilly. On the ight the fairly level farm land along the Mongarlowe Rd is about 1000 ft below: to the left the slash + 
-of Ysdhora Creek, then The Ridge, and the smok blue of the Delowra Creek and Clude River valleys beyond. +By 11.30 the ravine of Yadbora Creek had become a gentle-looking treeless valley only a few hundred feet below with a small stream winking in the sunlight. On the opposite side the Ridge ran out. Time to go down and lunch. 
-Higher and near Currockbilly even the sally gum ends and there is a faintly Kosciuskoish look about the rocky hills and their thin reedy grasses, and steep bare sides. The ground is too rocky and too littered with small growth to allow a good striding gait. You Pick your way. Maybe + 
-miles an hour  less if you stop much. +I made it a quick meal. Counting up on my fingers I calculated at least six hours to do the ridge and finish up on Yadbora Creek near the track that comes down from Jerricknorra Saddle. Sundown 5.45 last light 6.30. 
-By 11.30 the ravine of Yadbora Creek had become a gentleacking + 
-treeless valley only a few hundred feet below with a small stream winking in +When I started on the ridge at 12.25, there were an estimated 6 hours and five minutes of day left. I had calculated the ridge as 8 1/2 miles long six hours should do it. 
-the sunlight. On the opposite side the Ridge ran out. Time to go down and lunch. + 
-,I made it a quick meal.. Counting up on my fingers-dalaulated at 'least six hours to-do the ridge Ana finisli:up'on Yadbara Creek near the track that cbmes dawn from Jerricknorra Saddle. Sundown 5.4.5 last light 6.30. +Within two hours I should have known it wouldn't, but those two hours were so spectacular that I didn't even think about it. Gangerang had nothing on this the jumber of green ridges and blue valleys far out the sea the broken northern skyline towards Corang Trig and The Castle Mt. Budawang and its attendant spurs rising out of the softly hazy south. 
-July, 1966 The Sydney Bushwalker 15. + 
-When I,started on the ridge at 12.25, there were an estimated 6 hours and five minutes of day left. I had calculated the ridge as 8i. miles long  six hours should do it. +The going was painfully slow with uneven rocky footing and small burnt-off banksia cloying the legs. Incessant up and down hill stints. I was wearing long trousers or I wouldn't have survived a mile. My hands were bleeding from long raking cuts on the burnt shrubs. I had allowed 1 1/2 hours to the first big saddle. That took 2 hours 20 mins and the afternoon seemed to be growing hotter. 
-Within two hours I should have known it wouldn't, but tldse two hours were so spectacular that I didn't even think about it. Gangeranf: had nothing on this  the jumber of green ridges and blue valleys  far out the sea  the broken northern skyline towards Corang Trig and The Castle  Mt. Budawang and its attendant spurs rising out of the softly hazy south. + 
-The going was painfully slow with uneven rocky footing and small +From that point there was less scenery too many trees now in the way. Hence few stops and, despite the slugging climb to the first big top, slightly faster time than expected. Just after three p.m. and with a final photograph of Budawang, I started down to the "flat" section of The Ridge. With luck, I should be on The Sugarloaf at 5.30 might capture Renwick and The Castle with late sunlight on their western cliffs then a fast romp down to my rendezvous with Yadbora. 
-burntoff banksia cloying the legs. Incessant up and down hill stints. I was wearing long trousers or I wouldn't have survived a mile. My hands were bleeding from long raking cuts on the burnt shrubs. I had allowed 1i-hours to the first big saddle. That took 2 hours 20 mins and the afternoon seemed to be growing hotter4 + 
-From that point there was less scenery  too many trees now in the way. Hence few stops and, dispite the slugging climb to the first big top, slightly faster time than expected. Just after three p m. and with a final +Soon after four p.m. it was pretty obvious that wouldn't be the way of it at all. The "flat" ridge was surprisingly uneven. Moreover, parts of it were spines of quartzite where one scrambled up, over, or around big uneven rocks. I was carrying a pint of water only half a pint now and the damned elusive Sugarloaf kept on being three or four crests away. 
-photograph of Budawang, I started down to the "flat" section of The Ridge. With luck, I should be on The Sugarloaf at 5.30  might capture Renwick a'nd The Castle with late sunlight on their western cliffs  then a fast romp down to my rendezvous with Yadbora. + 
-Soom after four p m. it was pretty Obvious that wouldn't be the +From time to time I had lovely look downs into the headwaters of Yadbora, but the rocky spine clung steadily to the west of The Ridge and there was never a clear view to the east. Once in a fissure in the rocks I saw a few fragments of tin-foil, which at least assured me there were other people silly enough to try The Ridge. However, I said aloud to myself, they probably took a whole day over it. Now that would be the way to do it. Really shouldn't try to get over it in half a day.... 
-way of it at all. The "flat" ridge was surprisingly uneven. Moreover, parts of it were spines of quartzite where one scrambled up, over, or around big uneven rocks. I was carrying a pint of water  only half a pint now  and + 
-the 'damned elusive Sugarloaf kept on being three or four crests away. +Five o'clock, with the sun getting low over Budawang Range: an extensive flattish top for a change, with shaly soil, long grasses and fine Forest. But Sugarloaf still away across the saddle, then another saddle, then another big hill. I had not contemplated it before, but now I looked down the ridges into Upper Yadbora. If one could get down, there would be water, beaut. cool, dribbling, chuckling, mossy water. Then next day it would be quite a short stage if somewhat steep straight up and over Budaway Range back to Willoween. Alternative a dry camp. 
-From time to time I had lovely look downs into the headwaters of Yadbora, but the rocky spine clung steadily to the west of The Ridge and there was never a clear view to the east. Once in a fissure in the rocks I saw a few fragments of tinfoil, which at least assured me there were other people silly enough to try The Ridge. However, I said aloud to myself, they + 
-probably took a whole day over it. Now that would be the way to do it. Really shouldn't try to get over it in half a day ---- +Thirst won. I went down for forty five minutes on a very abrupt spur - no cliffs, thank HeavensIn the greying evening I drank and drank and drank from the clean rocky-bedded stream. There was no where to put up a tent, but it wasn't going to rain. A bundle of bark on the edge of the stony creek side, a twigg fire, a swift, simple meal and into the sleeping bag with a mug of cocoa and a final pipe by seven-fifteen p.m. Lovely, lovely sleep while small errant gusts of a south west wind blew down the valley and stirred the trees against a moonlit sky. 
-Five o'clock, with the sun getting low overBudawang Range: an extensive flattish top for a change, with shaly soil, long grasses and fine Forest. But Sugarloaf still away across the saddle, then another sa-ldle, then + 
-another big hill. I had not contemplated it before, but now I looked down +The couch of bark on the rocks was so comfortable that wasn't about until after six o'clock in the morning but then I didn't lose much time and at 6.45 tackled the ridge up to Budawang Range. Steep at first, the gradient improved, my wind and legs behaved better than I had reason to expect, and at 8.25 I had intersected the timber road up top about 200 yards north of the point where I had reached the range from the west the day before. 
-the ridges into Upper Yadbora. If one could get down, there would be water, + 
-beaut. cool, dribbling, chucklingl mossy water. Then next day it would be quite a short stage  if somewhat steep  straight up and over Budaway Range back to rilloween. Alternative a dry camp. +Although the day was lightly overcast, and the big hills to the north east were grey-blue silhouettes against a yellow hazy sky, I stopped for a couple of "record" photographs and a bite of chocolate. I looked back at the Sugarloaf and the northern end of The Ridge. Well, my estimate of six hours was well out. In over five hours I might have traversed two-thirds of the total length, with two of the main humps still ahead. I doubted whether I'd ever tackle it again. 
-16. The Sydney Dushwalker , July,. 1966 - + 
-Thirst won. I went down for forty five minutes on a very abrupt +Then I started down the hill towards Willoween and the car, noting the prints of my sandshoes from the previous morning. Going downhill had a good effect on morale: before I was back to Willoween I had worked out a way of doing only the northern end of the Ridge, and having time to look for a place to photograph The Castle and Renwick by westering sunlight. Not the whole Ridge, you know - just the unfinished business. 
-spur - no cliffsl thank HeavensIn the greying evening I drank and drank and drank from the clean rocky-bedded stream. There was no where to put up a tent, but it wasn't going to rain. A bundle of bark on the edge of + 
-the stonY creek side, a twigg fire, a swift, simple meal and into the sleeping bag With a mug of cocoa and a final pipe by seven-fifteen p m. Lovely, lovely sleep while small errant gusts of a south west wind blew down the valley and stirred the trees against a moonlit sky. +---- 
-The couth of bark on the rocks Was so comfortable that ic wasn't about until after six o'clock in the morning but then I didn't lose much time and at 6.45 tackled the ridge up to Budawang Range. SteeP'at first, the gradient improved, my wind and legs behaved better than I had reason to expect, and at 8.25 I had intersected the timber  road up top abut 200 yards north of the point where I had reached the range from the west the day before.+
  
-AlthOugh the day was lightly overcast, and the big hills to the 
-*r#1 east were grey-blue silhouettes against a yellow hazy sky, I stopped - 
-far a couple of "record" Photographs and a bite of chocolate. I looked 
-back at the Siagarleaf and the northern end of The Ridge. Well, my estimate of six hours was well out. In over five hours I might have traversed two- thirds of the total length, with two of the main humps still ahead. I doubted whether fld. ever tackle it again. 
-Then.I started down the hill towards Willoween and the car, noting the prints of my sandshoes from the previous morning. Going downhill had a good effect on morale: before I was back to 7alloween I 
-had worked out a way of doing only the northern end of the Ridge, and having time to look for a place to photograph The Castle and Reqwick by westering 
-sunlight. Not the whole Ridge, you know - just the unfinished business.' ' 
-, 
-....=,% embronamme 
 COLOUR SLIDE COMPETITION - AUGUST 31. COLOUR SLIDE COMPETITION - AUGUST 31.
 This year the competition will be divided into two sections : AUSTRALIAN AND OVERSEAS. This year the competition will be divided into two sections : AUSTRALIAN AND OVERSEAS.
196607.txt · Last modified: 2016/08/11 13:17 by tyreless

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