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 Barry Wallace
-The Northern Three Peaks
+**The Northern Three Peaks**
-Most SBW members will have heard of the Three
+Most SBW members will have heard of the Three Peaks walk from Katoomba to Cloudmaker, Paralyser and Guouogang in the Kanangra area but the Northern Three Peaks walk may not be so familiar. The Northern Three Peaks are Savage, Mistake and Island in the Wollemi National Park. The walk starts near the end of the Grassy Hill Fire Trail at Canoe Creek and finishes at the Putty Road end of the Drip Rock Fire Trail. While the Three Peaks walk features four big climbs, each of around 800 to 900 metres, its northern counterpart has a total of only around 2,500m of climbing with the biggest single climb being around 600m from the Colo River to Savage.
-Peaks walk from Katoomba to Cloudmaker,
-Paralyser and Guouogang in the Kanangra area but
-the Northern Three Peaks walk may not be. so
-familiar. The Northern Three Peaks are Savage,
-Mistake and Island in the Wollemi National Park.
-The walk starts near the end of the Grassy Hill Fire
-Trail at Canoe Creek and finishes at the Putty Road
-end of the Drip Rock Fire Trail. While the Three
-Peaks walk features four big climbs, each of around
-  900 metres, its northern counterpart has a total
-of only around 2,500m of climbing with the biggest
-single climb being around 600m from the Colo River
-to Savage.
-I first saw mention of the Northern Three Peaks in
+I first saw mention of the Northern Three Peaks in a 1985 article in Wild by David Noble and filed it
-a 1985 article in Wild by David Noble and filed it
+away for future consideration. I finally put it on the programme as a four-day walk in Easter 2005 rather
-away for future consideration. I finally put it on the
+than a two-day walk. It still promised to keep us interested for four days, and so it proved to be.
-- programme as a four-day walk in Easter 2005 rather
+The party of nine got off to a flying start on the Friday morming thanks to the assistance of Peter
-than a two-day walk. It still promised to keep us
+Loves party, whose walk started and ended where ours started. They drove us in to near the top of Pass
-interested for four days, and so it proved to be.
+and this allowed us to avoid spending time car-swapping. We were able to reach the Colo for
+morning tea, taken while I searched for Pass 17, which climbs the ridge almost directly opposite the
-The party of nine got off to a flying start on the
-Friday morming thanks to the assistance of Peter
-Loves party, whose walk started and ended where
-ours started. They drove us in to near the top of Pass
-and this allowed us to avoid spending time car-
-swapping. We were able to reach the Colo for
-moming tea, taken while I searched for Pass 17,
-which climbs the ridge almost directly opposite the
 Canoe Creek junction.
-The last time (which was also the first time) I
+The last time (which was also the first time) I climbed this pass about 20 years ago it took a couple
-climbed this pass about 20 years ago it took a couple
+of hours to find, and I hoped I would be able to find it more easily on this occasion. It was easy enough
-of hours to find, and I hoped I would be able to find
+to find, but that didn't necessarily make it easy to climb! On the Bob Buck (Colo passes pioneer and
-it more easily on this occasion. It was easy enough
+compiler of the Colo sketch map) scale of difficulty it gets almost the most difficult rating with a note of 30 feet rope very handy. It was. Nevertheless we all managed to scramble up by the skin of our teeth,
-to find, but that didnt necessarily make it easy to
+or of other body parts, or both. But once the rope handy bit was negotiated it was a fairly straightforward 5km to Savage, the first of our three Peaks, where we arrived around mid-afternoon.
-climb! On the Bob Buck (Colo passes pioneer and
-compiler of the Colo sketch map) scale of difficulty
-Kenn Clacher
+From there for the next two days we would be on unknown territory. The route description in Wild had
+been pretty cryptic. Just cross Tambo Creek, then three branches of Main Creek, to get to Mistake, it
+said. Being the Colo, it was unsaid but understood that most creeks, even at their higher reaches, are
+guarded by imposing cliff lines which are often not mapped. From Savage the first task was to get down
+to Tambo Creek before night fell. The plan was to walk down the ridge to the west of the creek junction
+at 861 147 (1966 Datum). The plan worked all right, except for a patch of thick lawyer and other vine on
+the saddle to the west of Savage, as a result of a basalt cap in that area. Nevertheless we made it to
+Tambo Creek in daylight (just!) and Ian found a small but comfortable campsite just down the Creek.
-it gets almost the most difficult rating with a note of
+The next days itinerary required a climb out of Tambo creek, the three crossings of Main Creek, a
-feet rope very handy. It was. Nevertheless we
+climb up and over Mistake and then six kilometres along a ridge down to the middle reaches of an
-all managed to scramble up by the skin of our teeth,
+unnamed creek that joins the Wollangambe a few hundred metres before it joins the Colo. With not
-or of other body parts, or both. But once the rope
+much hunting around for passes through the cliff lines the first branch of Main Creek was crossed at 666 128, according to plan. The second crossing was planned for 655 116, but on coming down the ridge
-handy bit was negotiated it was a fairly
+we were confronted by a cliff line of 30-40m on both sides of the creek, rather than the gentle slope shown on the map. We moved west to the first side creek where Ian found a cunning route down a hole
-straightforward 5km to Savage, the first of our three
+between boulders, and the cliff lines on the opposite side gave way to a climbable spur. The third branch
-Peaks, where we arrived around mid-afternoon.
+put up little more than token resistance at 654 093, and suddenly, around mid-afternoon, we were on
-From there for the next two days we would be on
-unknown territory. The route description in Wild had
-been pretty cryptic. Just cross Tambo Creek, then
-three branches of Main Creek, to get to Mistake, it
-said. Being the Colo, it was unsaid but understood
-that most creeks, even at their higher reaches, are
-guarded by imposing cliff lines which are often not
-mapped. From Savage the first task was to get down
-to Tambo Creek before night fell. The plan was to
-walk down the ridge to the west of the creek junction
-at 861 147 (1966 Datum). The plan worked allright,
-except for a patch of thick lawyer and other vine on
-the saddle to the west of Savage, as a result of a
-basalt cap in that area. Nevertheless we made it to
-Tambo Creek in daylight Gust!) and Ian found a
-small but comfortable campsite just down the Creek.
-The next days itinerary required a climb out of
-Tambo creek, the three crossings of Main Creek, a
-climb up and over Mistake and then six kilometres
-along a ridge down to the middle reaches of an
-unnamed creek that joins the Wollangambe a few
-hundred metres before it joins the Colo. With not
-much hunting around for passes through the cliff
-lines the first branch of Main Creek was crossed at
-128, according to plan. The second crossing was
-planned for 655 116, but on coming down the ridge
-we were confronted by a cliff line of 30-40m on both
-sides of the creek, rather than the gentle slope shown
-on the map. We moved west to the first side creek
-| The Sydney Bushwalker
-June 2005 Page 15 |
-where Ian found a cunning route down a hole
-between boulders, and the cliff lines on the opposite
-side gave way to a climbable spur. The third branch
-put up little more than token resistance at 654 093,
-and suddenly, around mid-afternoon, we were on
 Mistake, our second Peak.
-To get to the Colo from Mistake, we had a choice
+To get to the Colo from Mistake, we had a choice of going either along Clews Ridge, over Maiden and
-of going either along Clews Ridge, over Maiden and
+down Pass 25 to the Colo/Wollangambe junction, or along a ridge and down to the unnamed creek at
+063. We didn't have enough water to complete the first option before nightfall, as to do that would
-down Pass 25 to the Colo/Wollangambe junction, or -
+have required either a descent of Pass 25 in the dark, or a camp without water, or both. We rejected this
+option as it had already been done, with both consequences, by a Bill Capon party last year. The
-along a ridge and down to the unnamed creek at
+second option was recommended in the Wild article and we could probably get to water and a campsite in
-063. We didnt have enough water to complete
+daylight. A six kilometre walk had us at another small but comfortable campsite at the designated spot on the unnamed creek by dark (just!), after the requisite scramble through a cliff line.
-the first option before nightfall, as to do that would
-have required either a descent of Pass 25 in the dark,
-or a camp without water, or both. We rejected this
-option as it had already been done, with both
-consequences, by a Bill Capon party last year. The
-second option was recommended in the Wild article
-and we could probably get to water and a campsite in
-daylight. A six kilometre walk had us at another
-small but comfortable campsite at the designated
-spot on the unnamed creek by dark (just!), after the
-requisite scramble through a cliff line.
-Tt was six kilometres from our campsite along the
-unnamed creek to the Colo. The party was encouraged
-by the leader to expect it would be an idyllic stroll on
-easy Angorawa Creek-like open and picturesque rock
-shelves. The reality was scrubby rock hopping where
-ikmv/h was the going rate. It got a little easier the
-further downstream we got, and there were some
-beautiful and spectacular rock shelves and other
-stretches of creek, but it took until mid-afternoon to
-reach the Colo and a well-earned swim.
-To climb Island the Wild route called for an assault
+Tt was six kilometres from our campsite along the unnamed creek to the Colo. The party was encouraged
-straight up Straws Gully at 752 068, but that would
+by the leader to expect it would be an idyllic stroll on easy Angorawa Creek-like open and picturesque rock shelves. The reality was scrubby rock hopping where 1km/h was the going rate. It got a little easier the further downstream we got, and there were some beautiful and spectacular rock shelves and other
-have required a water carry and was reputedly
+stretches of creek, but it took until mid-afternoon to reach the Colo and a well-earned swim.
-somewhat hazardous. This route is not marked on
-the Bob Buck sketch map, which was another
-indication of probable considerable difficulty.
-Accordingly we opted to go downstream along the
-Colo for a few kilometres to camp at the bottom of
-Pass 28, before making an assault on Island the
-following day. The resulting walk down the Colo
-was much like our unnamed creek, slow and very
-scrubby. And we had to cross the river, which had a
-fair amount of water as a result of the rain the
+To climb Island the Wild route called for an assault straight up Straws Gully at 752 068, but that would
-previous week. There was a party of liloers around
+have required a water carry and was reputedly somewhat hazardous. This route is not marked on the Bob Buck sketch map, which was another indication of probable considerable difficulty. Accordingly we opted to go downstream along the Colo for a few kilometres to camp at the bottom of Pass 28, before making an assault on Island the following day. The resulting walk down the Colo was much like our unnamed creek, slow and very scrubby. And we had to cross the river, which had a fair amount of water as a result of the rain the
-and we almost resorted to offering to hire their lilos
+previous week. There was a party of liloers around and we almost resorted to offering to hire their lilos
-to get our packs, and us, across. But eventually Ian
+to get our packs, and us, across. But eventually Ian found a crossing at rapids where the water was
-found a crossing at rapids where the water was
+around waist-deep. At the bottom of Pass 28 Craig found an expansive and comfortable campsite to
-around waist-deep. At the bottom of Pass 28 Craig
-found an expansive and comfortable campsite to
 while away another very pleasant evening.
-Next moming we started climbing straight away
+Next moming we started climbing straight away up the southern ridge of Island. As we climbed the
-up the southern ridge of Island. As we climbed the
+views opened up and became sensational as we neared the top. Like all the other days on the trip,
-views opened up and became sensational as we
+the morning was clear and crisp and visibility great. From the top of Island, our third Peak, we headed
-neared the top. Like all the other days on the trip,
+down to Clews Cave and the upper part of Clews Short Cut, Pass24. Here at last Ian blotted his
-the morning was clear and crisp and visibility great.
+copybook in diverting the party from, rather than to, Clews Cave.
-From the top of Island, our third Peak, we headed
-down to Clews Cave and the upper part of Clews
-Short Cut, Pass24. Here at last Ian blotted his
-copybook in diverting the party from, rather than to,
-Clews Cave.
-The upper part of Clews Short Cut had the
+The upper part of Clews Short Cut had the obligatory cliff lines, but these were by now easy pickings for this party and we sailed through them. All that remained was a few more kilometres of
-obligatory cliff lines, but these were by now easy
+ridges, then 12km of fire trail that was polished off in little more than two hours.
-pickings for this party and we sailed through them.
-All that remained was a few more kilometres of
-ridges, then 12km of fire trail that was polished off
-in little more than two hours.
-Well, how does the Northern Three Peaks walk
+Well, how does the Northern Three Peaks walk compare to its more illustrious southern counterpart?
-compare to its more illustrious southern counterpart?
+It is certainly different. While shorter and with less ascent (and descent) than the Three Peaks, it has
-It is certainly different. While shorter and with less
+much more variety and different challenges. The six kilometres of rock hopping in the unnamed creek
-ascent (and descent) than the Three Peaks, it has
+would be difficult to do quickly, while the many cliff lines to be negotiated means that night navigation
-much more variety and different challenges. The six
+would have to be absolutely pinpoint. The cliff lines and denser Colo scrub also make the going slower in
-kilometres of rock hopping in the unnamed creek
-would be difficult to do quickly, while the many cliff
-lines to be negotiated means that night navigation
-would have to be absolutely pinpoint. The cliff lines
-and denser Colo scrub also make the going slower in
 the Colo.
-The last word goes to Christine. Sometime on the
+The last word goes to Christine. Sometime on the first day she broke a rib (confirmed by a doctor about
-first day she broke a rib (confirmed by a doctor about
+a week after the trip). So she did almost the whole walk with a broken rib, without a word of complaint
-a week after the trip). So she did almost the whole
+to the leader or the rest of the party. It is enough to make the rest of us feel like wimps!
-walk with a broken rib, without a word of complaint
-to the leader or the rest of the party. It is enough to
-make the rest of us feel like wimps!
-Party: Christine Austin, Craig Austin, John
+Party: Christine Austin, Craig Austin, John Bradnam, Edith Baker, Kenn Clacher, ClareHolland, Kellie Rees, Margaret Rozea, Ian Wolfe.
-Bradnam, Edith Baker, Kenn Clacher, Clare
-Holland, Kellie Rees, Margaret Rozea, Ian Wolfe.
 Mid - Week Walking Group: