Walk Report; 2nd March 2014

Walkers; Bernard Jordan (leader), Alan Dow, Patricia Dressel, Biba Horvatic, Victoria Howlett, Stephen Johnstone, Wally Krafft, Irene McGinnigle, Julie Mirtschin, Dev Pathy, Sureth Pathy, Sue Twigg, members of GBC, ORWTA and visitors.

We left a car at Jamieson Creek and departed from Cumberland River Reserve along 4WD Cumberland Track, which runs generally westwards along a ridge including Mount Defiance, alas no views. This and other tracks are currently being extensively widened for fire fighting purposes.we turned left at Curtis "Road" and shortly after, left again at Wye River Road. From here we followed another ridge, taking the left turn to Jamieson Track, which runs "basically" downhill to the Great Ocean Road at Jamieson Creek. The tracks have some steep sections, where walking poles would be necessary in muddy, slippery circumstances. The forests are attractive when you look past the current destruction. Thanks for the good company!

This walk report provided by Bernard Jordan

Four Falls- Jan 2014

Walk Report, Four Falls from TW Spur, Sunday 5/1/2014

Walkers: Jennifer Morrow, Barbara McCrae, Wendy Speer, Nick Speer, Patricia Dressel, Tim Dressel, Neil Mathison, Jenny Grice, Irene McGinnigle, Stephen Johnstone, Andrew Hackett, Scott Fowler, Jill Fowler, Sue Twigg, Nola Hardess, Craig Scales, Julie Scales.

The day was cool and showery but with lengthy fine periods and sunshine in the afternoon.

Seventeen walkers met at the corner of Mt. Sabine Road and TW Spur Track, whence they proceeded to Brunswick Falls, Galliebarinda Falls and Upper Cumberland Falls in

that order, beginning at 9:45.

There was much to see on this extensive walk. All falls were most attractive with strong flows of water despite the season. Bracket fungi in a variety of sizes and colours were prolific. Many birds were heard, including cockatoos, and some were also sighted.

Navigation proved to be somewhat difficult, owing to strong growth in the understorey which had obscured tracks and ribbons. Much fallen timber also lay across tracks, adding to difficulties and slowing progress, and the large number of walkers contributed to the delay at each obstacle.

It was 5:30 before the party reached the branching track to Yannathan Falls and unanimously decided to forego this part of the walk. Even so, the starting point was not regained till 7:00pm making it a long day.

Some track work and re-ribboning would shorten the time required (currently about 10 hours if all four falls are visited), but this rewarding walk is inevitably one of our longest and most demanding.

Thanks are due to Jennifer Morrow for her capable and energetic leadership.

Andrew Hackett

Next Walk

Wild Dog Track, Sunday 2nd February 2014

Leader: Alan Dow

Please call Alan on 0400404046 if planning to participate.

Walk Report Dec 2013 - Wye Canyon

Wye Falls and Canyon Walk  ~  Sunday December 1^st, 2013.

Walkers:- Richard Gilbert (leader), Alan Dow, Bernard Jordan, Kim Attard, Les Rowe, Patricia Dressel, Jenny Grice, Wendy Speer, Glen Stert, Digby Williamson, Andrea Lau, Philipp Ruiter.

Sunday the first was a fine sunny, perfect day for a change, and the falls were spectacular.

11 of us including 2 visitors from Germany, and representation from Camperdown and Geelong Bushwalking clubs, as well as ORWTA members set out from the Kennett Track starting point at about 10.30am.

I found the starting point first try, unlike the last attempt on April Fools day this year. The old bicycle near the start of the track is still there.

There was quite a lot of vegetation over the benched logging track on the descent to Wye River which slowed down progress.

The river was higher than I have experienced it after heavy Spring rains.

Growth of blackberry and nettle on the south side of the river made walking in the stream more attractive than pushing through it.

We lunched at the Falls, then retraced our steps downstream, to find the route out to where we left Alan’s car, at the intersection of Mud Rd and Wye Rd.

The climb out was just as steep as last time, marred by some idiots on trail bikes who had torn up the track causing water erosion on the steep slope.

Mud road was as its name suggests, and seems to be popular with trail bikers judging by the damage in evidence, some of it knee deep ruts.

We reached Alan’s car at 5pm which was pretty much on schedule.

Richard Gilbert

Leader

Walk Report
Highview Scenic Walk                                                                                                    
10^th November 2013

Walkers: Sue McKenzie (leader), Nola Hardess, Sue Twigg, Andrew Hackett, Les Roe.

The weather was fine with a cool eastly wind as we left the Apollo Bay Visitor Centre at 1:30pm. We headed up Tuxion and Old Tuxion Rd, where we stopped a few times to admire the view, and catch our breath! (There are a few steep sections!)

After Crowes Nest, the track down the hill was a bit slippery. The GPS guided us through the farmland with precision. A banana break was taken just off the ridge above the Walters’ place overlooking the Barham valley where we consulted maps to check how close the Wild Dog and Barham Rivers are to each other.

The sun came out to show off the spectacular vistas from Cape Patton to past Marengo. Thanks go to the farmers who allowed us through their properties. We walked down past McKenzie’s where we met up with a follow member, Val Flitton, who was also admiring the view. The Apollo Bay Hotel was finally reached at 5pm, just in time for our meeting. It was one of our easier, panoramic walks.

Wreck Beach to Twelve Apostle, final section of the Great Ocean Walk, 17 km, 

Saturday, 9th November, 2013

Walkers: Bernard Jordan (leader),Biba Horvatic, Wally Kraft, Alan Dow, Helen Steogen, Sue McKenzie (ORWTA) and Nick Steogen (visitor).

It was drizzling rain as we descended the 366 steps onto Wreck Beach. With us was an inspiring French couple, one of whom was blind, but both very determined on walking the entire GOW and the final section that day. Along the beach embedded in the reef is the anchor from the Marie Gabrielle, a French barque wrecked in 1869; a short distance further is the anchor from the Fiji, an 1891 wreck. After 2 km of beach walking with some rock scrambling we made our way up to Devils Kitchen and then wound our way around the coastline with wonderful views through the bush.

Lunch was taken in sunshine with a lovely view of the Gellibrand River entering the ocean. It was then down to the river that we followed to Princetown and, after crossing the bridge, it was uphill again along the new section of the GOW, passing Clifton Beach, followed by our first views of the Apostles in the distance.

With the end in sight, it was just a few more km to the Gibson Steps, that lead down onto the beach, and onto the new section under the Great Ocean Road to the end at the Visitors Centre, completing a great walk in great company. With a coffee in hand we joined the tourists for a viewing of those famous and spectacular 12 Apostles.

Our thanks to Helen and Bernard for the excellent organisation and leading of this weekend walk which included all transport and accommodation with meals.

October Walk

Kennett River Rd to Grey River Rd

6^th October 2013

Walkers:     Sue Trigg (ORWTA), Jenny Brice, Chris Barr (Camperdown), Joan McMahon, Kim Attard, Bernard Jordan (leader) (GBC) 

We set up a car shuffle with the end point 11.3 km along the Grey River road from the Kennett River Store. Another car was left at the gate on Ridge Road (off the Great Ocean Road). The track joined Kennett road, and we continued on a further 3 km or so to meet the Kennett Wye jeep track. We continued on a further 1.5 km to the junction with the track down (west) to Kennett River, but missed it! After a while we turned back and found it. There is an opening in the bush, a log on the ground, and now several ribbons. The track is an old logging track. We crossed the river - about 30 cm deep - and walked some 15 m along the bank upstream to the track - bikie erosion obvious - up to a sharp bend on Coopers No 2 track/road. My notes said the route to Grey River commenced within 5 minutes of this junction, heading south, but we missed it! (Two strikes!)

We walked on to the end of Coopers No 2 road at the Grey River road. Bernard volunteered to walk some 5 km along Grey River road to retrieve a car. Shortly, 2 gorgeous French girls gave Bernard a lift. On return, I found a gallant French(?) Canadian man waiting in the drizzle for the girls to return. Soon sorted. 

We were surprised to find Alan Dow, Sue McKenzie and Les Roe discussing ORWTA affairs at the Wye River pub, so we joined them for coffee before returning from our adventures.

LES NOSEDA MEMORIAL WALK TO WILD DOG FALLS

 8^th September 2013

A lovely day brought nine people together to walk to the Wild Dog Falls in memory of our past president, Les Noseda.

Joining us were Andrew Noseda (Les’s son), and the co-authors of “250 Waterfalls of Victoria”, Ray Barber and Ian Wacey.  Their book contains a photo and description of Wild Dog Falls taken when Les guided Ray and Ian to the falls a few years ago. 

The track was generally in good condition, sections had been cleared and re-taped, we encountered some recently fallen trees and branches but everyone enjoyed the variety and beauty of this walk. 

We visited Sharpes No. 3 mill site on our way, had lunch on the rocks below the falls, climbed back up the steps and made a short detour to the ‘Jack Phillips Cascades’ above the falls.

 Wild Dog Creek was flowing strongly after the heavy rains over August which made the falls quite spectacular.

It was a pleasure to share memories and anecdotes of walking with Les – a man always striding ahead in gumboots; a true visionary and inspiration in developing and promoting the Trans Otway Waterfall Walk over many years. 

Walk started:  9.50am - Finished:  2.45pm

Nola Hardess