Leader: Bill Donoghoe

Blue Mountains National Park: Blaxland to Springwood

18 July 2019

An 80 leaders walk

Photos top: Bill Donoghoe

Photos below: Jim Romanowski

Participants:

Bill Donoghoe, Jenny Donoghoe, Jim Romanowski, Leisha Hay, Helge Sangkuhl, Tom Dowling, Robert Sterry, Lynn Dabbs, Jeanette Ibrahim, Margaret Rozea, Kumiko Suzuki, Soo Lee Chen, Misako Sugiyama, Rosemary MacDougal, Kevin Williams, Michael Shepherd, Andrew Lumsden, Christine Loh, prospective Wendy Dodd

Walk description:

Blaxland station - Pippas Pass - Glenbrook Creek - Bullant track - Lost World - Bunyan Lookout - Glenbrook Creek - Martins Lookout - Perch Ponds - Magdala Creek - Springwood station. There are a number of creek crossings which can be slippery and fairly steep climbs from Glenbrook Creek to "Bullant" Ridge and Glenbrook Creek to Martins Lookout. Map: Springwood

Report:

The first part of this walk is along Pippas Pass which starts behind the Blaxland Library. Near the end of this track a large fallen tree was used as a bridge on the last creek crossing. A lyrebird was spotted just before reaching Florabella Pass. It was a short sharp descent to Glenbrook Creek before the first significant climb of the day (just over 200m) on the track pioneered by the Bullant Bush Running Club. There were quite a few wildflowers in bloom on the Bullant track including Pimelia linifolia (Rice Flower), Grevillea buxifolia (Grey Spider Grevillea) and Acacia ulicifolia (Prickly Moses).

Morning tea was enjoyed on a rock platform just before the Kings Link Track. We stopped at Lost World for photos and to admire the views across the valley and to the city in the distance. There was another short stop at Bunyan Lookout before descending to Glenbrook Creek. At one point about half the group squeezed through a tight slot which required most to remove their pack whilst the others used an alternate route that included a 1 metre drop. Another easy crossing of Glenbrook Creek was followed by the short steep climb to Martins Lookout for lunch. We were able to view Lost World Lookout and read the plaque about Brother G E Raymer (his memorial is a white cross at Lost World).

The descent on the western side of Martins Lookout took us back to Glenbrook Creek and then Perch Ponds and the Magdala Creek track with its thirteen creek crossings (a very easy task in the dry conditions). The last part of the walk was through Fairy Dell Reserve to Springwood Station.

An enjoyable walk on a cool dry day with a friendly group of walkers. Thanks to all who joined me on this walk.