Grose Valley Archives - Wild Blue Wanders

Wentworth Falls to Blackheath

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Jo — 7 Comments ↓

This walk was the culmination of many hours spent exploring the bush tracks to the north and west of my home in Wentworth Falls. My first goal had been to find an easy way across Wentworth Creek and up to Mt Hay Road. But then I discovered the track down to Henson Glen and started reading about the historic Bruce’s Walk. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when I found the track across Katoomba Creek. Today was my first attempt at linking it all together. I headed Continue Reading →

Wildflowers at Mount Hay

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Jo — 1 Comment ↓

Despite having spent much time walking in the vicinity of Mt Hay, I had never actually been to the top before. I arrived mid-afternoon to find just one other car in the carpark – another green Subaru, which looked to be almost exactly the same vintage as mine! There was also a very fancy, new information board with notes about Butterbox Canyon and several photos by Dave Noble. And the wildflowers were out! I was surprised by the big difference in variety and abundance compared with our visit to Kanangra last weekend. There were Acacia, Continue Reading →

Perrys Lookdown to Blue Gum Forest

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Jo — Leave a reply

With a few spare hours up my sleeve, I decided that in the spirit of more hill climbing a quick jaunt down to Blue Gum Forest via the most direct route would be a good test for the legs. I have it on good authority that local mountaineer Allie Pepper used this route as part of the training for her successful Everest expedition, loading herself up with a dozen or more litres of water for the climb back up the hill. I had no intention of making it that hard for myself, Continue Reading →

Govetts Creek Waterfalls

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Jo — Leave a reply

The wind was howling when I awoke and it looked like a wild day to be out walking. It was enough to make us question the sanity of heading into the bush, but not enough to stop us from going! Kaz and I drove to Medlow Bath and started down the Pilcher Track shortly before 9am. I was puzzled when we arrived at a transmission tower a few moments later as it didn’t look at all familiar. Nevertheless we continued on our merry way, with the track descending more sharply than Continue Reading →

Early morning at Mount Banks

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Jo — Leave a reply

I woke with a start, thinking I had overslept.The room already seemed quite light so I quickly got ready, then glanced at my watch and realised it was only just after 4am! Oops. I’d intended to make an early start, but with sunrise still three hours away I decided to go back to bed for a little while. After dozing briefly, I rolled out of bed at a slightly more respectable hour. It was still very dark when I arrived at the Mt Banks carpark at 6am, with the temperature hovering Continue Reading →

Views of Arethusa and visit to Darks Cave

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Jo — 3 Comments ↓

It was a wet and misty Sunday and I was keen to explore out along Mount Hay Road. Having recently walked some of the tracks that drop in to Govetts Creek around the Henson Glen area, I was keen to go a bit further north and check out the ridge that forms the junction between Arethusa and Alpheus canyons. This was more ‘off track’ than I usually go on my own, but there was still a reasonable footpad all the way and a well-defined ridgeline made navigation very straight-forward. Part of my Continue Reading →