Took a loop down into the NSW Northern Rivers over the last two days, sort of channeling the spirit of the SE QLD GTG trip down.
Unfortunately Cambridge Forest Drive and Toonumbar Forest Drive were closed due to the wet, so the dirt part of the trip started at Mallanganee. Took Cherry Tree Rd across to Mt Pikapene National Park, nothing special apart from a big goanna (which I seem to be able to spot whenever I'm offroad).
Cherry Tree Rd
Goanna
The picnic area at Pikapene needs a little work...
Visited the day use area at Yates Crossing where the troops spent the night on the way down. The Clarence is in flood and I reckon went over a little while after we left.
Yates Crossing in flood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-2kQJtn ... 3k&index=2
Took the old Grafton Rd heading towards Glen Innes and visted the "Convict" tunnel at Dalmorten. In reality it was blasted by road contractors using black powder early last century apparently.
Lots of access to the rivers for camping, only a very few of the choicest spots were taken by campers.
On the way up the range to Glen Innes, we came across the Narrow Pass Fire Trail. Whilst only 4 kilometres to the lookout, it was mostly straight up, with a big berm to ramp over every 50 metres or so. The view from the top was spectacular. Whilst the Hema map we were using showed a through route, it was beginning to rain and being solo, discretion took precedence and we re-traced our steps. Turns out it was a wise move in any case as a chat to a ranger later in the day revealed we would have hit a locked gate at the other end and had to turn around anyway.
For some reason the very last 20 metres to the carpark at Tommy's Rock Lookout were barred to easy access
A quick video of the last section of the run up the hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxhWfEDy ... er&list=UL
Allin all a fun couple of days, with a few tracks off to the side worthy of future investigation, especially around Mt Pikapene.
Unfortunately Cambridge Forest Drive and Toonumbar Forest Drive were closed due to the wet, so the dirt part of the trip started at Mallanganee. Took Cherry Tree Rd across to Mt Pikapene National Park, nothing special apart from a big goanna (which I seem to be able to spot whenever I'm offroad).
Cherry Tree Rd
Goanna
The picnic area at Pikapene needs a little work...
Visited the day use area at Yates Crossing where the troops spent the night on the way down. The Clarence is in flood and I reckon went over a little while after we left.
Yates Crossing in flood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-2kQJtn ... 3k&index=2
Took the old Grafton Rd heading towards Glen Innes and visted the "Convict" tunnel at Dalmorten. In reality it was blasted by road contractors using black powder early last century apparently.
Lots of access to the rivers for camping, only a very few of the choicest spots were taken by campers.
On the way up the range to Glen Innes, we came across the Narrow Pass Fire Trail. Whilst only 4 kilometres to the lookout, it was mostly straight up, with a big berm to ramp over every 50 metres or so. The view from the top was spectacular. Whilst the Hema map we were using showed a through route, it was beginning to rain and being solo, discretion took precedence and we re-traced our steps. Turns out it was a wise move in any case as a chat to a ranger later in the day revealed we would have hit a locked gate at the other end and had to turn around anyway.
For some reason the very last 20 metres to the carpark at Tommy's Rock Lookout were barred to easy access
A quick video of the last section of the run up the hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxhWfEDy ... er&list=UL
Allin all a fun couple of days, with a few tracks off to the side worthy of future investigation, especially around Mt Pikapene.
Comment