Pockets Hut.Ride and Walk
April 2005
Some of the Clayton lads set off on a blokes only tour of the northern end of the Kosciusko Natinal Park on our mountain bikes in April, our destination being Caves Creek/Cooleman Plains and Oldfield's hut, and was to be a mix of cycling and walking over 4 days.
Setting off from the Pocket Saddle end of the Tantangara road we meandered across the plains along the wheel ruts of the management trails. Our route on day one encompassed Pocket's Hut, south of Black Mountain and down into Cave Creek.
Pockets Hut.
After a brief stop at Pockets we then began the climb out of Pockets to get into the valley of Seventeen Flat Creek.
After about 10 minutes we stopped and looked at our driving licences - yep - it was confirmed we weren't born in 1980, we were actually born in the sixties, yet our brains kept telling us that the last time we had been out mountain biking like this we were conquering all before us - what was the problem now? Were our brake blocks dragging, perhaps our gearing had been changed since we last rode our bikes and some evil Tour de France team mechanic had altered the ratios on us! No! No matter what we tried to deduct as a reason it was the one that stared at us as we pondered each others appearances. Our reality was we were 40 something thinking that we were going on to 20 something! After the start of a trip, competitive testosterone levels washed out of us we both agreed that we were 40 something and that there was nothing wrong with stopping and looking at the veiw whenever we wanted to. Let those 20 somethings miss out on the vistas.
Bumping along the management trail along Seventeen Flat Creek
Mid afternoon saw us arrive at the Blue Waterholes camp area - yes we could have driven there but that wasn't the point of this trip now was it! Unfortunately wood for cooking fires is pretty limited locally in the Blue Water Holes area so on our way back from a short trip over to Coolamine hut we used our trusty steeds as pack horses to bring some back from further out of the valley.
Campsite beside
Cave Creek.
Rob loaded up with the dinner time wood.
After another short relax - and because it was still ages till dinner time we headed off downstream of our campsite into Clarke Gorge. The gorges in the area have been carved through the limestone, a stark geological contrast to the plains we had earlier cycled on previously that day. Adfter we had returned we felt that we had now deserved our dinner cooked on the open fire.
Clarke Gorge, downstream of the camp site
Comforting evening with a camp fire
The following morning we awoke to a crispy chill of just on freezing, but a fine day was to ensue. With our tummies wayed down with muesli we headed offfor the Northern part of the Cave Creek system. Nicole Gorge may not be as visually exciting as Clarke Gorge, but its what is found along the way that makes it exciting. Cooleman Cave and Murray Cave are found in this part of the system and entry is fairly friendly as long as you have a torch.
Entering Nicole Gorge
At the end of Colleman Cave (the easy bit about
40 metres in)
Rob inspecting the syphon formation at the end
of the easy section of Murray Cave (a couple of hundred metres in
from the mouth) After this point you get wet.
Oldfields hut with a looming Mt Bimberi as the
backdrop.
Atop
Bimberi after a hard slog and continual references to map and GPS.
The fires of 2003 obliterated trails and tracks on the lower slopes
and we didn't find anmy real tracks until we hit Bimberis spine, by
which time we could see the summit and didn't need a track!
Morning
sun on our campsite in front of Oldfield's Hut
