Report by: Eric Caswell Date of Walk: 2nd April to 5th April 2021 (Easter weekend)
Walk Distance: TBA. Map Ref’s: Coricudgy Map & grid ref: grid 476-598, grid 527-633, Walk via Coricudgy Trig Point grid 520-649, Mount Barker grid 538-722, Halbrook grid 531-858.
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Day 1: 2/4/2021 Friday Walkers reported to Brian McGraths, who generously offered to drop us off and collect us at the completion of the walk. We did our pre-walk safety talk and sign on. We appointed a 2IC being Duncan Higgs and navigator Tony Rae, established who had the epirb and first aid kit, snake bite kit, and who were first aid trained. Brian also gave us the use of his satellite phone. We also established who had the GPS navigator, maps and compass.
All ready, Brian drove us to Kelgoola and we started walking at approx 09:30am. Part way up Coricudgy mountain we came across a fallen tree across the fire trail and a car with a note inside to say the owners were “canyoning north of Coricudgy mountain”. We walked to the top of the mountain collecting spring water on the way. On arrival at the top of the mountain 1200 meters high we made a group decision to proceed along the track closer to Mount Baker. Along the walk to Mount Baker (10km) into the forest we came across a lone canyoner who said he had delivered 80metres of rope and associated equipment near to where he was to go canyoning, we estimate approx. 30kg of gear and was on his way back to collect his wife and three year old, who were waiting at the trig point of Coricudgy, clearly a man on a mission.
Onward and upward we were guided to the millimetre by Tony Rae (the navigator) through an area of regrowth 100mm and above until we reached our campsite just short of middle hill.
Day 2: Up and walking by 08:00am up and over Mount Baker, to a point on a ridge above red creek through 500mm above regrowth all day. Set up camp before dark.
Day 3: 4/4/2021 Sunday Only 6km to get us down Red Creek to the Widden Trail, 08:00am start and eight hours later we had done 4km and stopped because we ran out of daylight. The going was slow to say the least as we had to navigate through sandstone blocks the size of four motor cars and navigate log …. Water falls and walk the creek with water up to knee height in some places at one stage we did 500m in two hours. Tony and Anthea shone in these conditions leaving Duncan and myself ”older fellows”. Tony excelled in the role of navigator but at days end we still had approx. 2kms to go to get out of Red Creek. Red Creek drops 300meters from top to bottom and fall of 3-4meters water falls to go with it. Very similar to the Grand Canyon at Blackheath with at least three different climate zones with 100 metre cliffs each side.
Day 4: 5/4/2021 Monday 08:00am start, two more difficult KM to go to get off Red Creek then down the Widden Trail to our pick up point. Tony the navigator who was also Tony the satellite phone communicator was in daily contact with Brian and day four was no different. Brian was on time as per plan to collect us to finish the adventure.
A huge thanks to all who made it happen and a special thanks to Brian who managed all logistics external to the walk. At the walks end we had plenty of well used muscle groups but no injuries.
Walk participants: Eric Caswell, Duncan Higgs, Anthea and Tony Rae Support Vehicle person: Brian McGrath.