First thing of note is our gear list. Most of the things we take remains the same for each trip we do. There's always the mandatory items. But there are other parts of the list that vary from trip to trip. E.g. the clothing taken is often dictated by the temperate of the region and season during which the hike falls. This is the specific list for this trip. I don't think there's anything I've forgotten! We're not super light hikers, but we don't pack too heavy either.
Link to gear list
We took two topographic maps (1:25,000) with us:
- Barrington Tops 9133-1N
- Gloucester Tops 9233-4N
We loaded specific waypoints into two separate GPS units:
- Garmin eTrex
- Garmin GPSMAP62
We own a PLB which we also took with us and registered out hike details with the relevant authorities:
- GME MT410G
We set out on a Tuesday and planned to walk Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Day 1 - Lagoon Pinch to Wombat Creek Campsite
It was about a two and a half hour drive for us to the start of the walk at Lagoon Pinch. This is where we then left the car and set off on our journey up the Corker Trail. The trail didn't give us even a couple of minutes to ease into the hike - it was super steep from the first step! Slow and steady was our motto!
There were some trees down over the track at one point. Took a bit of negotiating .. one took the low road and slid across the logs on his butt. Others took the high road and climbed over. Some were more successful than others!
More uphill ....
We stopped for lunch once we were a little over half way to the end of the Corker Trail, and were rewarded with a beautiful view. The trees don't open up to a view very often as you're heading up the track, so it was nice to find a lunch spot that had a very open view.
The worst of the steepness was over by this point. It was still predominantly uphill until the end of the Corker, but not as sustained as it was for the first half.
It was recommended to us that we should check out the Selby Alley Hut on our way up the Corker Trail. It wasn't marked on the map, but we'd been given a rough idea of where we should look for a side track. The track wasn't very obvious, and you could miss it if you weren't paying close attention. The estimated GPS grid reference point we took of the side track turn off was somewhere around (56H 0355748, 6451361). You walk about 300m or so off the Corker Trail along a narrow bush track, and then across a log bridge to get to the hut. It was interesting to look inside. Would be a welcome refuge in bad weather! We signed the log book, which contained entries from 2009. The book was almost full - our entry was on the second last page.
There was a nice little creek running just next to the hut, with a small waterfall.
We finally made it to the top of the Corker Trail, and the intersection with the Link Tail to Gloucester Tops. We turned right at this intersection to get to the Wombat Creek Campsite. As you can see from the (blurry) sign, the campsite was only 300m from the intersection. The Wombat Creek Campsite wasn't marked on the topographic map we had. The estimated GPS grid reference point we took was (56H 0355559, 6452489).
We walked past the sign that indicated Wombat Creek was to the left, and found the pit toilet on the right hand side of the track just a little further ahead. We originally thought this was the campsite as its a roomy area and there was a campfire circle which we thought indicated people camped there. And when there is a pit loo, its nice to be near enough to it so that any night time journeys to it don't take too long! So we set up our tents there and started to get settled. We then headed back across the link trail and down a path to Wombat Creek to get some water.
It wasn't a deep creek when we were there, but it was deep enough, and flowing enough for us to be happy to get drinking water out of it. We treated our water with a Steripen and we were good to go.
We checked out the actual Wombat Creek Campsite on our way back up the hill, realising our tents weren't pitched in the actual campsite. There were fireplaces, and big logs etc to sit on which may have provided a bit more comfort. But it was quite dark and damp, so we were happier staying where we had already setup camp.
In all, it took us 5.5 hours to walk from Lagoon Pinch to Wombat Creek Campsite. That included 30 minutes for lunch, 30 minutes for the Selby Alley Hut side trip and very regular breaks in the super steep sections.
We had made our own spaghetti bolognese at home a few weeks prior to the walk and then dehyrated it. Since the first time we did this, it has been a regular on each subsequent trip. It's so delicious! We pack each individual serve in a separate snap lock bag. On arriving to camp, we started the process of rehydrating it by adding a bit of water to each snap lock. Over the afternoon we added more water as needed.
We brewed some tea, and cuppa soups and chatted for a while until it started to get cool and so then started a campfire. We don't get to have a campfire very often when out hiking so this was a rare treat!
Once ready for dinner, the spaghetti bolognese went into the pot to simmer for another 10 minutes or so. We usually bring some grated parmesan cheese to sprinkle on it as a treat, but unfortunately we forgot it this trip!! Some chocolate for dessert and we were ready to go to sleep.
Day 2
Our original plan for day 2 was to pack up camp and walk from Wombat Creek to Carey's Peak lookout. Then to head on to Junction Pools via Edward Swamp Track. And Day 3 was Junction Pools back to the Link Trail via Aeroplane Hill track, and then back down the Corker Trail to Lagoon Pinch. Unfortunately this wasn't to be.
In the morning we headed off to Carey's Peak before packing up camp. We just took the necessities with us (food, water, rain jacket and first aid kit etc). The below sign is at the intersection of the Corker Trail and The Link Trail. When looking at the sign as the photo is, Wombat Creek is to the right of the trail you can see.
There's a locked gate along the path that wasn't marked on the map. It's just before the Big Hole Track intersection.
We took the turn off from the main track to head out to the Carey's Peak lookout.
Before arriving at the actual lookout, there's an open area where Carey's Hut is located.
Following the sign from here, we headed up to the look out.
And the view was amazing!!!
From Carey's Peak we then headed back to Wombat Creek Campsite. The below sign is on the way back, at the Big Hole Track intersection with the Corker Trail. The locked gate is just to the right of this sign. While we were at this sign we had good mobile phone reception with an iPhone using Telstra. This may vary though so don't rely on it!
Due to unforseen circumstances, we were only able to make it to Carey's Peak on day 2. We then headed back to camp, packed our backs, and headed back down the Corker Trail to the car at Lagoon Pinch.
So there's no info on any of the other parts of the walk that we had intended on doing unfortunately! We will definitely be coming back to do it again some time, and will hopefully make it the whole way round next time.
We hope to be heading off on another adventure soon so check back for new articles!
Link to gear list
We took two topographic maps (1:25,000) with us:
- Barrington Tops 9133-1N
- Gloucester Tops 9233-4N
We loaded specific waypoints into two separate GPS units:
- Garmin eTrex
- Garmin GPSMAP62
We own a PLB which we also took with us and registered out hike details with the relevant authorities:
- GME MT410G
We set out on a Tuesday and planned to walk Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Day 1 - Lagoon Pinch to Wombat Creek Campsite
It was about a two and a half hour drive for us to the start of the walk at Lagoon Pinch. This is where we then left the car and set off on our journey up the Corker Trail. The trail didn't give us even a couple of minutes to ease into the hike - it was super steep from the first step! Slow and steady was our motto!
There were some trees down over the track at one point. Took a bit of negotiating .. one took the low road and slid across the logs on his butt. Others took the high road and climbed over. Some were more successful than others!
More uphill ....
.. and some pretty scenery to look at as we got our breath back!
We stopped for lunch once we were a little over half way to the end of the Corker Trail, and were rewarded with a beautiful view. The trees don't open up to a view very often as you're heading up the track, so it was nice to find a lunch spot that had a very open view.
The worst of the steepness was over by this point. It was still predominantly uphill until the end of the Corker, but not as sustained as it was for the first half.
It was recommended to us that we should check out the Selby Alley Hut on our way up the Corker Trail. It wasn't marked on the map, but we'd been given a rough idea of where we should look for a side track. The track wasn't very obvious, and you could miss it if you weren't paying close attention. The estimated GPS grid reference point we took of the side track turn off was somewhere around (56H 0355748, 6451361). You walk about 300m or so off the Corker Trail along a narrow bush track, and then across a log bridge to get to the hut. It was interesting to look inside. Would be a welcome refuge in bad weather! We signed the log book, which contained entries from 2009. The book was almost full - our entry was on the second last page.
There was a nice little creek running just next to the hut, with a small waterfall.
We finally made it to the top of the Corker Trail, and the intersection with the Link Tail to Gloucester Tops. We turned right at this intersection to get to the Wombat Creek Campsite. As you can see from the (blurry) sign, the campsite was only 300m from the intersection. The Wombat Creek Campsite wasn't marked on the topographic map we had. The estimated GPS grid reference point we took was (56H 0355559, 6452489).
We walked past the sign that indicated Wombat Creek was to the left, and found the pit toilet on the right hand side of the track just a little further ahead. We originally thought this was the campsite as its a roomy area and there was a campfire circle which we thought indicated people camped there. And when there is a pit loo, its nice to be near enough to it so that any night time journeys to it don't take too long! So we set up our tents there and started to get settled. We then headed back across the link trail and down a path to Wombat Creek to get some water.
It wasn't a deep creek when we were there, but it was deep enough, and flowing enough for us to be happy to get drinking water out of it. We treated our water with a Steripen and we were good to go.
We checked out the actual Wombat Creek Campsite on our way back up the hill, realising our tents weren't pitched in the actual campsite. There were fireplaces, and big logs etc to sit on which may have provided a bit more comfort. But it was quite dark and damp, so we were happier staying where we had already setup camp.
In all, it took us 5.5 hours to walk from Lagoon Pinch to Wombat Creek Campsite. That included 30 minutes for lunch, 30 minutes for the Selby Alley Hut side trip and very regular breaks in the super steep sections.
We had made our own spaghetti bolognese at home a few weeks prior to the walk and then dehyrated it. Since the first time we did this, it has been a regular on each subsequent trip. It's so delicious! We pack each individual serve in a separate snap lock bag. On arriving to camp, we started the process of rehydrating it by adding a bit of water to each snap lock. Over the afternoon we added more water as needed.
We brewed some tea, and cuppa soups and chatted for a while until it started to get cool and so then started a campfire. We don't get to have a campfire very often when out hiking so this was a rare treat!
Once ready for dinner, the spaghetti bolognese went into the pot to simmer for another 10 minutes or so. We usually bring some grated parmesan cheese to sprinkle on it as a treat, but unfortunately we forgot it this trip!! Some chocolate for dessert and we were ready to go to sleep.
Day 2
Our original plan for day 2 was to pack up camp and walk from Wombat Creek to Carey's Peak lookout. Then to head on to Junction Pools via Edward Swamp Track. And Day 3 was Junction Pools back to the Link Trail via Aeroplane Hill track, and then back down the Corker Trail to Lagoon Pinch. Unfortunately this wasn't to be.
In the morning we headed off to Carey's Peak before packing up camp. We just took the necessities with us (food, water, rain jacket and first aid kit etc). The below sign is at the intersection of the Corker Trail and The Link Trail. When looking at the sign as the photo is, Wombat Creek is to the right of the trail you can see.
There's a locked gate along the path that wasn't marked on the map. It's just before the Big Hole Track intersection.
We took the turn off from the main track to head out to the Carey's Peak lookout.
Before arriving at the actual lookout, there's an open area where Carey's Hut is located.
Following the sign from here, we headed up to the look out.
And the view was amazing!!!
From Carey's Peak we then headed back to Wombat Creek Campsite. The below sign is on the way back, at the Big Hole Track intersection with the Corker Trail. The locked gate is just to the right of this sign. While we were at this sign we had good mobile phone reception with an iPhone using Telstra. This may vary though so don't rely on it!
Due to unforseen circumstances, we were only able to make it to Carey's Peak on day 2. We then headed back to camp, packed our backs, and headed back down the Corker Trail to the car at Lagoon Pinch.
So there's no info on any of the other parts of the walk that we had intended on doing unfortunately! We will definitely be coming back to do it again some time, and will hopefully make it the whole way round next time.
We hope to be heading off on another adventure soon so check back for new articles!
Three of us have over the Anzac weekend completed the similar trek. We parked at Lagoon Pinch Friday morning and headed up the corker and yep its up. With the storm that came through the hunter valley that morning we did alter our plans a little for the weekend. We left about 10-30am, at about 1200m where it levels out we had lunch. We had coordinates for Selby and given the possibility of more rain we decided to stay at the hut. We had lunch at the hut and spend Friday afternoon walking to wombat creek and careys. We left most of our gear at the hut. After a night at the hut we spent Saturday morning going up to Black swamp and aeroplane hill. We came back to the hut for lunch and than headed back down the corker. One of our party decide to continue from lagoon pinch down to barrington guest house. We drove the car down to the picnic area at Williams river. After a cuppa and short walk/look around the area our mate arrived. We head back to Anna Bay havinga beer at Dungog. Our original plan was to leave a vehicle at the guest house and drive the second vehicle to mountaineer and complete that walk. but as mentioned the storm Friday dictated our plans. Well just have to go back and walk in from Mountaineer next time. First time up that way and looking forward to going back. Geoff
ReplyDelete