Chaelundi Campground to Guy Fawkes River:
It is a long and bumpy drive out to
Chaelundi Campground where there are two groups of campers sitting
miserably around by smoky campfires when we arrive and quickly head
off along the escarpment track.
Initially, it is flat and goes through
open forest to a lookout near Chaelundi Falls - very broken falls
that are barely visible from the viewing area. Ahead we can see
Chaelundi Bluff. We pass by the side track to Chaelundi Bluff and
continue on the escarpment track which offers scant views to Jordan's
Track - a fire trail that runs steeply down ridges to Guy Fawkes
River. There is one section of the fire track that is very steep and
slippery on hard dirt with loose gravel over the top and we think it
will be along way down if it is like this all the way. I pick up a
stick to use as a walking stick.
Wild horses
However, it turns out the steep bit is
over relatively quickly and the descent gets easier. I carry my
stick all the way down but do not need to use it again. We have
lunch part way down.
Looking down on Guy Fawkes River valley
At the river, it takes us a little
while to find any tracks but eventually after walking about through
horrible invasive weeds, we pick up a horse track heading downstream.
It takes us a little while to "think like horses" and we
don't really get good at it the first day so lose the track a few
times. At some point, we cross the river and pick up a good horse
track and follow it along to the Aberfoyle River junction. We take
our shoes off and wade across the Aberfoyle River some point upstream
from the junction with Guy Fawkes and have another snack. Doug has a
swim but I am waiting for end of day to swim as I figure I will just
get sweaty again.
We decide to walk on for another hour
before finding a sandy bank to camp on by the river. It is pleasant
walking along the river and there are some lovely big gum trees with
wide spreading branches but the extent of the invasive spread is very
disturbing. Pretty much the entire river valley is overgrown with
blackberry, farmers friend (some friend!), nettles, and other
invasive weeds, trees and shrubs.
Guy Fawkes River
Near a small cliff band by Combalo Spur
we miss crossing the river and have to push our way down a thicket of
nettles and other invasive plants to a steep spot on the river where
we manage to wade across with pants off as the water is crotch deep.
Once across this I walk past a human shit with toilet paper right on
the river gravel!
Nearby is a nice sandy bench to camp on
by the river but we deem the sandy spot too close to the excrement so
we move along a little to a finger of pebbles that sticks out into
the river and camp there. I have a very quick dip as it is now cool
and the sun has disappeared behind the ridge.
River valley walking
We have drinks and dinner and enjoy the
moon rise over the river. It is not wilderness down here as the
invasives have destroyed too much native vegetation but it is nice to
think we are far away from other people and there are no roads!
View from camp
Guy Fawkes River to Combalo Track to
Chaelundi Campground
I get into my sleeping bag overnight
although Doug just lies underneath. It is not too cold but the tent
gets quite dewy. We have breakfast and coffee by the river before
packing up. We know we have to cross the river many times this
morning before we reach the spur where we hope to find the track back
up to the escarpment. The Combalo Track is not marked on the
topographic map and is marked in two different places on the National
Parks sketch maps so it is a little difficult to know where we will
find it. Both Doug and I have marked the map where we think we will
find it. Mine, about 1 to 1.5 klms further downstream than Doug's.
Morning mist
Now that we have got the hang of
thinking like a horse, we follow the track easily. However, we do
have to cross the river either 6 or 8 (we can't remember which) times
before we start the climb up. The track is good all the way and
again through pleasant territory except for the bloody invasives. We
come across three large herds of horses which are quite a sight to
see and hear as they thunder past us and snort a warning. They all
look much fitter, healthier and with glossier coats than horses you
see in paddocks.
Brumbies
Travel seems a bit slow as we only
manage to walk 300 to 800 metres or so without taking shoes and socks
off, crossing the river, and then putting shoes and socks on again.
None of the crossings are over knee deep. We pass by Doug's spot to
find the track and continue along the river eventually crossing back
to the east bank for the last time and thinking that we either find
the track or go up anyway.
We have lunch by the river with horses
nearby on the other bank and then, a mere minute up the track from
the river, I find the trail marker sign. It is a steep grind up
about 600 metres with barely a switchback all the way, but we plug
away. Once away from the river the invasive weeds are gone and we
can put shorts on. It takes about 2 hours to climb from the river to
the Escarpment Track and then 10 minutes or so to saunter back to the
car.
Flowers along the river
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