Access & Environment at Climbing Areas Galleries

Cathedral Ranges Post fires inspection 11/11/09 : On the 11th November 09, Glenn Tempest and myself visited the Cathedral Ranges to meet with one of the Rangers and to assess the area in terms of climber access, especially for the Nth Jawbone area. A 35 degree day made sure it was hard work and although we wanted to visit more areas, the heat and time involved was prohibitive. What you see here are a selection of photos taken of the areas we did vist. From taking first pictures of the Jawbones and Cerberus road, we head up to the The Sugarloaf and Sugarloaf saddle area. The fire has probably burnt the hottest here on the Sugarloaf side and there is every likelihood that this may stay closed a little longer than other areas - due to the fact that it receives a huge amount of traffic being a group climbing area. We didn't check out the track itself as we had the Nth Jawbone planned but from what we could see, it's not in a good state. Onto the Nth Jawbone which is a very popular cliff. As you will see from the photos, the fire burned progressively hotter as it got near the cliff. Main walking track has been cleared and is in quite good condition. When you leave the track to access the climbers pad to the base, it's another matter though. Always steep and showing signs of erosion then, it is now completely loose and will not handle any traffic. A definite realignment will be required. Base of the cliff is burnt and quite a lot of rubble where rock has exploded lower down. We didn't climb the cliff face but except for some of the lower rock, it doesn't look like the fire has impacted it too much. Right end of the Nth Jawbone around Bathtime Gurgles is very loose and the previously used descent track is now non existent. A new pad will need to be established. From a brief assess of the area, it looks very possible to descend via the gully. This might make the walk a little longer but time wise maybe the same, as the gully is much more stable,with little fire impact. Access to this would be further back on the summit, walking out to the saddle and then down. I will be continuing discussions with Parks Victoria regarding climbers pads and realignment of them. At some point, I am sure we will need some volunteers to help with marking and maybe some stabilising. Keep up to date via here and cliffcare page on our website www.vicclimb.org.au AT A GLANCE Parks Victoria projected opening of Christmas for some areas of the park Climbers pads should be realigned.

Cathedral Ranges Post fires inspection 11/11/09

On the 11th November 09, Glenn Tempest and myself visited the Cathedra ...

Updated: Nov 16, 2009 11:18pm PST

Native pines replanting at 'The Pines'Campground Araps :

Native pines replanting at 'The Pines'Campground Araps

Updated: Jun 19, 2009 9:05pm PST

Pharos Gully revegetation May 09 :

Pharos Gully revegetation May 09

Updated: Jun 19, 2009 9:02pm PST

ARAPILES -Bushrangers Bluff and Pharos Gully Tourist Track : Two areas earmarked for working bees this year. In order to combat erosion, dry stonework will be used at the base of Bushrangers Bluff. Pharos gully Tourist Track is heavily rutted with erosion creeping into the surrounding area. Revegetation using indigenous species will be undertaken.

ARAPILES -Bushrangers Bluff and Pharos Gully Tourist Track

Two areas earmarked for working bees this year. In order to combat ero ...

Updated: Jun 19, 2009 8:58pm PST

Arapiles Repair Project - Pharos Gully Stonework : The Pharos gully will undergo dry stonework in a planned working bee on Sunday 12th April. The track sees a lot of traffic and this coupled with its steepness means that erosion has well and truly taken hold. Work was started on this a couple of years ago - hopefully with the help of a Community Group Grant, lots of volunteer man and women power, the joint project between CliffCare and Parks Victoria - will see it finished.

Arapiles Repair Project - Pharos Gully Stonework

The Pharos gully will undergo dry stonework in a planned working bee o ...

Updated: Jun 19, 2009 8:46pm PST

Grampians Bush Camps : Bush campsites in the Victoria Valley, Grampians are curently closed until further notice. Many of the sites need to be rehabilitated by revegetation, delineating the camping area from the bush so as to control the creep of the campsites further into the bush. The bushfires and ensuing drought have meant that regrowth is very slow to take hold, Work will hopefully begin on them soon to have them open for 2008. UPDATE: 5 of the official bush camps in the Victoria Valley will be open for Easter 2008. These are in the Mt Rosea and Bundaleer area. They are Tower Hill,Stony Ck Rosea Track,Rosea Views,Stony Ck Road Two, Stony Ck Road One. Please see the map for location and observe the specific fire rules for each site. Other than these camps, bush camping is still banned in the Victoria Valley, possibly until later this year.

Grampians Bush Camps

Bush campsites in the Victoria Valley, Grampians are curently closed u ...

Updated: Mar 16, 2009 7:41pm PST

Flat Rock Walking Tracks Project - Nth Grampians :

Flat Rock Walking Tracks Project - Nth Grampians

Updated: Nov 26, 2008 2:51am PST

summerday valley repairs jul 08 :

summerday valley repairs jul 08

Updated: Jul 17, 2008 12:09am PST

Asses Ears :

Asses Ears

Updated: Jul 01, 2008 6:36am PST

Mt Rosea, Grampians :

Mt Rosea, Grampians

Updated: Feb 26, 2008 5:25am PST

TAIPAN/SPURT WALL TRACK WORKING BEE : The Taipan/Spurt Wall track in the Grampians is suffering from the traffic its receiving so a working bee has been arranged to tackle three areas in particular. As well as the track, the floor of Spurt Wall needs some stablizing to contain the soil/rocks. Working bee date 22nd September, 2007. Stay tuned. UPDATE: A successful day seeing all the work we had planned, finished. Massive thanks to all the volunteers who, before any work could commence had to haul all the timber up Flat Rock and then up the access track to Spurt Wall. The work we achieved will lessen the impact we have on the area and help to control the erosion issues. Thanks all!

TAIPAN/SPURT WALL TRACK WORKING BEE

The Taipan/Spurt Wall track in the Grampians is suffering from the tra ...

Updated: Sep 25, 2007 9:34pm PST

Red Rocks/Ben Nevis Bushfire damage : Following the recent bushfires at the Red Rocks/Ben Nevis area, a new access track has been established from the car park. Due to the damage and lack of groundcover, accessing Abseil Gully directly uphill from Hanglider sign across the slabs proved treacherous, with the loose soil. Please veer to the right at the sign and follows cairns.

Red Rocks/Ben Nevis Bushfire damage

Following the recent bushfires at the Red Rocks/Ben Nevis area, a new ...

Updated: Aug 02, 2007 4:57am PST

BUNDALEER : Following the 06/07 Bushfires in the Grampians, The Bundaleer was one of the areas badly damaged. Before it could be re-opened, the VCC with Parks Victoria organized a working bee to rehabilitate and re-align the access track to the cliffs. Also, due to a cultural heritage listing, a floating boardwalk and removable cairn(replacing a climbers rock cairn) was constructed under the climb 'Manic Depressive' so that climbers could still access the climb. This site is very important to the Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrong people and we thank them for allowing us to share the area. Please respectfully keep to the boardwalk.

BUNDALEER

Following the 06/07 Bushfires in the Grampians, The Bundaleer was one ...

Updated: Jul 25, 2007 6:18pm PST