Mount Halifax Peak - 1063m Crystal Creek, Queensland, Australia
By GC_Diver on 12-Jan-21. Waypoint GC9104J

Another great day out on Mt Halifax. In a group of 7 people we made our way up the mountain on a nice clear day with only 27C degrees, hiking past the gorgeous Rope Falls and having fun at the rope sections. We made really good progress and it felt much easier compared to when I had placed the cache. The cache is in perfect condition but just in case I have added a write in the rain log sheet. We had left the parking location at 7:00, reached the peak by 11:45 and were back at the cars at 16:45 after a generous swimming break at the falls.

Almost gave up before we looked under a rock and found it! Introducing my friends to geocaching! TFTC!!

This summit was on our hiking to do list as we make our way north on the tail end of our lap of the country.

This morning we set off from Rollingstone camp and made our way to the summit. It took us about 3 hours to reach the top.

While sitting at the lookout I realised I hadn't checked for caches up here. Was happy to see one available 2m from where I was sitting with a pencil available to sign as I had no pen.

On our way down we met Dutch the dog who swims and hikes with people here. He lead us back to our van, then sat down to wait for his next companions to lead back the falls.

I'd been eyeing these off on my last visit but things didn't come together then. Migrating north for the winter this year and I had plenty of time to revisit past plans. So an overnight Mt Halifax - Godwin's peak it was! Set off from Pace's Rd at 11am Friday. I wasn't winning any land speed records with my overnight bag, but after a slow and steady clamber I finally made it to the top about 2.45pm, completely wrecked. How good are the ropes though!! Very welcome rest of the legs as the arms did some work.
What more can I say? It's steep, it's tough, it hurts. The views are incredible (although a little hazy today).
After setting up camp I returned to grab the cache. A quick find right where it was supposed to be - phew. Then it was off on a water collection trip and a relaxing afternoon before an early evening. Not a great night, with the winds blowing an absolute gale and a bit of rain around. The tent held up perfectly and I didn't even get smooshed by a falling tree, which is all I could think of at 8pm, 10pm, 12pm, 2am, 4am... I'd been hoping of a magical sunrise from up here in the morning, but with the rough weather that wasn't to be either. I packed up nice and early and moved to the more sheltered Mickle's lookout before stopping for breakfast.
Then it was onwards and downwards to Godwin's peak. Glad I did it in this direction and not the other way round!
I won't be returning anytime soon I don't think but was it worth it? Absolutely! TFTC

Saw clouds and a book

Awesome tyftc

10 degrees makes one hell of a difference!

6 months ago I made it half way up (to Bridal Falls) and had to leave my 3 companions to continue their journey while I retreated to the bottom with my tail between my legs.

I had been dreading this day. I felt nauseous this morning.

Today I was no fitter, no thinner and no younger, but I made it with relative ease.

22° C as opposed to 32° C made my 9/10 to halfway, a mere 6/10 today. I don't think that the two walks up the Daniela track of Castle Hill this week would have made that much difference. Today Halifax didn't even seem that steep!

A muggle friend and I left the parking spot at 7am and reached the cache without incident at 10:30am. I was feeling so spritely I even managed to do some star jumps at the point which previously had me in the foetal position. I would even go as far as to say I enjoyed the walk. Maybe Mount Bartle Frere isn't out of the question after all.

I especially enjoyed the rope sections and the eerie forest of the false peak. From Echo Point we enjoyed great views to the coast before summitting in the clouds.

After signing the log, having a quick look at camp 4 and a leech removed from my friend we began our descent. It was slow going as it had begun to rain and it was even more slippery under foot. We had some minor deductions for a hand on the ground but we kept our shorts clean. I had two minor twinges of cramp during such a slip but on the whole we both felt good. After a swim at rope falls we made it back to the car at just 2pm. A little different from the previous attempt where the boys signed the log at 1:30pm. Nice to home at such as reasonable hour.

Thanks GC_Diver for challenging me with this. I always knew I was determined. I now know that determination can't beat an NQ summer and to choose my battles more wisely in the future.

Wow {FTF} that left me (us) in pure sweat. I have done a few climbs in the past but prep for this one only got started the night before....
With the crew assembled of Frullet, BenM70, Burgo78 and myself we headed in.
The mountain was definitely unrelenting, the distance continually kept going and the constant wet, loose and slippery sections throughout made the going a lot slower.
The sight of ropes caught our attention and so did terrain as it rose sharply. The halfway point left one member unable to continue. The track from here got steeper and slippery as more rope climbs and river treks and lets not forget the non-stop up the hill down the hill sections. From the false peak we headed down (yay that means more climbing.....) and up then finally reached the top!!!
With the log signed and a quick breather we were off. The way down was a lot quicker but had the risk of slipping. Everyone started slowing down as the pain increased but a quick swim in the freezing rope falls spot had us refreshed and ready to crack on. Finally the track flattened and the pace picked up. The sight of the car had us smiling and a quick check of the sign in sheet let us know everyone made it out.
Thanks GC_Diver for this one.

Yes FTF!!!!
This has bugged quite a few people not claiming the FTF!
at the MEGA the other day it was brought up a few times.
What a great hike, quite challenging and the view's are amazing and the rope climbs were awesome! To anyone who isn't fit enough to reach the summit at least walk in to see the amazing swimming holes at the base. Thankyou GC Diver for the challenge and the steep climb.

A little video of the journey to halfway.
The footage does not do the steepness justice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR08pEqHNznEHrua58Eqg3CJ7u0qZUbWs-LGIys82z8phRYeqRJVXQEKdIs&v=iS_Hk7KjVOQ&feature=youtu.be

The FTF has been claimed by the survivors of the GC expedition team that fought their way up the mountain today. Hope you enjoyed it despite the pain in the knees and arms, as for me this is one of the most beautiful hikes I have done so far in QLD, only topped by Hinchinbrook Is. To be honest, it’s also a bit of an achievement for me to be the reason that Frullet is back from caching retirement and having beaten burgo78 at least once Sorry mate, when you are attempting this cache once more I might join you

This {FTF} smiley was certainly going to be one heck of a demanding physical and mental test. I’m the wrong side of 50, carrying too many kilo’s as I enjoy what i cook and don’t mind the odd one or 3 Bundy’s n coke and don’t have much of a fitness regime, but i have been using caching as a way to get out of the house and hopefully pick up a bit of exercise for several years now. I’ve done many hikes around the region including the Pinnacles with burgo78
As we both know what a mission that series was, we knew that this peak was a step above, over 300m higher. We knew we needed a support crew and a plan. I got a few pointers of a hiking friend and stocked up on supplies including hydration and magnesium supplements and we engaged Energiser Bunny Frullet and Greyfire326 to help.
The mountain was more demanding than we anticipated with the unrelenting wet, loose and slippery bouldering sections and lengthy steep rope assisted section knocking burgo78 for 6 by the halfway point. It took us from 8am till 10am to get to that point and almost three and a half hours later my remaining steely resolve was wilting with a hundred metres to go when the “False Peak” had dropped away to make us struggle up one last battle. We signed the log in a memorial to our fallen comrade and added a pencil. It then took us an hour and a half to get back to where Mark went down.
Was in a great deal of pain on the way down as constant steps down on slippery or loose rocks meant one of my knees seemed to be locking up so i had to favour the other. Pretty hard to do with gravity and muscle fatigue calling the shots but we made it back for a well deserved swim at rope falls. The perfect spot to cool and wash down . It was a lot flatter after but was relieved when we got to the car and found Mark had managed to taxi out. Thanks GC_Diver for not killing us this time. Not looking forward to tomorrow. My most physically demanding find to date.

First to Fail - You beat me GC Diver as my attempt ended at Bridal Falls. Certainly worth the T rating.

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I’d heard this was in the pipeline but wasn’t too disappointed when QPWS permission wasn’t yet obtained given the time of year in sweltering NQ.

The last time I’d attempted a hike like this (The Pinnacles) was over a year ago and that had me in agony. I just made it back to the car on 1% battery, with no water, no torch and in the dark after contemplating calling the SES several times.

This time Ben and I called Frullet out of retirement as insurance. The energiser bunny could send for help if we were stuck on the mountain. At the 23rd hour young, spritely Greyfire was added to the fold as an assistant each was better than 1 between 2.

The week since publication filled me with fear and even had me feeling nauseous at the prospect. I did some research and found that the walk gains about 1000m in elevation over 5.5km. Not dissimilar from Walsh’s pyramid which I managed a few years and a few kilos ago at 800m over 3.3km.

We made a plan to meet at Mt Low at 6:15am and carpool and the journey began. So engrossed with the chat we missed the turning and we’re almost in Ingham before we realised. Swift U turn and we were back on track. Not a great start to the day after Ben also left his phone in his car.

So after our detour with the bag filled with power aide, electrolyte tablets, magnesium tablets, gastrostop, gummie bears and toilet paper we began our ascent at 8am.

It wasn’t long before we were cursing the CO, but spurred on by the fun rock hop beside the waterfalls and along the creek bed I felt invigorated. We moved onto the first rope section which was also enjoyable despite the arms burning. One thing I hadn’t considered during the week was arm cramp.

At around 11am we reached camp 1 and I took the weight off my feet while Frullet did a water stop and Ben admired Bridal Falls. Here I re-read the page description and a Wanderstories article on the walk (amazing that we had signal) and saw we were only at 519m elevation despite being only a kilometre as the crow flies from the cache. About halfway .

On getting up from my slumber both legs locked up. Afforded some time from the crew and with their encouragement I made it an extra 100m before the cramp kicked in again and I had to pull the pin. Disappointing but not unexpected. I guess age and being inactive catches up on us all. Not wanting to be crawling through the front door on all fours later this evening I think the decision was for the best. Hopefully the boys make it and find me down the bottom without need for an airlift.

Edit: So after writing the log and checking out Bridal Falls for myself I made it down quite uneventfully. Some points of the journey had me contemplating a return in winter (like that’s a thing in Townsville) as I was feeling okay but during the short up sections of the down the legs were screaming at me no way.

Getting closer to the parking coordinates there were plenty of families swimming in the beautiful water holes. One guy asked me “how was the swim?” To which I replied I hadn’t been swimming and this was just sweat. It was so humid it was just dripping off me from very early on - Something I should get checked out perhaps as the heart, lungs and strength in my legs felt okay. It was just the cramps making my legs inoperable. When I got home I weighed myself and found that I was 2kg lighter than this morning despite drinking 4.5L of water meaning I'd lost 6.5L!

I did stop for a dip to cool off at Gorge Falls before making the final few metres to my pickup. The high stepping required to pass a fallen tree just reminding me of my sound decision as my legs pinged.

No vomiting or crawling though the door this time. That’s a positive if failing to get the find is a big negative.

Thanks GC_Diver for creating and placing this challenging find.

Published