Mitchell Mountain West Peak Queensland, Australia
By
Geocaching Australia on 27-Jan-23. Waypoint TP13509
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | TrigPoint |
| Container: | Other |
| Coordinates: | S28° 3.558' E152° 23.390' (WGS 84) |
| 56J 440039E 6896078N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 1153 m |
| Local Government Area: | Southern Downs |
/152.389833,-28.0593,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
This is a TrigPoint Cache. There are no physical geocache containers with logbooks or swap items relating to this cache here. To log a find on the Geocaching Australia website, you will need to include a picture of the TrigPoint, along with your GPS receiver or your geocaching name on something and (preferably) yourself.
Mitchell Mountain West Peak
Robert Dixon completed a land survey of some of South East Queensland in 1840 and the West Peak of Mount Mitchell was referenced. For this survey, the summit was cleared of all but one tree, see image of sketch. Archived survey notes reference 1875 and an installation date of 1893. A major triangulation survey of South East Queensland was completed in 1893. This would have been a grand site in its day. In 1929 the station was rebuilt and new disks fitted. Also in 1929 a trig station was placed on the East Peak (you can see where a cairn once sat but it's been unpiled and nothing of interest is left). At this site however there is a large partial cairn with the 'new' discs. The replacement post has perished and the discs are on the ground. This one is not easy to get to. Please take the access notes seriously. Terrain 4.5
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Trig points are generally located at the top of hills or points of prominence in the landscape. Many provide unique views and challenges, with some being difficult to get to. They are usually marked by a beacon set vertically above a durable ground mark.
These points were regarded as valuable to surveyors, providing reference points for measuring distance and direction, and assisting in the creation of maps.
You are encouraged to leave a description of your journey in your log to help others in finding the trig point.
Please respect local laws and regulations when searching for trig points. If you believe that a trig point is located on private property or in a dangerous location, you may archive the cache, by clicking on Log this Cache and place an "Archived" log on the Geocaching Australia website.
If you feel that you can add to the description of this trig point or adjust the difficulty / terrain ratings, please feel free to edit this cache and amend the information suitably. Vandalism of the cache description or other information will result in your account being terminated.
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ACCESS: Parking and facilities are available at The Crest, S 28° 02.978 E 152° 23.623. The hike is ~12km return. Allow 6 hours, this includes visiting the East Peak Lookout. The usual day hike precautions and equipment apply but on top of this I recommend long pants, gaiters, long sleeves and gloves. Make your way across the highway where you will start your ascent. Follow this well trodden path until you see a DANGER sign on the left of the track at S 28° 03.678 E 152° 23.777. Back-track about 20-30m and point yourself towards the listed coordinates. Now leave the track and follow the ridge-line. This approximately 700m took me about an hour. Return same route. DO NOT STRAY TOO FAR FROM THE RIDGE-LINE. See Off-track images in the gallery to see what the forest is like. This section is NOTHING like the walk to the East Peak. Know your limits.
WARNING: Gympie Gympie on this mountain is prolific. Please familiarise yourself with what it looks like and appropriate first aid. Carry tape or pre-waxed hair removal strips. I mostly stayed on the ridge-line and didn't have to negotiate bypassing any. I did however see a lot of this plant either side of the ridge-line.
Gympie Gympie: Once stung, never forgotten (australiangeographic.com.au)
Hints
Xabj lbhe yvzvgf. |
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Decode |
Logs
It took us a bit over an hour to get here once we left the main track. The return journey was a little under an hour - it’s always quicker going back.
Thank you
The inspiration to visit this summit was this old map..
Trigonometrical Survey Moreton Bay QLD 1840
https://flic.kr/p/2o4LMQ9
See also added survey sketch from 1848.
"James Burnett's drawing of the trig station on Mount Mitchell, summit cleared of all but one tree. This is from the surveyor's field notes of 4 March 1848. (Department of Natural Resources and Water)"
Before heading to the West Peak I decided to visit the East Peak. The views did not disappoint! I stayed here for a while soaking up the time alone.
On the return route to the off-track waypoint I clearly saw what lay ahead. The West Peak. Once at the sign I left the track to follow the ridge line up. Being off track in this environment is an entirely different world to following a well trodden path. Around trees, through bushes, over rocks, annoying vines, but.. a much greater adventure! I was fortunate to have no Gympie Gympie on the ridge. Away from the ridge though there were lots of it! A sea of pain awaited if you fell into it!
After about an hour off track I made it to the summit. There you are! A very large partial cairn and large discs sitting next to it. A great find for this survey nerd! I explored up here for nearly an hour. A surprise was found that I used to setup a GC Letterbox Hybrid cache, but that’s another story.
The way back to the track was the same as the way up and just as slow. Once at the track it was easy going and an uneventful descent.
A great piece of history discovered and shared on this platform. Thanks for the cache
