TS5959 - Pinnacles The Pinnacles, New South Wales, Australia
By
Geocaching Australia on 02-Sep-09. Waypoint TP3423
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | TrigPoint |
| Container: | Other |
| Coordinates: | S29° 33.339' E152° 56.240' (WGS 84) |
| 56J 493929E 6730448N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 171 m |
| Local Government Area: | Clarence Valley |
/152.937333,-29.55565,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
A Trig Point is a virtual cache which requires a cacher to locate the Trigonometric Station at GZ.
A trig point (also known as a Trigonometric Station) typically consists of a black disc on top of four metal legs or concrete pillar, resembling a navigation beacon. It is also accompanied by a metal disc, which is located directly below the center point of the tripod or on top of the pillar itself.
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.
These points were regarded as valuable to surveyors, providing reference points for measuring distance and direction, and assisting in the creation of maps.
To log a find on the Geocaching Australia website, you will need to include a picture of the trig point, along with your GPS receiver and (preferably) yourself. Long distance / telephoto type pictures are against the spirit of this cache. You are encouraged to leave a description of your journey in your log to help others in finding the trig point.
The original collection of trig points has been sourced from Geoscience Australia and may contain inaccuracies.
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.
Addtional Information
Source: Geoscience Australia
Type: Horizontal Control Point
Elevation: 185.9
PID: 2946584
Other Information: Geoscience Australia
Directions:
- Park at the end of Pinacles Road - S29 32.922 E152 55.499
- Walk around locked gate. Follow the main 4wd track to S29 33.180 E152 56.124
- From here there are faint traces of an old vehicular track. Overgrown in places and the track will disapear and reappear.
- Where the fallen tree blocks the path, veer left and upwards to a rocky summit where the trig is located.
- Allow 1.5 hours to trek in and back again. Take a water bottle too.
Logs
Today we finally decided to head back for what turned out to be a fairly easy trek. We followed the firetail until we found the very faint tyre tracks heading up the hill. These didn't last too long so we started to bush bash towards the trick. Amazingly we cam across the tracks again a couple of times. Really puts into perspective the impact that we can have for these tracks still to be visible in so many places.
With a final scramble we were up on top and enjoying the amazing views, marred only slightly by what appears to be a newish quarry to the south east.
We found a bonanza of trig history here. There was a nice clean concrete pillar complete with name tag, the steel pillars from said pillar lying next to it. We also found the circular remnants of an old stone cairn, and nearby we found the wooden post and rusty vanes from the original cairn trig.
After enjoying the view for a bit, we headed back to the car satisfied with the afternoons work.
I made my way from Casino down the Summerland Way through miles of burnt out scrub. Turned off before I got to Grafton and headed towards Companhurst. Deviated to the Pinnacles area and parked as far as I could go down Pinnacles Rd.
Made my way around the locked gate and followed the track. Must have been a small quarry here once. Looks like a lot of exposed sandstone and there are a lot of unnatural piles of rocks – but the trees are slowly reclaiming their place. I knew I must be getting close to where I needed to leave the main track and head uphill. I could see what looked like an old vehicle track – just two parallel indentations in the side of the hill that lead upwards. Trees have almost reclaimed this old trail. So I followed them upwards. I started looking on the small flat hilltop to the west. A few good views from here, but no trig – so I retraced my steps for 100m or so then went east, up a small rocky slope and onto a small hilltop. There was our trig – the mast and vanes have fallen but are located on the ground nearby. The name plate reads: ‘Pinnacles T.S. 1973’ The pillar is in good condition. A lot of loose rocks close by – I’m thinking this TS must have been a rock cairn before 1973.
Now the views. Holy shit mate – they are awesome, considering it’s not too much effort to get here. I could see mountains of the New England area to the south and west, and I could see for miles towards Casino/Lismore. My peakfinder app even said I could see Mt Nardi from here, but I’m doubtful.
This happens to be my 100th trig find too. It’s only taken me 10 years! I hope I get out more often and it doesn’t take another 10 years to find my next centenary trig. I was really glad that this was number 100.
