Ethel Cowan, New South Wales, Australia
By
Geocaching Australia on 09-May-11. Waypoint TP5801
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | TrigPoint |
| Container: | Other |
| Coordinates: | S33° 35.892' E151° 10.398' (WGS 84) |
| 56H 330506E 6280897N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 206 m |
| Local Government Area: | The Hornsby |
/151.1733,-33.5982,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
Ethel TS1895
Official name of this Trig Station as per NSW Department of Lands is: Ethel.
Serial number is: TS1895.
Last Inspected on: No Data.
Elevation is: 202 metres.
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 access.
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 placing 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.
Hints
Pebff gur oevqtr bire gur serrjnl naq gura sbyybj gur rqtr bs gur ebnq oruvaq gur envyvat. |
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Decode |
Logs
I was nearby and thought a quick detour might get me there. Hmm. The first stages, down to the freeway and along the safe side of the armco were ok. Then I came across a perfectly formed stairway and concrete path. "This is looking easy". But at the end of the path; nothing.
A couple of hundred meters of slow progress through dense scrub devoid of any tracks and the old cairn appeared. It hasn't changed much from the previous descriptions but the python wasn't home. For the return journey, I tried to follow the rocky areas visible in the sat photos. It was a bit easier; just a bit.
Long sleeves, long pants and gloves are highly recommended for this one. It's something like swimming breaststroke through prickles. Satisfying once completed though.
Looking back through the Trig logbook; Found 1420, Thursday, 16/8/1984 and photographed. But as mentioned elsewhere, all those photos got thrown out. So would love to come back and reprise a Find here (Without creating another fiasco
)First you have to get down to the Freeway after going over the bridge, not that hard but it takes a bit of care. Once down you have to walk along the Freeway, please stay behind the Armco for added safety, mind you it is still a nervous experience with all the traffic zooming past you at high speed.
At the end of the Armco you can take the stairs to the top near the traffic camera. From there you have a very tough bush bash to the Trig, you will lose a lot of blood, sweat and tears getting there. Some of that vegetation has very sharp needles and/or thorns and there is no discernible easy way so push your way thru.
In high temperatures this is paradise if you are a snake so beware as most of the time you cannot see your feet!
The Trig itself is a very well preserved cairn the mast has long burnt out but the vanes are still lying on top quietly rusting away. On one of them you can barely make out the name "ETHEL" but it does not show on the photo as it is too faint.
Then do the whole thing in reverse and get out of there. I am in two minds whether this should be archived as it is illegal for pedestrians to walk on the Freeway and of course there is a chance that you could be on camera at any time, potentially alerting the police. I did wear my Hi-vis vest and Hi-vis hat to try to pretend that I was there on official business, don't know if it worked but in any case it made me visible to the oncoming traffic.
Months later after rogerw3 published it with coords I saw blossom and strike-a-light's log for it. Follow the highway! How obvious! Today we'd been up the Central Coast and decided to drop by for what we thought would be a quick little walk. Parked at Cowan station and crossed the tracks then the freeway again. At the end of the bridge there's an obvious gap where you can scramble down to the edge of the road behind the Armco railing. Felt a bit dodgy walking along there and if the police stopped us I was just going to say we'd got lost on the way back from Jerusalem Bay!
There was a short bit next to the big electronic sign where we had to dash along the edge of the road with no barrier and then at the base of the sign we found an amazing sight. A set of concrete steps and a paved path up the hill! We thought this could take us all the way but it only went as far as a box where they probably programmed the sign. We were then about 200 metres shy although our GPSr was playing up and saying 2km! This was the worst bit, the bush here is very thick and spiky and I bashed a path for the boy to follow. It was only when we got to the top of the rise that I realised the trig was 100 metres to the east so we cut through there, jumping over the low fence and finding our way to the cairn.
Just as described by the previous finders but without the large diamond python. After the epic struggle to get there we snapped out pics and left quickly. We cut a new diagonal path back coming across some open rock with the initials CB carved many years ago. Came out near the end of the paved path and then had an easy run back to the bridge.
Not recommended without long pants and long sleeves and probably a bushfire. Was considering archiving this but will let it stand. You have been warned!
(We parked at Cowan railway station and set off along the Great North Walk to cross the freeway. Once over that, we headed a short distance through the bush to get to the flat easy going next to the freeway, but on the other side of the barrier of course.)
There is a huge beautiful stone cairn but the pole has long ago burnt down. The 3 metal sides that made up the vane are scattered on top of the cairn and as I lifted one bit up to look, we spotted a fabulous python sheltering underneath! She raised her head and felt the air but it was pretty cold so she was rather slow and sleepy. I quickly replaced her shelter and she settled back down to sleep while we took various photos and then headed back down the hill.
I'd say this is an easy find but the cross-country part of the walk is a bit tougher.
