Gallery of log for Calabash
With all the virgin trigs in the bush quickly being found in this area we thought we'd better try and find this one while it lasted. Well it wasn't easy and it's not for the faint hearted. I can't imagine a trail will be beaten to this one although it's needed as there's no track for the last 500 metres or so!
To go back to the start we pulled up at the end of Chilcott Road Berrilee and were faced with a quandary. The road ended with an open gate and two mailboxes. To the left was another open gate with a mailbox, clearly indicating this was private property. However there was a yellow sign pointing the way which said "Chilcott Fire Trail" which indicated public thoroughfare to the bush (I hope!) Anyway we drive through and past a couple of empty houses. A couple of dogs wandered up but no humans appeared, if they had I would have asked permission if it was needed.
Drove about 100m down the track to a point where I wasn't happy taking the 2WD any further and parked. Set off down the fire trail which seemed to be a minimalist road with only the vegetation cleared and no gravel or rock cuttings. After about 600 metres the fire trail ended and a path went on through the scrub. All along we were following the ridge as the sun got ever lower in the western sky. Followed this track for about another 600 metres before it petered out with a turn to the right which didn't seem to go anywhere. From there we followed stray wallaby tracks and tried to keep to the rocks. With 500m to go and the light fading we thought about turning back but pressed on.
Vague tracks appeared and disappeared then we headed downhill and up the other side through the thickest bush of all, not as bad as some spots we've been though. Once we got onto rocks again we made better progress and then reached the plateau where we spotted a man-made row of stones which seemed to point the right way. Another 70 metres on and the cairn was spotted just poking out of the scrub on the western side of the ridge.
It was a good eight feet (2.5m) high tapering in on top and virtually no rocks had fallen off. No sign of vanes or post, probably burned long ago. They could have been lying there though as the scrub was thick. Took our photos as the sun set and headed back.
We'd just reached the line of stones when we realised the GPS had been left on the cairn! Headed back to find it there, lucky we didn't realise it when back at the car! Still we thought we'd need it to get out of there. But by sticking to the heights of the ridge and to the rocky western side we got out of there in reasonable time.
Back at the car we headed back past the houses, saw lights on in one but thought the better of making ourselves acquainted at this hour, the gate was open so we got back to civilisation as it was getting quite dark.
Quite the experience!
To go back to the start we pulled up at the end of Chilcott Road Berrilee and were faced with a quandary. The road ended with an open gate and two mailboxes. To the left was another open gate with a mailbox, clearly indicating this was private property. However there was a yellow sign pointing the way which said "Chilcott Fire Trail" which indicated public thoroughfare to the bush (I hope!) Anyway we drive through and past a couple of empty houses. A couple of dogs wandered up but no humans appeared, if they had I would have asked permission if it was needed.
Drove about 100m down the track to a point where I wasn't happy taking the 2WD any further and parked. Set off down the fire trail which seemed to be a minimalist road with only the vegetation cleared and no gravel or rock cuttings. After about 600 metres the fire trail ended and a path went on through the scrub. All along we were following the ridge as the sun got ever lower in the western sky. Followed this track for about another 600 metres before it petered out with a turn to the right which didn't seem to go anywhere. From there we followed stray wallaby tracks and tried to keep to the rocks. With 500m to go and the light fading we thought about turning back but pressed on.
Vague tracks appeared and disappeared then we headed downhill and up the other side through the thickest bush of all, not as bad as some spots we've been though. Once we got onto rocks again we made better progress and then reached the plateau where we spotted a man-made row of stones which seemed to point the right way. Another 70 metres on and the cairn was spotted just poking out of the scrub on the western side of the ridge.
It was a good eight feet (2.5m) high tapering in on top and virtually no rocks had fallen off. No sign of vanes or post, probably burned long ago. They could have been lying there though as the scrub was thick. Took our photos as the sun set and headed back.
We'd just reached the line of stones when we realised the GPS had been left on the cairn! Headed back to find it there, lucky we didn't realise it when back at the car! Still we thought we'd need it to get out of there. But by sticking to the heights of the ridge and to the rocky western side we got out of there in reasonable time.
Back at the car we headed back past the houses, saw lights on in one but thought the better of making ourselves acquainted at this hour, the gate was open so we got back to civilisation as it was getting quite dark.
Quite the experience!
Rated: for Overall Experience.
