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Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Wed 07 Aug, 2019 11:47 am
by Arnold
Hi, we’re heading to Mt Bowen in a few weeks. Does anyone have any recent experience there, and can indicate the current conditions please?

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Wed 07 Aug, 2019 12:44 pm
by rowdy
I was there in mid July hiking the Thorsborne Trail and conditions were dry but all the creeks were flowing well so we had no trouble getting water. It didn't rain for at least the 7 days we were in the area. I haven't followed the weather since we left.

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Wed 07 Aug, 2019 1:01 pm
by rowdy
This was Mt Bowen from Zoe Bay one morning, that was about as much cloud as we saw all week.

Mt Bowen from Zoe Bay.jpg

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Thu 08 Aug, 2019 8:09 am
by Arnold
Thx rowdy

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Thu 08 Aug, 2019 8:29 am
by Aardvark
Don't underestimate how cold it can be in the saddle before the summit, if you are staying there overnight.

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Mon 20 Dec, 2021 11:46 am
by Champion_Munch
Hi all, I will be heading to Hinchinbrook Island in June, and plan to summit Mt Bowen while there (my parents will be joining me for the Thorsborne trail, but not Mt Bowen). My rough plan is as follows:

Day 1 - Ferry to Nina Bay
Day 2 - Nina Bay to Bowen North Saddle
Day 3 - summit Bowen, return to Little Ramsey Bay
Day 4 - Little Ramsey Bay to Zoe Bay
Day 5 - Zoe Bay to Mulligans Falls
Day 6 - Mulligans Falls to Ferry

Can anyone who has climbed Mt Bowen via Warrawilla creek help share likely walking times for:

1. Nina Bay to North Saddle (overnight pack)
2. North Saddle to Bowen summit return (day pack)
3. North Saddle descent to Little Ramsey Bay (overnight pack)

Any other tips etc for the summit would be appreciated. Aardvark - how cold does it get on the Saddle? Are we talking single digits Celcius in Winter? Colder??

Thanks!

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Mon 20 Dec, 2021 9:22 pm
by Aardvark
I never recorded the temperature while we were there but i do recall, and have a photo of, us wearing beanies and gloves. We were hammocking. There was a fog around at night.
I believe it only took us a little over an hour to the summit from the saddle. I'm less certain about the time from Little Ramsay Bay. It was nearly 20 years ago now. I have a vague recollection of it taking us about 5 or 6 hours travel time to the saddle.

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Tue 21 Dec, 2021 1:48 pm
by Champion_Munch
Thanks Aardvark. Sounds like I'll need to bring some warmer gear!

How do you rate the difficulty of the Mt Bowen climb (exposure/technical) to other climbs in SEQ?

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Tue 21 Dec, 2021 8:33 pm
by Aardvark
I wasn't really into photography much back then. I wish now that i had some photos of that trip.
I recall soon after leaving the saddle that it got scrambly quite soon. Probably the most exposure in that first bit of ascent. But not scary like.
After flattening out somewhat it was quite vegetated and followed a narrow ridge. I wouldn't suggest it has the sort of exposure you'd get climbing Logans ridge on Barney. There are no multi metre vertical sections with no vegetation. Probably more like SE ridge. Drops nearby but easy enough to focus on your path and ignore the exposure.
But it was a long time ago and my only visit so far.
We also climbed Nina Pk, Mt.Diamantina and Mt.Stralloch.

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Fri 24 Dec, 2021 6:28 pm
by Champion_Munch
Thanks for your detailed description, Aardvark. Very reassuring. From reviews I'm guessing the approach to the saddle up Warrawilla Creek is like an extended (and tropical) Barney Gorge ascent, lots of boulders and some steep bits?

Re: Hinchinbrook - Mt Bowen - current conditions

PostPosted: Sat 25 Dec, 2021 10:07 am
by Aardvark
The last climb to the saddle is the steep bit. The creek is mostly rock hopping and a few waterfalls but none too big. There is some distance.
The key thing to tackle is the correct route. There is one particular junction where you need to ensure you take the main creek (right) and not the tributary that Warren Macdonald took many years ago now. I recall the tributary, when i was there, was no smaller than the main creek. There was a cairn though.
Warrens' book tells about how he went the wrong way, camped in the tributary because it got too late, and in the morning, went to take a leak, pulled on a boulder and it landed on him. He was pinned there for some time and lost a leg (or two) because of it. 'One step beyond' might have been the name of the book.