Carlon Head & Breakfast Creek - Blue Mountains NP

[Pika]

Hi everyone,

Just completed a day walk which included a disappointing failed attempt at Carlon Head.

A wet but fun day out.

Full report here:

http://walkingtheparks.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/carlon-head-breakfast-creek-walk-blue.html

Some pictures:













Enjoy.

[Turfa]

Great report, thanks for sharing !

That is a scary climb.....not the first,or last, to get a bit uncomfortable about it.

[tom_brennan]

Thanks for sharing.

The picture you have of "Someone else making the final climb courtesy of google." is mine (my now wife!), but it's not the final climb. Even if you had climbed that one, you'd still have one more pitch to go - you can see photos from http://ozultimate.com/tom/bushwalking/2 ... photos.htm for pics of all of the pitches. The condition of the chains/rungs has deteriorated since the Take a Walk book was published. A number of rungs have broken. It's always been a dodgy "walk" but it's more about climbing than walking these days.

[Though as an aside, it is possible to bypass the top cliffline by heading S]

[Pika]

Thanks for the photos.

I hope you don't mind me knocking off your photo?

Looking at the pics that second climb is the toughest (most exposed)?

I did not know you could bypass the cliff. Thanks for the info.

Just out of curiosity, did you or your wife have any trepidation at all tackling the climb?

[tom_brennan]

I hope you don't mind me knocking off your photo?

No, though maybe you can put an acknowledgement link to the photo - (c) Tom Brennan - http://ozultimate.com

Looking at the pics that second climb is the toughest (most exposed)?

The second (middle) climb is definitely the most exposed. However I'd say that the top climb is technically harder, as the move to get off the ground is overhung, as is one of the other moves. If my life depended on it(!), I could probably climb the middle pitch without the chain. I'm pretty sure I couldn't climb the top one without the chains.

I did not know you could bypass the cliff. Thanks for the info.

Only useful once you're above the middle cliff. If you walk under the top cliff to the south, you will find a couple of easy spots where you can walk up. I'm not aware of any way of bypassing the middle or lower cliffs.

Just out of curiosity, did you or your wife have any trepidation at all tackling the climb?

Yes, some - though partly due to a possible storm coming. She got to the second pitch and headed up it at a great rate. She wasn't keen on hanging around contemplating it, she just wanted to get it over with! She was half way up the third pitch by the time I got to the top of the second pitch! That said, it was back in 2007, when there were a few more rungs. I had climbed it the year before, so had a fair idea of what I was getting myself in for. I was mainly worried about her, but she was fine. I was also still doing a bit of rockclimbing at the time.

That said, I probably wouldn't have done it in the conditions that you look like you had. Sounds like everything was a bit wet. The wet rock and wet chain is a dangerous combo. Best done on cool (less sweat), dry days.

I returned last year to check on the condition of the chains, and wrote a report at the time
http://ozultimate.com/tom/bushwalking/2 ... /index.htm

[Pika]

Cheers Tom.

I edited the picture with the appropriate acknowledgement.

I am enjoying your blog. Great read.

[DarrenM]

Great report mate, and don't be so hard on yourself about heights. I'm hopeless with heights and have had similar issues over the years. I've often tried to force the fear out of myself but it always stays with me. Nice to read a trip report with honest thoughts.

Well done guys.

[tom_brennan]

I wasn't clear from your write up how much you want to test yourself on these sorts of things.

Have you done much exposed scrambling before? If not, Carlons is a big jump. A lot of very experienced walkers would baulk at it. If I was leading it, I would take a rope and harness and belay anyone who was not confident.

If you're familiar with off-track walking, then the other passes of Narrow Neck make for good walks with less exposure (but still testing). Things like:
- Tarros Ladders
- Walls Pass
- Dunphys Pass
- Harmil Ledge

There are various other walks in the Bluies that have some exposure, or scrambling, that are also worthwhile.

[Pika]

Thanks Darren.

Tom, little is any exposed scrambling before.

To be honest, scrambling does not seem to be an issue. Its the exposure, nothing on either side that bothered me.

Walking the small exposed ridge line to that middle climb was no real problem. Just scaling that exposed face.

I will drop you a PM and discuss some of those other walks with you soon.

I appreciate all your advice.

[tom_brennan]

For those who are interested, some more history of Carlon Head and the chains (Mansons Ladders) can be found at:
http://ozultimate.com/bwwiki/carlon_head
http://ozultimate.com/bwwiki/mansons_ladders
Also a discussion on Carlon Head/Mansons Ladders following my trip out there last year
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=17139

And some of the old references
First Descent of Carlon's Head
http://www.bushwalkermagazine.org/the-a ... annual.pdf
The Epic Gangerang Trip
http://sbw.ozultimate.com/1964/196409.pdf
Down Mansons Ladders
http://sbw.ozultimate.com/1941/194108.pdf

Also, Pika, someone else's report from last year, showing you you're not the only one daunted by Carlon Head (and their ascent was on a dry late autumn day).
https://sites.google.com/site/bluemount ... arlon-head

Lastly, does anyone know when the closure signs were put in by NPWS? I have April 2014 as the earliest I've read about them.

[Pika]

Some great info there Tom, thanks for sharing.

[jonnosan]

Lastly, does anyone know when the closure signs were put in by NPWS? I have April 2014 as the earliest I've read about them.

I saw them while doing the carlons/tarros loop which I think was around November 2013. My previous visit was Feb 2012 and they were definitely NOT there then.

[puredingo]

Don't be discouraged Pika, last time i was romping around that area i couldn't even locate the track up to the chains! so you're going better than me.

By all reports probably a good thing i give up so easy.