Budawangs

[Stocky54]

Another post COVID question/s...

How do the Budawangs look after the recent bushfire season?

I'm contemplating a walk into the Hidden Valley from Sassafras. In all the track notes I have found it suggests its a two day walk camping at Styles Creek and including a few side trips up Quiltys Mountain, etc. Can Hidden Valley be done in a long day walk? I checked the topos and it looks reasonably flat with around 26km or so of what appears to be easy walking. Have I missed something?

[crollsurf]

2 days no worries but the first 10 klms is boring fire trail so best to ride that section and have more time to explore.

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[Zapruda]

Another post COVID question/s...

How do the Budawangs look after the recent bushfire season?

I'm contemplating a walk into the Hidden Valley from Sassafras. In all the track notes I have found it suggests its a two day walk camping at Styles Creek and including a few side trips up Quiltys Mountain, etc. Can Hidden Valley be done in a long day walk? I checked the topos and it looks reasonably flat with around 26km or so of what appears to be easy walking. Have I missed something?

The Budawangs are still closed due to fire according to NPWS. Even if they lift COVID restrictions I can’t see the park opening for a while.

I’ve seen some pics of the area post fire and it looks bad but not completely destroyed. A mix of burn and green. Word is a lot of the valleys weren’t too badly burnt.

Other than that, it’s a nice easy walk. Definitely make the trip up to Quilty's to see the rock arrangements.

[Stocky54]

Could it be done as a day hike with a dawn start?

[Zapruda]

Could it be done as a day hike with a dawn start?

Sure, it’ll be about 40km and you won’t have much time to explore the valley or Quiltys. It might be shorter using the Red Ground track near Nerriga. It’s nicer than the road in from Sass.

Why not spend the night when you can though? I want to reiterate that the park is completely closed, even for day use. This isn’t a COVID closure.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Could it be done as a day hike with a dawn start?

Could mtb to the vines to do it as a day trip.... easily fit in quiltys too then (when it's open as mentioned above). If going as an overnight probably more pleasant going in from nerriga end.

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[Huntsman247]

It's long but easy. You could jog most of it with just a light pack if your fit enough. Probably take you the better part of the day. Just bring a headlight just in case your not as fit as you think.
But yes as most have mentioned it is closed due to the fire impact which was quite severe in the area.
Spots have survived in and around the main stuff but a few valleys were spared, some hardly touched at all.

[Stocky54]

Does anybody know what the track from Styles Creek past Mount Haughton over Mount Tarn and Bibbenluke is like?

If we did do Hidden Valley and decided to push onto the camping cave at Mount Cole for the second night I was wondering how physically demanding that days walk might be?

Thanks in advance...

[Huntsman247]

Does anybody know what the track from Styles Creek past Mount Haughton over Mount Tarn and Bibbenluke is like?

If we did do Hidden Valley and decided to push onto the camping cave at Mount Cole for the second night I was wondering how physically demanding that days walk might be?

Thanks in advance...

That's like asking how long is a piece of string. Lol.
The tracks pretty good all the way to Yadboro. It's pretty well defined although you could lose it in a couple spots. There are some steep bits but the worst coming from hidden valley should be going up towards Mt Cole. Reasonably steep. Oh and up towards Haughton but it's not too bad.
With decent fitness you should be setting up mid to late afternoon possibly even earlier.
The place you can waste time is navigating the swamp in styles plain. There's lots of tracks through the grass. I personally find the quickest way is to hop from one floating button grass to the next and pick up the track on the other side of the plain as I always tend to lose the track from that direction. But that obviously could end you deep in a mud hole. But hey you gotta live a little.

[crollsurf]

Be interesting after the fires and not sure what the parks are thinking but the regrowth in a couple of years could make for a real challenge!

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[Zapruda]

Just spoke to the Ulladulla NPWS office and they confirmed that the Budawangs is open for walking. Pigeon house is still closed. Finally!

[Huntsman247]

Zapruda that's awesome news! About time!
I've been meaning to ring myself.

[Zapruda]

Zapruda that's awesome news! About time!
I've been meaning to ring myself.

I’m thinking a trip out to Sturgiss and down to sluice box falls this weekend.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Zapruda that's awesome news! About time!
I've been meaning to ring myself.

I’m thinking a trip out to Sturgiss and down to sluice box falls this weekend.

Scrub should be cleared? The website still says it's closed though

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[Huntsman247]

Zapruda that's awesome news! About time!
I've been meaning to ring myself.

I’m thinking a trip out to Sturgiss and down to sluice box falls this weekend.

Sounds like a good trip. I'm tossing up the idea of a few days next week. Not sure where yet. Although I'm keen on seeing what happened to angels ck/hollands. Wish I had time this weekend...

[Zapruda]

Zapruda that's awesome news! About time!
I've been meaning to ring myself.

I’m thinking a trip out to Sturgiss and down to sluice box falls this weekend.

Scrub should be cleared? The website still says it's closed though

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Should be relatively scrub free I imagine.

NPWS definitely said it was open to me on the phone yesterday. I’m starting to rely on the NPWS website less and less. Too much contradicting information.

The closure notice has been removed - https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/vi ... cal-alerts

[FionaShedden]

Awesome, please let us know what you find when you get back. I am hoping to get back in soon too to revisit my last trip in on mountain bike via redgrounds and then ditching the bike and heading in to Hidden Valley and Styles Creek and maybe doing the loop back around, but certainly interested in how it fared and if it is already bouncing back! May have to get out to Mt Bushwalker just to take in the view as a day trip!

[Zapruda]

I walked in to Red Johnny’s cave along the Red Ground track on Friday arvo and set off down Camp Rock Creek and ravine on Saturday. There was a great slot canyon down there. I went up to the Winter cave below Island Mountain and tried to descend off the southwest end but couldn’t find a decent pass. I went back up Island Mt and over to Natural Arch and over Camp Rock. I then went up Quiltys, past the Bora, over to the Trig and then off Quiltys Pass. Lovely sedge on the nth end of Quilty’s. I spent the night up on the Southern cliff of Sass Mt. the fire damage is horrible.

[Huntsman247]

I was wondering how you went. The fire really did a number out there... Thanks for sharing the pics.

[FionaShedden]

Wow. Thank you for the photos. So sad to hear it is so badly burnt. Need to find some time to get there!

[Huntsman247]

This past Saturday I got out and did a circuit of the monolith valley.
My mate & I started of at the castle carpark which was 90% full. We went up past the castle to shrouded gods, explored the monolith a little and then went north out of the valley taking the mt cole ramp. We traversed Mt Cole and dropped off at the owen/cole saddle. Crossing owen we had lunch above oaky ck to get a view of the castle and then headed back to the owen/cole saddle. Followed the pass west at which point it began to rain and I packed the camera away. We followed the bottom of the cliffs to the nose and made our way to the lower lifeline. With reduced visibility and searching to the west too much I missed the pass and decided to just join up to the castle track. Got back to the car pretty late. Anyways here are some pics. The fire damage in the monolith is devastating. So so so sad. I imagine the easier navigation and loss of shrub will probably see an increase in visitors to this area.

[Huntsman247]

some more pics

[GregG]

Thanks for the report and pictures Huntsman, a pretty devastated landscape, as you say. I've been wondering how things were in the Budawangs and now here it is in stark relief, I probably won't get a chance to get down there anytime soon. Two good things though, out of a bad situation: a clear look at the land formation unobstructed by vegitation and lots of signs of plants resprouting.

[gumnut]

Just spoke to the Ulladulla NPWS office and they confirmed that the Budawangs is open for walking. Pigeon house is still closed. Finally!

Yayyy!! Any news on whether ropes have been reinstalled for the top scrambles of The Castle and whether Long Gully campground/car park is open. Fitzroy Falls NPWS were super friendly this morning, but didn't know the answers to these two questions and said Long Gully might still be closed. Haven't been able to connect with anyone yet at Ulladulla NPWS office yet. Any help much appreciated.

[Huntsman247]

Just spoke to the Ulladulla NPWS office and they confirmed that the Budawangs is open for walking. Pigeon house is still closed. Finally!

Yayyy!! Any news on whether ropes have been reinstalled for the top scrambles of The Castle and whether Long Gully campground/car park is open. Fitzroy Falls NPWS were super friendly this morning, but didn't know the answers to these two questions and said Long Gully might still be closed. Haven't been able to connect with anyone yet at Ulladulla NPWS office yet. Any help much appreciated.

Yup long gully is open and heaps of people last week.

[gumnut]

Just spoke to the Ulladulla NPWS office and they confirmed that the Budawangs is open for walking. Pigeon house is still closed. Finally!

Yayyy!! Any news on whether ropes have been reinstalled for the top scrambles of The Castle and whether Long Gully campground/car park is open. Fitzroy Falls NPWS were super friendly this morning, but didn't know the answers to these two questions and said Long Gully might still be closed. Haven't been able to connect with anyone yet at Ulladulla NPWS office yet. Any help much appreciated.

Yup long gully is open and heaps of people last week.

Thanks Hunstman247. Your photos are amazing. Ulladulla NPWS Office called me back today and also confirmed that the car park at Long Gully is open but no camping there is permitted given that the toilet there is currently kaput. They didn’t know whether ropes had been reinstalled though, so keen to hear from anyone who’s climbed The Castle recently who could confirm either way.

[crollsurf]

Thanks for posting the pics Huntsman. I feel sad seeing those photos but I'm sure it's happened before so will be interesting to revisit over the coming years and see the changes.



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[Huntsman247]

Thanks Hunstman247. Your photos are amazing. Ulladulla NPWS Office called me back today and also confirmed that the car park at Long Gully is open but no camping there is permitted given that the toilet there is currently kaput. They didn’t know whether ropes had been reinstalled though, so keen to hear from anyone who’s climbed The Castle recently who could confirm either way.

Thanks for the kind words. There was rope on shrouded gods. Some genius (note sarcasm) used an elastic rope though... Just what you want for a hand line. least it's easy enough to climb without needing rope.
As for the castle, I cannot say but I did see some people coiling some climbing rope on my way past the castle. They could have left some. I intend to climb the castle as part of another circuit in the area at the end of the month. Can let you know then if no one else knows.

[FionaShedden]

Great photos Huntsman. Devastating impact in Monolith, such a special spot. Looks like some patches remain here and there which is a plus.

With the loss of toilets and existing trackwork (boards etc) I do wonder whether NPWS will bother rebuilding or maintaining any of the less frequented areas from Monolith to Wog Wog and over to Hidden Valley. There was already a decided lack of focus on these areas, it was just existing tracks that were slowly becoming overgrown. I guess a side effect of the fires might mean these areas become even more difficult to access once the thick scrub returns triggered by fire damage, unless there is a increase in foot traffic. I suspect NP will have to focus limited resources on the rebuilding of Pigeon House, Long Gully campsite, Wog Wog entrance and, and then Castle track and Coyoyo Creek as priorities.

Struggling to get free time from my walking partner to get out there at the moment, unless I decide to head out solo (which i am loathe to do as it can be so remote). Your photo's really help.

[gumnut]

Thanks Hunstman247. Your photos are amazing. Ulladulla NPWS Office called me back today and also confirmed that the car park at Long Gully is open but no camping there is permitted given that the toilet there is currently kaput. They didn’t know whether ropes had been reinstalled though, so keen to hear from anyone who’s climbed The Castle recently who could confirm either way.

Thanks for the kind words. There was rope on shrouded gods. Some genius (note sarcasm) used an elastic rope though... Just what you want for a hand line. least it's easy enough to climb without needing rope.
As for the castle, I cannot say but I did see some people coiling some climbing rope on my way past the castle. They could have left some. I intend to climb the castle as part of another circuit in the area at the end of the month. Can let you know then if no one else knows.

Elastic - gold . I'll probably head there at some stage in the coming weeks (although this weekend's weather isn't looking super favourable). My plan is to ascend the Castle as far as I can make it, and then have a poke about in the Monolith Valley. Love to hear your experience of the Castle if you make it there before I do - thanks in advance.