Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

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Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Pteropus » Sun 06 Jun, 2010 6:23 pm

Hi all,
I had a great day out in the bush yesterday, hiking up to the Stinson plane wreck in Lamington NP with three mates. Thought I would like to share some photos and info about the walk. Due to the shorter winter days we started walking at 07:00 and arrived at the crash site by approximately 10:15. It was tough going up the ridge from Christmas Creek as it was very slippery (due to it being a rainforest!), with many potential areas for slipping.

After 73 years of sitting in the rainforest the wreck is just a few pieces of twisted steel. At the wreck there is a logbook, which we signed, as well as a grave and memorial for the victims of the crash. After contemplating the toughness and bush skills of Bernard O’Reilly, the man who found the aircraft and organised the rescue of the two survivors, we headed up to Lookout Point, which is on the escarpment looking over the Mt Warning Caldera in northern NSW. There a great view of the region from here, as well as views east along the McPherson Ranges. A real appreciation can be gained of just how rugged the terrain is in the region from this spot (though anyone walking in Lamington NP gets an appreciation of the ruggedness of the landscape very quickly!).

After a rest and lunch we headed back the way we came at around 12:00. The track down the ridge was even more perilous than when walking up, and I landed on my backside more than once! Boot tread fills up with mud very quickly, and every time we took a break I was digging out the mud with a stick. The walk from the bottom of the ridge back to the car takes approximately 1 hour and we were back at the car by 15:00. Not a bad effort and plenty of daylight to spare!
In addition to the wreck, the views from the lookout, the region is home to the rare Albert’s Lyre Bird, which is only found in the McPherson Ranges. Breeding season occurs from May to August and we heard a number of them on our walk. We almost came across one singing out just off the path, but copious amounts of wait-a-while vine (actually a climbing palm with very sharp spines) deterred us from looking for it!

That said, the region contains habitats for numerous rare plants and animals. While I recommend the walk up to the wreck, I imagine that erosion on the ridge takes its toll on the immediate environment and damage to the soil, roots of trees and vines are evident.
For those who do not know the story of the Stinson crash and the rescue of the two survivors, the book Green Mountains by Bernard O’Reilly is the first hand account by the rescuer. The following is a brief version of events:

On the 19th of February, 1937, a Stinson airliner with 2 crew and 5 passengers was flying over the McPherson Ranges from Brisbane to Sydney via Casino in northern NSW, when is crash in bad weather. Rescue efforts took place off the coast of Sydney as witnesses had claimed to have seen it fly over down the NSW coast. However, locals in the valleys at the foot of the McPherson Ranges had reported the plane flying on course over the ranges towards the south, on course to Casino. Bernard O’Reilly of O’Reilly’s Guest House decided to go looking for the plane, based on fact that locals had seen it on course heading over the ranges AND that it never arrived in Casino. All he had for navigation was an aerial chart (no topo maps of the region back then), local knowledge of terrain, observations which side of trees the moss was growing to tell which way south was (though in the moister parts of Lamington there is moss all the way around trees!), and observations of what species were flowering to discern altitude.

On the morning of the second day he spotted a burnt tree on the landscape, 10 or more km away. By late afternoon he contacted the two survivors, 10 days after the crash. Three men had actually survived, however one, Jim Westray, went for help and died after falling over a waterfall. O’Reilly went down Christmas Creek and found Westray’s body soon after. When he got to the first property, O’Reilly began to organise a rescue party consisting mainly of local graziers. By the next day they had a doctor up with the two survivors, and the following day a track had been cut and the survivors were hauled out on stretchers. Westray’s body was also buried in a small clearing by Christmas Creek, and is located just up-stream of the bottom of the ridge track to the wreck.

My thoughts at the Stinson wreck site were of amazement that anyone survived and that O’Reilly found them in such thick rainforest. The plane could hardly have crashed in a more remote and rugged part of Queensland!

Anyhow, I have attached some pictures (hopefully it works, this is the first time for me). I recommend this walk to anyone who loves bush walking, rainforests and history! Just take care climbing up the ridge!!
001 Start of the climb up the ridge.JPG
Looking up the ridge from the bottom

003 The climb.JPG
Moving on up

007 Stinson wreck.JPG
The Stinson today

006 Grave at the Stinson wreck.JPG
Grave and memorial for the crash victims

004 Stinson memorial.JPG
Memorial for the Stinson
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Pteropus » Sun 06 Jun, 2010 6:29 pm

Oh and here is a pic of Mt warning from Point Lookout!
Enjoy!!
Andrew
010 Mt Warning from Point Lookout.JPG
Mt Warning from Lookout Point
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby tasadam » Mon 07 Jun, 2010 6:56 pm

Pteropus wrote:After 73 years of sitting in the rainforest the wreck is just a few pieces of twisted steel.

Funny, that's all it was 30 years ago when I went there.
Other topics of the area might interest you -
A walk in the forest (Lamington to be exact)
Lamington National Park experience
Lamington at Easter
Also these posts -
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1388&p=13391#p13391
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3416&p=37834#p37834

Thanks for sharing the story and photos. I wish I could remember more about being there.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Pteropus » Tue 08 Jun, 2010 9:30 am

tasadam wrote:Funny, that's all it was 30 years ago when I went there.


That is pretty remarkable considering the constant moisture. Thanks for the links by the way. I try to get to Lamington as often as possible as it is one of my favourite regions :)
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby 22F » Tue 08 Jun, 2010 2:25 pm

Great pics mate!! The first one of the hillside is awesome.

I've been meaning to get abck to do some walking in that part of the world for awhile now.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby dancier » Fri 11 Jun, 2010 1:39 pm

Great shots, sounds like a great place, pity I didn't know about it last year, I was cycling touring around that area.

This wreck reminds me of the Southern Cloud, the plane was found by accident some 27 years later.

http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/now_s ... ery/#row_6
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Pterodactyl » Sat 24 Jul, 2010 3:44 pm

Pteropus,

"Looking up the ridge from the bottom" takes me back a long way. Beautiful colour and a nicely composed photograph give an authentic, mountainous, rainforest "feel". Was the palm leaf in the foreground a prop or just happened to be there? In either case, well done.

Well done, also, for the remainder of the wreckage shot. Tasadam raises an interesting point - since his visit, how has the wreckage fared in the intervening years? I walked to the Stinson in the late '70s, twice. Probably at much the same time as Tasadam. My memory has fared no better than his, however, I did take some photos of the wreckage. But where are they? They were transparencies and since then filed in one of the many boxes of "stuff" accumulated over the years of moving interstate and overseas. Unfortunately they were not filed methodically (to say the least). I will try to find them and then post. Friends who accompanied me on my second walk to the site also took some photographs; they may be able to help.

At the risk of being boring, let me reminisce. The first visit was with my long-suffering wife. Long suffering because she went along, bemusedly, with some of the more hair-brained schemes I concocted in those days! We planned Christmas Creek to the Stinson, camping the night on the ridge above the wreckage, and then return next day. After an early and sunny start, we had a look at Westray's grave and then proceeded uphill. Against the run of the weather forecast it then began to rain, and rain, and rain - heavily. We pressed on. In visibility of around 20 meters and increasing torrents of water, the going was slow. With darkness gathering we approached the site and the rain eased to a light mist. We dumped our packs on the ridge above and went down to look at the site itself. After the rigors of our day the atmosphere seemed eerily quite. In the dim deep stillness of the forest we both imagined the hardship, suffering and fear of the survivors. It is difficult to describe the effect on us both, except to say it was very powerful and a moment that has never dimmed. It is a feeling that I certainly will never forget.

As the rain returned we built our hooch on, and in, a river of water, leaves and mud. Being an ex "grunt", I spurned a tent as unnecessary weight, a luxury for those sybarites afraid of the dark (after a number of bad experiences and being older and, I hope, wiser, I now balance the weight factor against the likelihood of really needing one). We joined our sleeping bags for mutual warmth but we slept wet and, joy oh joy, with a number of leeches for bedfellows. Throughout the night more rain fell. Next morning (we didn't sleep in) the descent was slip and slide in unceasing torrential rain – difficult, and at one stage due very poor visibility and the mud river we were in, we roped together and one played anchor for the other in overlapping moves. Back to the car and then we were damned lucky to get out due to the flooded creeks. Back to civilization and, sure enough, Brisbane and the Gold Coast in flood. No wonder I will never forget that walk! I will return.

Thank you Pteropus for bringing back those memories.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby facebox » Sat 24 Jul, 2010 5:35 pm

My grandfather was part of the orginial rescue party. Amazing story. He's stilling lliving in Beaudesert and happy to share with anyone with an interest. PM me for contact details.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby WarrenH » Wed 04 Aug, 2010 5:35 pm

"I imagine that erosion on the ridge takes its toll on the immediate environment and damage to the soil, roots of trees and vines are evident."

Don't ever feel guilty or disappointed about that happening Mate, ... the world is one giant changing artefact and has been for billions of years, no matter what National Parks feel we create. Have you ever seen a National Parks Service created dumping site? Like in the Kanangra Boyd Wilderness?

In one year National Parks staff create more mess, rubbish and careless waste and exacerbate problems associated with their failure to attend to timely and essential maintenance, than the rest of us do, ... all put together.

Warren.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby WarrenH » Wed 04 Aug, 2010 8:04 pm

Dear Nik, could your post be meant for the NSW thread Wollangambe River Tradgedy?

No matter how rude or patronising I'm perceived to be towards National Parks on this thread, that is only a fraction as rude and as patronising as the trumped-up counter-jumpers of our State's National Parks, are towards the we owners of Australia's National Parks.

With all respect, I suggest that you get up National Parks and not the dedicated members of this Forum.

Your devoted servant and fond Member of http://www.bushwalk.com ... and in all humility,

Warren Hudson.

PS, Nik, you could be right, I can be a rude person ... because I don't tolerate fools? Sorry Mate, I'm to old to be subservient.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Son of a Beach » Wed 04 Aug, 2010 8:13 pm

WarrenH wrote:Dear Nik, could your post be meant for the NSW thread Wollangambe River Tradgedy?

No matter how rude or patronising I'm perceived to be towards National Parks on this thread, that is only a fraction as rude and as patronising as the trumped-up counter-jumpers of our State's National Parks, are towards the we owners of Australia's National Parks.

With all respect, I suggest that you get up National Parks and not the dedicated members of this Forum.

Your devoted servant and fond Member of http://www.bushwalk.com ... and in all humility,

Warren Hudson.

PS, Nik, you could be right, I can be a rude person ... because I don't tolerate fools?


Oops, how embarrassing. Yes you're correct. I've deleted it and reposted it there. :oops:

Warren, I appreciate your concerns and am not attempting to censor them at all. I'm merely asking you (and others) to abide by the rules of this forum with respect to other members of the forum. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Cocksy_86 » Sat 14 Aug, 2010 6:52 pm

A mate and I just hiked to the wreck from O'Reillys. We parked the car at O'Reilly's then hiked to Rat-a-tat and camped the night. Took a daypack to the wreck the next day and came back to Rat-a-tat. Slept the night then headed back to the car the next day.

Now that all sounds well and good but the track along the ridge from Echo Point to Point Lookout is not maintained. At some points it's like walking through a tunnel of Lawyer Vine. It is the roughest country I have hiked in Australia. It reminded me of the Kokoda track. On the second day, we looked at the map and saw that it was an easy 22km from Rat-a-tat to the wreck and back. Noop. We ended up hiking into the night, freezing, getting lost at every turn. Thirteen hours with a few rest breaks it took us.

It's a real goat track and it twists and turns around trees and bolders. Then there are run off tracks from animals, or rain water that try to play tricks on an already exhausted mind. I had so many scratches that there was blood on everything. My mate said it reminded him of one of the Jesus Crucifixion movies all wripped apart. I'm sitting here typing still healing a deep gash in the knee pit.

Then there was getting lost. We took the wrong track going from Echo Point to Rat-a-tat. The track we took was the old one from the 1930s that fizzles into nothing halfway down to Albert River. From there we just had to set a compass bearing and cut our way through the bush to the path. We averaged 1km/hr and had to ascend 400m. (In hinesight, backtracking is a far more effective solution when lost.)

Now, with all that said. The place is beautiful. Just amazing. And I study the local bushtucker and it's like a grocery store (as long as you know what you're eating). We had one King Parrot just land on my shoulder to come say Hello. Just beautiful. Not only that, it's one of the few places I've been to in Australia where it is simply remote. Did not see one person on that McPherson Track. The weather was perfect (not normal for the Green Mountains), no leeches (due to no rain), and the glow worms surrounded our campsite at night. The flora was spectacular and the views into Tyalgum a breathless.

Getting lost and going through the scrub was great, in the sense that I got a taste of what it was like for Bernard O'Reilly. I also got separated from my mate at one point and I lost the trail. That also gave me a taste for what it would have been like for Westray. Scared, alone, surrounded by razor wire vine, stinging nettle, and dingos.

Stinson's Wreck is a great day hike if coming from Christmas Creek Road. The path from Point Lookout to the wreck was pretty well marked. If you are going to go along the McPherson ridgeline take as much precaution as possible. Topographic Maps, GPS, Compass (for each person), Personal Locating Beacon, and a Regional Mobile Phone. Only for the experienced hiker who knows what to do when lost (cause I garauntee you will get lost at some point). The wreck is actually off to the side about half way down. We found the crash site first and then the wreck and memorial a bit later. So keep that in mind before going looking for it around all the Gympie Gympie that's there.

Hope that helps.

Josh
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Cocksy_86 » Sat 14 Aug, 2010 7:00 pm

Here's a pic of that King Parrot. He tried to take my hat. Punk!!

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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby iandsmith » Tue 07 Sep, 2010 8:01 pm

Some excellent stuff there fellas, thanks for sharing. I'll add some pics from not-so-difficult walks when I get the virus out of my computer.
Made for a good read. Cheers
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby cams » Tue 07 Sep, 2010 10:59 pm

Sounds like you definitely had a bit of an adventure Cocksy. My brother and I did the wreck as a through hike about 2 years ago. We were lucky enough to have someone come pick us up from Christmas Creek. We had planned to camp at rat-a-tat the first night. Point lookout the second and down to christmas creek on the third. In the end we got to rat-a-tat much quicker than expected so continued on. Ended up camping on the top of Mt. Throakban. Then ended up camping about 1.5km from the end of the road next to Christmas Creek just on the side of the track on the second night.

As you say. The track after the hut is very hard to follow. There was flares on trees fairly regularly but whenever a tree falls over the track splits off on multiple routes around it. Had to back track numerous times. And yes I got very stuck in vines and wait a while when coming out to the more exposed peaks a number of times. We got overtaken by a guided group of 4 on day 2. The guide was one of the O'rieleys and they were doing the through walk in a day.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby isoma » Wed 08 Sep, 2010 10:02 am

O'Reilly's to Christmas Ck via Point Lookout is definately achievable in a day for fit groups who know what they're doing.
If you 'enjoyed' this route, you should think about tackling the Stretcher Track. This was also originally cut out to find survivors from the Stinson crash. Its quite a punishing walk as well.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby cams » Wed 08 Sep, 2010 11:06 am

isoma wrote:O'Reilly's to Christmas Ck via Point Lookout is definately achievable in a day for fit groups who know what they're doing.
If you 'enjoyed' this route, you should think about tackling the Stretcher Track. This was also originally cut out to find survivors from the Stinson crash. Its quite a punishing walk as well.


Thinking of doing the stretcher track next month actually. Any comments or advice would be appreciated (via PM maybe to keep this thread on topic). ta.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby isoma » Wed 08 Sep, 2010 12:25 pm

It's not really off topic Cam - it ends up at the same point ( Point Lookout/ Stinson wreck). It is off track though. Probably less well travelled than the Echo Point to Point Lookout section via Rat-a Tat.
Definately wear long sleeves/pants/gaiters/gloves and take map and compass. I dont usually use GPS but my friend had one when we went this way and he found it very hard to get a signal through the dense canopy.
It will be a long day walk to end up back at Christmas Ck again. A car shuttle will save you about 4km walking on dirt road back to the start.
If you have or can get hold of a copy of the Bushpeoples Guide it will tell you all you need to know. If you want specifics let me know and I'll PM you.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Pteropus » Wed 08 Sep, 2010 1:53 pm

Pterodactyl wrote:Pteropus,

"Looking up the ridge from the bottom" takes me back a long way. Beautiful colour and a nicely composed photograph give an authentic, mountainous, rainforest "feel". Was the palm leaf in the foreground a prop or just happened to be there? In either case, well done.

Well done, also, for the remainder of the wreckage shot. Tasadam raises an interesting point - since his visit, how has the wreckage fared in the intervening years? I walked to the Stinson in the late '70s, twice. Probably at much the same time as Tasadam. My memory has fared no better than his, however, I did take some photos of the wreckage. But where are they? They were transparencies and since then filed in one of the many boxes of "stuff" accumulated over the years of moving interstate and overseas. Unfortunately they were not filed methodically (to say the least). I will try to find them and then post. Friends who accompanied me on my second walk to the site also took some photographs; they may be able to help.

At the risk of being boring, let me reminisce. The first visit was with my long-suffering wife. Long suffering because she went along, bemusedly, with some of the more hair-brained schemes I concocted in those days! We planned Christmas Creek to the Stinson, camping the night on the ridge above the wreckage, and then return next day. After an early and sunny start, we had a look at Westray's grave and then proceeded uphill. Against the run of the weather forecast it then began to rain, and rain, and rain - heavily. We pressed on. In visibility of around 20 meters and increasing torrents of water, the going was slow. With darkness gathering we approached the site and the rain eased to a light mist. We dumped our packs on the ridge above and went down to look at the site itself. After the rigors of our day the atmosphere seemed eerily quite. In the dim deep stillness of the forest we both imagined the hardship, suffering and fear of the survivors. It is difficult to describe the effect on us both, except to say it was very powerful and a moment that has never dimmed. It is a feeling that I certainly will never forget.

As the rain returned we built our hooch on, and in, a river of water, leaves and mud. Being an ex "grunt", I spurned a tent as unnecessary weight, a luxury for those sybarites afraid of the dark (after a number of bad experiences and being older and, I hope, wiser, I now balance the weight factor against the likelihood of really needing one). We joined our sleeping bags for mutual warmth but we slept wet and, joy oh joy, with a number of leeches for bedfellows. Throughout the night more rain fell. Next morning (we didn't sleep in) the descent was slip and slide in unceasing torrential rain – difficult, and at one stage due very poor visibility and the mud river we were in, we roped together and one played anchor for the other in overlapping moves. Back to the car and then we were damned lucky to get out due to the flooded creeks. Back to civilization and, sure enough, Brisbane and the Gold Coast in flood. No wonder I will never forget that walk! I will return.

Thank you Pteropus for bringing back those memories.



Hey Pterodactyl, sorry for the late reply (I haven't been around the forum for a while). The photo was taken just as it was. Thanks for the compliment on the composition, though I remember just taking a quick shot at that point. Pity you have lost your photographs. Sounds like your trip up with your wife was pretty rough though! Will she be joining you on your return trip up :wink:

Cocksy_86 wrote:
Then there was getting lost. We took the wrong track going from Echo Point to Rat-a-tat. The track we took was the old one from the 1930s that fizzles into nothing halfway down to Albert River. From there we just had to set a compass bearing and cut our way through the bush to the path. We averaged 1km/hr and had to ascend 400m. (In hinesight, backtracking is a far more effective solution when lost.)

I have not actually walked to the Stinson from O'Reilly's but am keen to in the future. In Bernard O'Reilly's book Green Mountain he mentions he came across a waterfall that is "...as lovely as our Elabana Falls". I imagine he was referring to somewhere at the head waters of the Albert River? Anyone found a lovelier waterfall than Elabana in Lamington near the Albert River? (I find it hard to believe there is a waterfall more lovely than Elabana Falls on this planet but I am biased :) )

cams wrote:
Thinking of doing the stretcher track next month actually. Any comments or advice would be appreciated (via PM maybe to keep this thread on topic). ta.


I too am interested in any information or track notes for the Stretcher Track, perhaps with a side trip to Running Creek Falls for a future expedition. Perhaps if someone has done these recently they could start a new thread?

Cheers
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Gunnar » Sat 20 Nov, 2010 8:57 pm

Hi all. My name is Gunnar Weisskamp.A friend and I did the Stinson Strecher walk last weekend and then out via Christmas Creek. Personally would NOT advise the Strecher Trail. It is jungle. There are numerous plants which will rip you to shreads. The track is overgrown so don't expect one. There are also no view points and no water points until you get to Christmas Creek. If you do decided to do it this is what you will need. 1 - Very high level of fitness. 2 - While the Strecher trail does go along a ridge you will still need great navigation skills as you can get confused / disorinentated due to the terrain. Take a compass / map. 3 - Take GPS 4 - Emergency location beacon. 5 - As much water as you can carry 6 - Mobile Phone & tell someone where you are going 7 - Do the Strecher Walk and come out via Christmas Creek 8 - BIG TIP - When walking down the ridge to get out via Christmas Creek your map may indicate that you have to walk all the way to the cliff edge. DO NOT DO THIS. The down trail off the ridge is about 50 - 80 meters before you hit cliff edge. Keep a look out for it. Kind regards Gunnar
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Cocksy_86 » Sun 21 Nov, 2010 2:35 pm

Gunnar wrote:Hi all. My name is Gunnar Weisskamp.A friend and I did the Stinson Strecher walk last weekend and then out via Christmas Creek. Personally would NOT advise the Strecher Trail. It is jungle. There are numerous plants which will rip you to shreads. The track is overgrown so don't expect one. There are also no view points and no water points until you get to Christmas Creek. If you do decided to do it this is what you will need. 1 - Very high level of fitness. 2 - While the Strecher trail does go along a ridge you will still need great navigation skills as you can get confused / disorinentated due to the terrain. Take a compass / map. 3 - Take GPS 4 - Emergency location beacon. 5 - As much water as you can carry 6 - Mobile Phone & tell someone where you are going 7 - Do the Strecher Walk and come out via Christmas Creek 8 - BIG TIP - When walking down the ridge to get out via Christmas Creek your map may indicate that you have to walk all the way to the cliff edge. DO NOT DO THIS. The down trail off the ridge is about 50 - 80 meters before you hit cliff edge. Keep a look out for it. Kind regards Gunnar


I second this. It is tough terrain that should not be taken lightly. Have a plan for getting lost. Be prepared to stay over night if need be. Get the topographic maps because you will need them. I took a sharp machette and it was pointless against the woodie, tough lawyer vine. I ended up moving as far as I could then cutting myself loose with a knife.

Here's some pics although it doesn't really capture the lashing effect of wait-a-wile.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Phil Box » Sun 21 Nov, 2010 6:14 pm

Walking poles and seceteurs are your friend in that sort of country. Walking poles to push aside the waiterwhile and seceteurs to chop those nasty fish hook tendrils when they latch on. I've had one of those across my eye. The only thing you can do sometimes is simply to cut the tendril and it usually detaches itself when the pressure is released. Push further into it and the vine tends to bring more down on yourself. Gaiters are also key as well as long pants and shirt sleeves. I try to wear my sunnies when walking in that sort of country too.

Excellent trip report and pictures too by the way.

Oh yes, I needed to add that I would soooo much want to learn more about bush tucker and I reckon that if you were to put your hand up to lead a bush tucker trip then I reckon I could fill it with like minded bushwalkers from various clubs under the FMR banner.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby DanH » Sun 21 Nov, 2010 9:08 pm

... and leather gardening gloves... :D
experience comes after stuffing up - stuffing up comes after having a go - having a go comes after I get off the computer!
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby kano » Sun 28 Nov, 2010 5:07 pm

Can anyone confirm for me that there actually is some kind of man made edifice at Tweed Trig.We came through this area years ago from the West using R.Rankins "Secrets of The Scenic Rim"he failed to point out the exact location of the trig which we were hoping to locate to put us on the track to Point Lookout.We eventually stumbled onto the pink ribbons and the rest is history.Cocksy 86,I don't know where you were walking when you compared this area to Kokoda,I walked the Kokoda in 1998 and I definitely didn't where gaiters or need Sacateers(or whatever you call them)I will agree though Southern Lamington is certainly tough country probably only equalled in my experience by the Western spurs of the Snowy Main Range
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Cocksy_86 » Tue 30 Nov, 2010 9:03 am

kano. would you say kokoda track was easier or harder? And did you follow the ridge line? Try heading up and down the valley.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby ozjolly » Tue 30 Nov, 2010 1:21 pm

I did the wreck via Stretcher Track in March 2009 in a group of 4 and it was a very tough hike. Luckily we knew it would be and carried enough water for a couple of days. We didn't get anywhere near Christmas Creek on the first night so that was well planned. We lost the track many times and did heaps of bush bashing, but generally heading for the top of the ridge brings you back to the track.

The GPS with the new high sensitivity chip set picked up satellites no worries in the rainforest up on the ridge. Not sure how it would go off the ridges.

I did Kokoda in 2008 and it's a wide track in most places. There's no bashing through vines etc, so the only comparisons that can be made is the terrain.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby chooks42 » Mon 19 Sep, 2011 9:22 pm

facebox wrote:My grandfather was part of the orginial rescue party. Amazing story. He's stilling lliving in Beaudesert and happy to share with anyone with an interest. PM me for contact details.


I'd love to meet him - face box, can you give me his details? amclean42 [at] gmail.com
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Tiffany » Fri 28 Oct, 2011 5:01 pm

I walked the lower pat of Christmas Creek last week and am hoping to do the full hike up to the crash site int eh coming weeks. I live not far away and I can see it becoming a favourite destination of mine.

However, I am having difficulty finding a good map of christmas creek. Can anyone direct me to a good place for a map. I have tried the gov sites but have had very little luck and the maps are not detailed enough.
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Pteropus » Sat 29 Oct, 2011 11:49 am

Hi Tiffany,
There is a little map shop near Central Station in Brisbane that have an extensive range of topographic maps. I think this is their website -> http://worldwidemaps.vpweb.com.au/HOME.html <- I have never bought online from there but have been into the store a number of times. My one gripe about this place is all the topos are shoved into a large filing cabinet and not stored in a manner that keeps them in good condition....they do not look like they look after their maps too well.
I have a good Hema 1:35000 mp of the whole park in front of me, which I am sure are still available. Sunmap are the other mob who produce quality 1:25000 topo maps of Queensland. I don’t have them handy at the moment but I think Lamingon NP is covered on 3 sheets, Tyalgum, Beechmont and Lamington. See -> http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/property/map ... _list.html for the map listings. I think Christmas Creek is on the Lamington map.
Cheers
Andrew
p.s. In my opinion, Christmas Creek is one of the prettiest creeks in a park full of many stunningly beautiful creeks!
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Re: Lamington hike - Stinson plane wreck

Postby Daniel62 » Mon 16 Jan, 2012 9:34 pm

Stinson via Christmas ck.
This is a great forum. Very helpful.
I took the family to Jim Westray's grave in Dec 2011. Then went back to conquer the STINSON from Christmas Ck with my son a week later. We were beaten by a slow start, slippery conditions, my poor fitness, and rain at halfway. We will return. I last did Jim Westray's grave at the 50 yr anniversary mark in 1987. Did the Stinson via O'Reilley's same time. Now, 25 yrs later I am less fit but taking a buff 15 yr old son.
Any advice on the Christmas Ck to Stinson would help. We got up the ascent and followed small yellow paint markers and red arrows before retreating. Got to below a ridge and were ploughing on in a poorly marked track to the right when we stopped. Returned down the slippery slope with resolve to return earlier.
It is beautiful. Any tips happily received.
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