Hiking - 2018 01 - Conondale Great Walk

Like so many hikes, they all start before you hit the trail head. All my gear was spread out since my last hike, some with the car camping gear, other bits with day hiking gear and some actually was put away in cupboards (shocking, I know.) After that was all gathered together I also had to sort food.

4 days worth, so not too heavy. For breakfast I have choc-chip cookies and Milo+Powdered Milk. Lunch is muesli, fruit and protein bars. Dinner consists of a pasta side and a chicken risotto (split into 2 as it's a big pack.) Snacks, arguably the most important meal of the day, include skittles, jerky, pringles, peanuts and salami. Dried apricots in there too, mostly for those midnight snacks.

After I slogged it through the Brisbane traffic I had a pretty good run. Made it to the start of the walk just after 10. It's not a bad drive up here for bikes, lots of tight turns and hilly roads. Not quite as great in a 4wd but there are other advantages, like making it past the Day use entry 'gate' where the track crosses the river.

Got away after a quick chat to a few people scouting a day hike to do and started the ascent to the Mt Allan Fire Tower. Standing 9.6m tall it was built in 1954 making it QLDs second oldest tower, now fully automated. They allow you up into the observation deck where there's a big topo map so you can work out the mountains on the horizon. Living up to the Fire Tower name they did some recent back burning around it, very recent judging by the overpowering smoke smell.

One of the great things about getting in a day before the rush is all the wildlife. Heaps of birds and small lizards scurrying about. Saw a least a half dozen Goanna too. Another fantastic creature you meet when leading the way is the spider. They create masterful art works in the webs and they ever so conveniently place them across the track right at eye level. Amazing the effort they put in to bring their beautiful constructions right into your face!

Made Summer Falls camp by 130pm and quickly had camp setup. No one here yet, though that was the plan. The official long weekend doesn't start until tomorrow. It's great having a place like this to yourself, but it's nice to share sometimes too. Went for a short wander up the creek line. Most pools look a little mossy but the water is trickling through and it's crystal clear. There isn't really any falls to speak of with this flow, but I found a shady spot and had and nice cool foot spa and a quick dip.

There is a water tank at camp, looks like it's fed by the roof of the privy, but with the creek running clear I pulled water from it to filter. The rest of the daylight was spent relaxing near the creek or on a log near camp. Though it seems all the bugs in the entire camp came out to find me. Dinner before I lost the sun and bed not long after I did. Besides the 3 day hikers at the car park this morning I haven't seen anyone in the NP.

Had an amazing sleep, appeared no one else came in late last night either. Tent got hot pretty quick in the morning so I was out of it in a hurry and after breakfast straight back on the trail. Mostly uphill today but pretty easy grade. The Goanna seemed to have gave way to snakes. In the first 10k I saw 4 of them. A few nice creek crossings today. Well placed rocks to save the shoes getting muddy.

Just before the Peters creek crossing was a really nice swimming hole, with a small falls separating 2 pools. Having a dip was a very welcome relief from the heat. Especially as there was a bit of a climb heading to camp 2. Just a bit future on were Peter falls which was flowing quite a bit better than Summer Falls but still not exactly roaring.

Made it to camp around 130pm again. Much earlier start but took a long break for a swim and it's a little further than yesterday. Another hiker arrived at camp moments before me. They thought to take advantage of the solitude and used the pit toilet, door wide open for air flow. I shuffled my feet to announce my presence, I've seen worse hiking...

We got talking about trail conditions and water. Only water here looks a little rusty, tastes fine though. Could have filled up at Peters had I known but that would have been an extra 2kg for the hill. No water on the next stretch of trail and if that camp is busy the tank was slow this morning so might be empty when I get there. Good creek just past it though.

It was good to have someone to chat too at dinner. Lots of trail talk about where we've been and what we've done. She had done Hinchenbrook island which has been on my list for a while, nice to get some first hand knowledge. Turns out she has a permit for the PCT this year... so i was happy to talk about that :) We also talked about the critters we saw

We got and bit of rain through the night. Enough to leave leave the leave the ground wet. My campsite mate had a quick early pack and was gone before poked my head out. Should see more hikers today though. When I was booking camps Wongai (camp 1) was almost full the Friday night, and most of those would be on this stretch now.

Quite a bit of 'Fire Management Trail' which I wasn't really thrilled and out. Long time since their use though so mostly overgrown and bound felt like a real trail.

Wasn't long that the cool from the rain had turned into a steamy muggy mess. Even developed a little heat rash under the arm pits. Noticed a few leeches today too, all before they latched on.

I had done 11 of the planed 17k before seeing a pair of hikers. They must have got a late start. Apparently had the camp to themselves last night. I arrived just after 11 and not wanting another afternoon with only my thoughts I decided to push home. Seriously not even a close creek to spend time in.

It wasn't long before I came across a day hike car park for falls. Pretty busy. Soon as I crossed onto the falls track there seemed a queue. One group had had a trolley!! Full of chips beer and other junk. Hope they pack it out. One group 10+ strong seemed to be upset that a 'real hiker' (their term) needed to pass them. Most groups were nice though.

I skipped the falls (was more crowded than Surfers Paradise) and pushed onto the slightly further Artisan Falls. 5.6k from the nearest car access there was only 1 other person. Perfect water too.

The last leg to the finish I could hear the various groups that hiked up the river to find their own spot. It was funny seeing people 'hiking' the great walk shirtless and in thongs. Short stop to the $700,000 rock egg (Stranger Cairn) The little sappling is growing well. Note to self: Check again in a decade or so.

After that was a quick jaunt to the trail head followed by another swim and then the drive home.

56k 4 day Conondale great walk done in 2.5 days.