Bundian way

[russ752]

Anyone walked this or part thereof? Looks interesting


http://www.bundianway.com.au/old_path_ways.htm

[north-north-west]

The track(and/or route-marking) itself is still under construction. Something I really want to do.

[robl]

I walked the upper Bundian Way in early December 2015 with two friends. We did not always walk as a group as I was looking for an interesting walk for my usual group for 2016. We had a car shuffle; Dead Horse Gap and Pinch River. We planned four nights out; Cascade 1, Tin Mine Huts 2 and 3 and the last night on the Ingeegoodbee River before The Pinch.
I chose to walk off the road as much as reasonable looking for the pre-bulldozer routes. Regrowth after the 2003 fires made walking in some areas difficult. I walked along the Cascades, over Jerusalem and Purgatory Hills to the Cascade valley. I had intended to then find a direct route towards the Cascade Trail. At one stage going down Purgatory Hill I had that moment of finding that the route to the east was impossible and that the route to the west was more impossible. Disconcerting. I then walked down the valley (after camping) to Cascade hut and on to Tin Mine Huts via the road.
We climbed The Pilot the following day and the day after we walked down the Ingeegoodbee River avoiding the road about a third of the way. It is a bit scrubby in the gorge below Tin Mine Huts but pleasant along the river in less steep areas. On The Pinch we generally kept to the steep road but the upper east gully has some interesting bits. Feral horse tracks are common and make walking very easy.

As a result of this exploratory walk I intend to take the usual group along the Cascades and camp. (there is water in the saddles but poor tent sites) Then down to Cascade Hut and on to Tin Mine Huts. We will probably walk along the Ingeegoodbee River about half the distance between Tin Mine Huts and the camp before The Pinch.This walk I will grade moderate hard for mainlanders.

I must include the the usual warnings. Map, compass, travel in groups if uncertain and maybe stay on the road.

[north-north-west]

That's a nice walk, robl. I've done most of that off the track, too but not sure how much our routes overlapped. Started via Dead Horse Gap, along Dead Horse Ridge, Bobs Ridge, Jerusalem, Purgatory, Paradise Hills, and then along the Charcoal Range over Wild Bullock to Stockwhip. Mostly easy going, but the drops from Paradise to the Charcoal ridge and then Stockwhip across to the Tin Mines had some awkward bits. Luckily it was some years before your walk and the regrowth wasn't quite as bad.

Water wasn't an issue. Plenty of soaks and small creeks just below the saddle between Purgatory and Paradise.

[greyim]

Bit on ABC Australian Story tonite :-O

[rcaffin]

Charcoal Range is quite nice (mostly), with some regrowth and a very faint track in places. Nav is definitely required. It's the last bit down to Pinch River which is exciting: they must have imported a bulldozer driver from Victoria. It is just a leetle steep in places.

[Mutley]

Any recent updates on the Bundian Way ? Sounds like a cracker and the potential to link other walks is great. have just reeived a reply from. John, who has written a book on the subject and is lobbying for more funds, to develop the track. I was hopig somone would have a GPX file. Hope John doesn’t mind me republishing hie email...

Hi Peter
Thanks for your enquiry.
Although it might take a while, I hope we'll be able to update our websites
with new information as soon as possible (when enough of the route is ready
for action). It's a big task being worked on right now. For the time being
every effort is going towards getting the entire 390km route open soon. It
would help if we had financial and whole of government support in this, it
does follow public lands, and everything depends on the support. We can put
you on a list for notification when developments along the track are ready
to go ahead, if you like.
Only one section, the Story Trail, of a few km around Twofold Bay near Eden
is currently open. It runs between Cocora Beach and Quarantine Bay in a
well-graded 2-metre walkway. Great to take a picnic for the deserted beach
halfway. In Eden there are also sections from Snug Cove along Aslings Beach
and round Lake Curalo of about 6km.
It is likely the whole walking route will open section by section. Better
details and maps will go online soon.
Although things might take a year or two now, it's all really worth waiting
for! It's incredibly scenic and the walking is varied from day to day.
Just about everything at the moment is being done voluntarily, so it's
happening slowly.
I'm now suggesting people make their opinions on getting such a significant
walking trail completed known to local NSW parliamentarians Constance and
Barilaro.

Best wishes

John

[Warin]

I have made a rough entry into OSM for it... it uses existing OSM ways and those are mostly roads not paths off the roads.
This will give you a GPX track and elevation profile .. but it is a road indication .. not a true bush walk. I expect some of it when finished will be a road walk rather than a bush walk, depends on property owners etc.
https://hiking.waymarkedtrails.org/#rou ... 2!149.0683

[robl]

I was asked recently about this walk and I added to my earlier comments as copied below.

In all I've been on five multiday walks in that area. Two were in the
Cobberas/ Pilot area. And the others were Tin Mine Huts area.
Without going into details about the surprising number of overdue
bushwalkers in my parties and the extremely difficult scrub in various
places I would suggest the following route for pleasure.


Day 1. Leave Dead Horse Gap car park early afternoon and walk up
Cascade Fire Trail for about 5 km and just before you reach the Bobs
Ridge saddle turn east and ascend Cascade Ridge. Proceed easily along
the ridge for about 2 km along horse tracks exploring rock shelters
and enjoying the snow grass plains. Gathering water from numerous
small tarns (puddles) look for a camp (maybe a bit short of 1817) with
a fine view of The Chimneys across the Jacobs River. These campsites
are exposed.

Day 2. The summit of Jerusalem Hill and the descent of Purgatory Hill
are rough and I expect that Paradise Hill is similar. So I would
suggest walking down to Cascade Creek from near 1817 and following
the creek to Cascade Hut for lunch. Afterwards walk down Cascade Fire
Trail to Tin Mine Huts where there is good camping. Strong walkers
could visit Tin Mine Falls on this day. (best viewed from the south or
the bottom and not the top)

Day 3. The Pilot summit day or a rest day. Ascend and return from The
Pilot. Strong walkers could visit Tin Mine Falls on this day also.

Day 4 . Proceed south east down the Ingeegoodbee River. If there has
been recent rain you will be forced to follow the Ingeegoodbee Track
after a few km. If not wet you will enter a gorge area with rapids
which is a bit scrubby not really pleasant. However beyond the gorge
it is possible to alternately follow the track or the river. About
five km before the Pinch Pass Track (various names) it is recommended
that you to follow the river and perhaps find indications of early
cattlemen activity while viewing the beautiful Ingeegoodbee. Find a
pleasant campsite at the last crossing of the Ingeegoodbee.

Day 5. A half km beyond the last crossing turn down the Pinch Pass
Track to the Pinch River campsite. (near the Snowy River). About four
km down the Track you can enter the the gully to the east and find a
cattleman's dam. And beyond, after one km, a nice dry waterfall. From
here sidle westish and find the road to the Pinch River. A car shuffle
can be completed on this day.

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The Volleys are in the pack.

[rcaffin]

the surprising number of overdue bushwalkers in my parties and the extremely difficult scrub in various places
One day we were coming back from Tin Mines with a girl from overseas keeping us company for a way. After a few hours she left the Fire Trail to take a short cut along the ridge. We shook our heads.
Some hours later while we were having lunch she emerged from the scrub. When she left us she was wearing long trousers. When she rejoined the track she was wearing rather tatty and frayed shorts. They were the same trousers actually ...

The scrub over Purgatory and Jerusalem is similar. Head high in places. That was before the fires, but I see no reason to think there has been much change.

Cheers
Roger

[robl]

An overdue bushwalker at Cascade Hut. He lost his tent pegs and a bit of skin and blood.
Fortunately he had needle and thread.

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