Kanangra to Katoomba Walk

[AKBushwalks]

Hi all,
Just wanted to share our blog update for the K to K which we finished early this week. (Sept 1-4 2012). Hopefully it may help anyone else out there who is thinking of doing this walk soon. The log books have lots of room, the water points are not dry, the creeks aren't overflowing and are easy to cross. No problems we could see at all.
Cheers

http://mywebdots.com/bushwalks/?p=341

[LAMEA-Gals]

Hi there
Nice report - I have walked in this area many times and didn't realise there was a hut and water source so close to Medlow Gap. I will have a look next time I'm out that way.

By the way the track you took up to Splendour Rock sounds like the right one. Very steep and seems to stop below the cliffline. All you need to do is scramble up the rocks to the higher overhang and move along to the left for about 5 metres. Another little scramble up a rock and you are on an obvious track that takes you all the way to Splendour Rock. I'm not one for heights but find this scramble fine. Perhaps worth exploring when you are out this way again.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Enjoyed the trip report.
Would love to give this walk a try when I'm down in Sydney, but I'm solo hiking, probably not wise to attempt this on my own.

[Wollemi]

With over 1000 posts; this hints at an ability to solo hike K2K, Phillip.

I think $260 could be better spent by a sole person from Queensland than on a taxi out to Kanangra Walls from Katoomba, though.

This guy was looking for an alternative to a taxi -
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9832

[ULWalkingPhil]

With over 1000 posts; this hints at an ability to solo hike K2K, Phillip.

I think $260 could be better spent by a sole person from Queensland than on a taxi out to Kanangra Walls from Katoomba, though.

This guy was looking for an alternative to a taxi -
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9832

Yes, 1000 posts, I thought I was the only one to notice this, Achieved that milestone on my Birthday.
I love to solo hike. I do it a lot. So much fun, do what I want, walk my own pace. It's the best, but I do enjoy company at times, all depends on the person.

I read the $260.00 fees for taxi. That and the fact the tracks not all that easy to find in places will probably stop me from doing this walk solo.

Thanks for the link, I'll read it now.

PS, that link, did not take me long to read.

[Lindsay]

Great report, and the most detailed photos I have seen about this walk. This is yet another trip I am planning on doing, hopefully this summer.

[Wolfix]

Great report - thank you! I am very keen to do this walk. I am especially encouraged by your statement of your lack of extreme fitness as this is what usually deters me though I am actually moderately fit. If I had a car I would offer lifts to the start of the walk from Katoomba but I am currently vehicle-less. Might be worth putting out a call in the transport thread though for anyone planning to do it in one car. There are plenty of keen walkers in Katoomba who I'm sure would do it for less than $260!

[Allchin09]

Great, detailed report, shame you missed out of the route up to Splendour Rock! I have never heard or read about the hut you camped at near Medlow Gap which I find interesting. How did you find out about it?

[FatCanyoner]

How did you find the water in Lake Birrell? Did you drink it untreated? I remember being told year ago by an old walker (and long time local of the upper mountains) never to drink the water from that particular dam, no matter how desperate you were, but I can't for the life of me remember why.
There would have to be a hundred or more similar little dams through the Blue Mountains, put in many decades ago for firefighting. The water in most looks pretty miserable (much more brown than your description of Lake Birrell) but still good to have there in an absolute emergency. There would be 20+ along Scotts Main Range alone. I'd be curious to know if anyone ever drinks from them, and if they risk doing so untreated. Personally I prefer natural water sources, and have never had an issue with Mobbs Soak, even when it looked very dodgy during the last drought.

[Wolfix]

I would never drink untreated water since it is all potentially contaminated with Protozoa and is so easy to treat with UV. Some go their whole lives without catching giardiasis but I wouldn't take that risk. It's not just a tummy bug; it can permanently ruin your digestive system.

[FatCanyoner]

I've never ever treated water while bushwalking. I do make sure the water-source is completely within NP boundaries (i.e. no urban / industrial / farming runoff) but that is about it. I also reinforce the importance of proper hygiene with fellow walkers (don't poo near water courses and make sure you bury it properly!) to keep things safe.
I was a little less happy about it a couple years back in Davies Canyon, knowing that a few kilometres upstream of our camp was a very bloated (hairless and bleached white!) dead roo floating in a pool that we'd swum through earlier in the day...
I like to think that my intestines have a more interesting mix of bacteria than most people's!

[Wolfix]

Well bet of luck for avoiding the bugs. I have a paper stomach so I am very careful about drinking water.

[kanangra]

I must admit that I've never liked the look of the water from Lake Birrel. Personally I would alwayd boil first.

K.

[Bushgirl]

Thank you - really enjoyed your blog and have printed out your notes to read when we do the walk in a couple of weeks. Did you boil water along the way?