Bushfire damage: Wollangambe River and Mt Wilson

[FatCanyoner]

G'day folks,

For those who are interested, I was out at Mt Wilson yesterday helping with a bit of cleanup / recovery work. In the late afternoon we spent a little time checking out the fire damage to the Wollangambe River. It is fair to say the fire burnt through hot and hard. It burnt right down, basically to the river edge. Assuming all the nearby canyons were hit in the same way, it is fair to assume any part not in an actual canyon slot will have been burnt. The brown / black hills stretch on as far as the eye can see. Bushwalking areas in the upper 'Gambe will likely look much the same.

I've published a selection of photos, and a bit of detail from our time up there yesterday, here: http://fatcanyoners.org/2013/10/26/bushfire-damage/

[Onestepmore]

Thanks FatC
Good report, very stark and sobering pictures

[perfectlydark]

Cheers. Hard to think just a week prior I was in the upper wollangambe

[michael_p]

Thanks FC. I was thinking about how much damage had been done around Mt Wilson this morning. As OSM said very sobering.

[FatCanyoner]

Yeah, it's amazing how quickly things can change. I've done some amazing trips this year in places that have now burnt. I'm also waiting to see some photos a friend took in the upper 'Gambe on Friday, where he was for work. He got photos of Goochs Crater and some other nearby spots after the fire. Supposedly it burnt very hot in those parts too, although he reported positive signs too.
It'll be a shame to not be able to explore these areas any time soon, although it is well worth giving the bush some 'breathing space' if it helps it bounce back from the fire quicker.

[Rob Gosford]

I've published a selection of photos, and a bit of detail from our time up there yesterday, here: http://fatcanyoners.org/2013/10/26/bushfire-damage/

crikey, photo #4 showing the sun, is a most poignant shot !

last week as i was driving west on Wyong Road up here on the Central Coast just before sunset, the sun looked HUGE, so close you could touch it.....and dark blood red ! Just wish i had the camera at the time

thanks for displaying the photos FC.....




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[iandsmith]

Personally I'm not a canyoner, but thanks for taking the time to post your report. Very interesting. We were at Mount Wilson and Mount Victoria about 10 before it all happened and remarked at the time, "Gee, this place looks like a bushfire about to happen". How prophetic in hindsight. Cheers and good luck all

[Bushwalker99]

G'day folks,

For those who are interested, I was out at Mt Wilson yesterday helping with a bit of cleanup / recovery work. In the late afternoon we spent a little time checking out the fire damage to the Wollangambe River. It is fair to say the fire burnt through hot and hard. It burnt right down, basically to the river edge. Assuming all the nearby canyons were hit in the same way, it is fair to assume any part not in an actual canyon slot will have been burnt. The brown / black hills stretch on as far as the eye can see. Bushwalking areas in the upper 'Gambe will likely look much the same.

I've published a selection of photos, and a bit of detail from our time up there yesterday, here: http://fatcanyoners.org/2013/10/26/bushfire-damage/

[FatCanyoner]

G'day folks,

I've just added a new post with a few dozen photos of the bushfire damage, and first signs of recovery, around the Newnes Plateau and upper Wollangambe areas. This wilderness area, popular among bushwalkers and canyoners, was hit by the fastest moving, hottest, most destructive parts of the Lithgow fire last month.

While NPWS park closures will continue to keep the public out for some time, ecologist and bushwalker Roger Lembit has been continuing his work in the area. He has been studying the Newnes Plateau for more than three decades, including the impacts of the last big fire in the region in December 1997.

Roger has kindly shared some of his photos, taken over several visits to the area in recent weeks, which show the impact of the fire and the small signs of recovery already beginning to show. He has also provided some insights into the positive signs for the recovery of the bush in the area.

http://fatcanyoners.org/2013/11/20/bush ... s-plateau/