Climbing Mt Bowen - Hinchinbrook Island

[srforum112]

I’ve just returned from walking the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island. Our party had planned to walk up Mt Bowen but decided not to after talking to two other parties that had attempted the climb the day before we met them.

Qld Parks advised us that no rangers have climbed to the Mt Bowen summit so could only provide limited information on the climb conditions and this was not helpful and as it turned out to be partially incorrect (walking times and camping on saddle)

This may help other walkers planning to climb Mt Bowen using the route from Little Ramsay Bay via Warrawilla Creek

The walk up Warrawilla Creek takes approximately 9 hours and becomes very hard when the river becomes steep (closer to the saddle). There are allot of trees that have fallen over the river bed due to Cyclone Yasi.
You traverse boulders along the creek bed
there is an camping area approximately 3 hours from little Ramsay Bay on Warrawilla Creek that can accommodate 2 -3 tents. A good plan is break up the climb by camping here on the first day
We were told to carry minimal gear, only what you need.
There are a number of creek beds that join Warrawilla Creek and it is easy to accidentally follow one of these side creeks, especially as Warrawilla Creek narrows higher up the mountain. Stay right. One walker placed a can on a rock at a creek junction indicating which creek bed to follow. There is also old tape still on trees higher up the climb marking the correct creek bed to follow (pink and white tape). You need to look for it as it can be on fallen vegetation.
The saddle camp site has room for only one tent, not two as advised by Parks. We were a party of three and were advised to take one tent and to all sleep in this tent. This would also reduce pack weight and make the ascent easier for all
There was fresh water available 100m west of the saddle (as of June 2012)
To ascend the summit, say right of the false summits.
Two groups attempted the climb. One party reached the saddle and descended, the other party planned to reach the summit in one day but turned left before left before the saddle and ended up bush bashing through scrub and could not traverse the granite cliffs. and thus descended.

Enjoy the climb and views if you plan to climb Mt Bowen.