Culoul Range Wollemi Creek Colo Pass 6

[rwildman]

Again, just a short update on current conditions in the Colo and the entry and exit points we took.
Walk done on Feb 28, March 1 and 2. Weather was hot and sunny (30 degrees or more). Four walkers.
We drove in on the Culoul Range road, which is still 2WD at the moment. There is a quite steep section (going down on the way in) a few kilometres in but manageable. There is also a boggy section just before the end where the trail breaks out onto the basalt layer but again, with care it is reasonable to negotiate. We were driving a Forester which may have helped.
The track from the car turnaround to the first junction is easy downhill and fairly clear - we didn't go up to Hollow Rock. The track from this junction then to Crawford lookout is now quite easy to follow except for just a couple of short plateau sections but you are just following the ridge anyway. The surprise for us was having to descend to the first rim of the cliff tops before we traversed around to the lookout itself but again easy to follow. The descent is mostly also easy to follow except on a couple rocky sections towards the bottom where we were required to double back before descending to the creek. Wollemi Creek is delightful especially as it was a hot day when we did this.
The walk around to the Colo junction was general easy with the boulder sections always taking their toll of your energy. There is a small grassy knoll high up at the junction but we camped on the sand just to be closer to the water.
Day two saw us walking easily down the middle of the river for only about an hour or so until we came across the huge rock fall which marks the Pass 6 exit. After checking out the pass to see if it was possible, as we had one amputee on board, we decided to just spend the rest of the day in the big pool right next to the camp spot. What a great place to spend a day. The rockfall across the river also made spa-like conditions near the rocks so we lazed around there as well.
Next day we attacked Pass 6 and it surprisingly had some very professional ropes installed (thank you whoever). One to get over the first obstacle of the fissure at the start and the next one to move across the gully and onto the southern side of the gorge. There was yet another not-so-good rope installed on the last small climb but we climbed up and used a rope of our own as well. If you take your time and look around the pass is obvious.
Once past the start of the pass, it is just a matter of crawling over creek boulders until it starts to flatten out. There is a creek junction two hundred or so metres from the Colo - make sure you head left unless you are trying to get up to the Boorai ridge. After about three hundred and eighty metres from the river, the creek starts to turn slightly left and heads into very scrubby country. You should see some pads here which indicate an exit up to the ridge edge. After only a short distance of scrub (80 metres) you should break out onto the original old road, now a reasonable track which then swings around the hill heading for the ridge proper. From her back to the car, the track is good and clear just up hill.
A really nice little loop walk taking in the fabulous cliffs of the Colo gorge. Just watch out for the unexpected spots of quicksand - my worst experience was down to the waist.