Bushwalk Australia

G'day folks,

Last weekend we had an amazing chance experience on a bushwalk in the Blue Mountains. A friend of mine is heading back to Italy, and this was to be her final overnight walk. Unfortunately the weather was brutal, as you'd all know, so plans had to keep changing. In the end we decided on a fairly bludgy walk to a nice big camp cave. Our destination was Gooches Crater.

I'm sure many people on here have been to the crater before, and many more will have seen photos of of the bright-green swamp surrounded by impressive sandstone cliffs and pagodas. But what we discovered on arrival wasn't the usual crater, it was a lake. Like one of those alpine lakes in Tasmania. The swamp was flooded, and with enough water to swim in. Apparently this is the first time in about 30 years that Gooches Crater has been a lake. The last time was after a similar torrential downpour in 1981!

Anyway, here's a pic of the lake for you all. And Mary's full trip report is here: http://fatcanyoners.org/2013/03/02/gooches-crater/

Nice place! Terrible name, however.

FatCanyoner wrote:G'day folks,

Apparently this is the first time in about 30 years that Gooches Crater has been a lake. The last time was after a similar torrential downpour in 1981!

a07.jpg

I think this is highly unlikely. I don't think anyone would have continually monitored the water level over the past 30 years. There was also a lot of heavy rain last summer -and it probably turned then into a lake too for some period. And probably a few other times as well over the past 30 years or so.

The crater was reported by well known bushwalker Nick Gooch (Kameruka Bushwalking Club) in the 1970's - and was then referred to as "Goochs Crater" by his fellow bushwalkers -and the name stuck - becoming an official name in 2004.

Dave

Strider wrote:Nice place! Terrible name, however.

Why? Frenchman's Cap sounds terrible, too - it's a mountain made of rock not felt, or that's what I saw. Or Bay of Fires - last time I was there we anchored in water, not fire.

Gooches Crater is named after Nick Gooch. It was formally named so after application by Springwood Bushwalking Club to the appropriate NSW gov't department after Nick's passing (while commuting to work while cycling). Uni students supposedly asked for a good place to walk overnight with public transport nearby; other staff at Paddy Pallin of years ago would reply to try Gooches Crater. Nick worked there at the time and took notes of reports, and his own thoughts on places visited.



I'm scared to open the TR. It's surprising that the locale was even named, isn't it?

Wollemi wrote:

Strider wrote:Nice place! Terrible name, however.

Why?

See here
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gooch

Strider wrote:See here
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gooch

Well played mate, although I can assure you there is no "gooch" on display in the trip report.

I wonder how many other places have been named after people or innocuous things, only to have slang dirty them up years down the track?

Goohces was full same time last year.

Mark

buggeriamold wrote:Goohces was full same time last year.

You had sunshine too! We had to ensure the rain for our swim in the 'lake'!!!

FatCanyoner wrote:

Strider wrote:See here
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gooch

Well played mate, although I can assure you there is no "gooch" on display in the trip report.

I wonder how many other places have been named after people or innocuous things, only to have slang dirty them up years down the track?

This is what I have to live with every day My married name is Gooch. My son and I were only talking about how often he get this reference and it is every day. He goes to a boys school.

rogo wrote:

FatCanyoner wrote:

Strider wrote:See here
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gooch

Well played mate, although I can assure you there is no "gooch" on display in the trip report.

I wonder how many other places have been named after people or innocuous things, only to have slang dirty them up years down the track?

This is what I have to live with every day My married name is Gooch.

You knew what you were getting into. No excuses!

Huh! It was just a surname when I married him!

I think it was D'Ali G who dirtied up the name in the 90's.

Just kidding mate. I guess it's a sensitive...area for you. Sorry.

No not worried. At least I can go back to my other name. My poor sons can't LOLOLOL.

I should make the effort to see the Crater next time I'm in NSW I guess.

Remember it's Goochs Crater, not Gooches Crater. It would be Gooch's Crater, but by convention, official place names drop the apostrophe.

http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/name_search/e ... MnqwwptLTR

Lake Gooch is back. Catch it while you can!