Jamison Creek campsite/clearing size

[skibug]

Hi all,

Wildwalks refers to an informal spot to camp on Jamison Creek, about halfway between Kedumba Farm and Leura Falls. Can anyone tell me how many tents (2 person) it would have room for?

Also, any opinions on how potable that creek's water would be? I can treat the organic content with chemicals/boiling, but how much inorganic contaminant - heavy metals, pesticides etc. would you think it would have?

Thanks for any input,

Skibug.

[jonnosan]

Can't comment on the campsite as I don't recall having seen it. But I can say the water in the upper tributaries of Jamison Creek (ie near the Wentworth Falls station & shops) always look pretty disgusting, apart from the normal runoff from backyards you would have lots of runoff from the highway and train line.

[Allchin09]

Skibug,

I walked past the campsite a few weeks back on a Mt Solitary traverse. From memory, (I may be confusining it with another campsite on a creek) there wasn't a massive amount of space to camp in. It was just a small patch on the side of the fire trail just before the creek crossing (when heading towards Katoomba).

I reckon you couldn't fit any more than two small tents on the site, but I'm sure if you needed the room, you would find a spot on the side of the road nearby.

As for the water, I drank out of the Kedumba river (which the Jamieson flows into) after boiling and didn't have any issues. In saying that, it's not most pristine water you'll come across, but if it was flowing well I'd be happy to drink it after purification.

Hope that helps.

Alex.

[FatCanyoner]

Re water quality, I usually try to go by the rule of only drinking water where the entire catchment is in National Park. Despite that, I've drunk water from the Kedumba a couple times (twice from low down near Kedumba Clearing and once high up in the headwaters) without ill effect. Despite that, I wouldn't recommend it. There is a huge amount of urban and even industrial runoff that flows into Jamison Ck. Even now that they pipe the sewerage out of the mountains, you'd still be taking some risks. There is also the possibility of mine effluent (which is where a big chunk of heavy metals can come in). There is a large flow that comes into the Kedumba from the old mine at Katoomba. I assume there is some that comes out from the old Gladstone Colliery, which would flow into Jamison Ck.
From a personal perspective, I'd rather drink bad water than be dehydrated, so in drought or emergency conditions I'll drink from rivers like the Kedumba, Coxs, Grose etc where I know there is contamination. I'm even more relaxed with watercourses like Wentworth Ck where there is urban use in the headwaters, but it is well and truly watered down. It's up to the individual how much risk you're willing to take with water (and how tough your guts are!)

[forest]

I recall a small site just on the edge of the Rd before the crossing. Yeh, 2 maybe 3 tents would fill it I'd guess.

[wildwalks]

Hi Skibug

There is a small clearing where the 'track' from Solitary crosses the Kedumba River. The clearing is the flood plain for the creek - so the size can vary greatly - and fairly quickly

here are some photos
http://www.wildwalks.com/i.html?image_id=316454
the key image been

(wildwalks power user tip -- Each photo has a little + below it. Click on this to open a gallery of all images taken within a 100m radius of that image - good way to get a feel for an area)

Good place for hammock and good for tents if there is no flood. If the river is high (or at risk or rising) there are flat areas higher up along the track on both sides, but you will need to spread the tents out a bit

The other guys are right as well there are few clearings along the fire trail that can be helpful - again you can see these referenced in the wildwalks notes.

Happy walking.

Matt
(edit Jamison creek -> Kedumba River -- silly me)

[wildwalks]

Do you like my Aldi Tent

[skibug]

Thanks Wildwalks, I appreciate your help.

So I'll just clarify, all those pics below http://www.wildwalks.com/i.html?image_id=316454 are within 100 m of the crossing - even the fire circle? So at least 5 or 6 tent sites within 100 m? The actual creek-side clearing looks fairly rocky - why didn't you choose the small clearing with the grass?

Thanks again,

Skibug

[wildwalks]

within 100m of the tent (top) image (which is about 30m from the actually crossing.
Just on the creek edge is a nice beach - lovely camping on course sand - a bit further down the river are the larger rocks.
So if the river is at the same level no issue with 5or6 tents -- but it is a flood plain so very weather dependent.
Assuming fair weather you will get 5 or 6 tents in - but a bit close together.

I can't remember why I chose this spot to set up -- there where a few good options. I think because the weather was fine as was the forecast and sandy area would be lowest impact. I usually sleep in a hammock so the real question is why did I have a tent on that walk? (I don't remember sorry

[Chief]

All these photos are of Kedumba River camp site.
Jamison creek crossing is on the old STP road further up the valley.
Not much room for many tents at Jamison creek.

[wildwalks]

Thanks Chief -- my brain fart -- silly me -- sorry

Photos around clearing at Jamison Creek
http://www.wildwalks.com/i.html?image_id=317654

and Photos around clearing around Leura Falls Creek
http://www.wildwalks.com/i.html?image_id=318200

Leura Falls Creek was nice I think -- the clearing is off the side of the trail Jamison was just beside the trail, Leura Falls Creek was a much larger clearing


Matt

[Chief]

No prob Matt, i'll 2nd Leura creek as a nice campsite though.
Have never spent the night there but i plan on going back there one day, definetely better than Jamison.