Trip down Lea River - Eons ago

[taswegian]

Someone asked me where the Lea River Falls are.

For those unfamiliar, Lake Lea drains northwards from the northern end of the Vale of Belvoir (at Middlesex on way to Cradle Mt), ending a few kms downstream at what was the confluence with the Iris River at Moina. (now flooded under Lake Gairdner)
Here's a selection of old slides from the trip my brother and I did about 40 years ago.
It would rank amongst the most scenic walks. Truly a rewarding walk that requires effort at times.
There are old mines along the way, beautiful forest and at that time a lovely old hut still well preserved.

Simply put it was wild and beautiful. The slides don't do it full justice so if need be make your own journey and see it first hand. You won't be disappointed.

Lake Lea

upper reaches

upper reaches

cont.

[taswegian]

Cliffs along the way

Below Falls River (Lea Falls downstream form here)

cont.

Last edited by taswegian on Sat 19 Jan, 2013 9:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[taswegian]

start of challenging section

The main falls. There are other cascades

I imagine there are fish in the river. We tried but failed to make a catch.
The Iris at Moina in the farming land was teaming with fish back then so can't see why the Lea wouldn't have some.

For others to follow and enjoy the tranquility
Richard

[Davo1]

Thanks for sharing Richard.
Looks inviting.
Wish I was 40 years younger

[greyim]

So how did you travel? walk and swim? tubes??

[taswegian]

We walked whole way.
Would have waded some sections but nothing deeper than knees from memory.

There's a section(s) that only way would have been a swim.
That's when we scrambled up the cliffs.
Those weren't overly taxing but certainly required effort made worse with packs.

I would imagine you could take some device to navigate the deeper sections but would depend on season and how high Lake Lea is as water flow maybe low.

The last section before Lake Gairdner could be a mess now. But you could opt out at the old road across the Lea and head back over to the Iris River.

[greyim]

again I think excellent pics share Taswegian... I presume it was all done in one very long day? Still on my bucket list :-0

[ofuros]

Fished bits & pieces of the Lea River over the years...havn't walked the whole length but
i have traced my finger along its wriggly course while hunch over a paper map
on a dark rainy night.

Slides...how far we've come in so little time.
Thanks for sharing those historic beauties, Taswegion.

[taswegian]

Thanks.
That was an overnight trip.
We were both fit but not sure how enjoyable it would be as a single day bash.
Back then walking out to the confluence involved extra that today one could miss and make a shortcut over the ridge to the Iris bridge.
Slides. Certainly made one conscious of what and how to photograph. Far from modern SD card storage capacity and select from that.

That trip still has a special place in my heart.
Couple of weeks back I visited The Vale and looking out across Lake Lea it all came back.