perry's look down-bluegum forest

[roopass]

Track notes read as u leave from perry's lookdown, its very steep, question is , is it to steep to go down with full camping gear, approx weight 15kg ?

[dingelberry]

No slow and steady wins the race .Its been a while since I was on that track and they were doing work on it.
Enjoy its a great part of the mountains .

[davidf]

15kg, how many weeks are you going for?

going really slow it would take half a day down. Plenty of rest spots. Dont let the spoilers get to you about bad water. I drink Grose water reguarly and never been crook. That may cut weight, maybe?

[roopass]

Tks Ding!, have a friend coming along who's not very experienced, we'll just take it easy, there's no hurry

[roopass]

15kg, how many weeks are you going for?

going really slow it would take half a day down. Plenty of rest spots. Dont let the spoilers get to you about bad water. I drink Grose water reguarly and never been crook. That may cut weight, maybe?

I'm carrying for 2, Tks for the water tip! David

[johnw]

I've done it numerous times with full camping gear, probably with ~15kg, although try to go as light as possible. It's manageable, just take your time as already suggested and enjoy the views. My RS knees always thank me at the bottom when I stop. Have usually sourced clean water from Orangutan Creek, which drains into Govetts Ck just a few hundred metres upstream from Acacia Flat. Some people may drink from the Grose with no ill effect. Personally I won't risk it unless treated, by all accounts Giardia infection is not pleasant. YMMV.

[LachlanB]

I thought the reason the Grose was supposed to be off limits was due to heavy metal contamination from abandoned mines upstream?
(as opposed to Govetts Ck, which runs past Acacia Flat)

[Chunder fuzz]

I was 'researching' /googling this the other day to plan a hike with some friends from Pierce's Pass to Blackheath via Acacia flat, there's heavy metal pollution from an old upstream mine in the Grose. There's a bushwalk forum thread on it http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=9922 too, IIRC most recommended getting water from Orang utan/Govetts.

[davidf]

My readings have been firstly yes there is heavy metal pollution, yes thats bad, you would not want to drink it for weeks, I don't think a cup of tea, some deb and bowel of porridge will knock you off too soon. That said, yes the creek options look like the best water you can drink, next time I'm down there I will have a slurp.

[Chunder fuzz]

yea you'd have to drink a fair bit to cause a problem.

[Neo]

Bowel of porridge? Says it all!

[solohiker]

I've had this on my to do list for a while. You've inspired me to do it this year!

[roopass]

GO FORTH SOLOHIKER INTO THE ABYSS OF THE MYSTICAL BUSH

[rcaffin]

It's an NPWS staircase. Not what one would call difficult.
There is a known best time for the ascent, but I forget what it is. I know it is a bit less than 55 minutes (Grose to saddle), because that was our time with packs.

Cheers
Roger

[roopass]

I suppose u wouldn't know how long with packs, from perrys look down to acacia flats campground ?, rc

[johnw]

I suppose u wouldn't know how long with packs, from perrys look down to acacia flats campground ?, rc

It's an NPWS staircase. Not what one would call difficult. There is a known best time for the ascent, but I forget what it is. I know it is a bit less than 55 minutes (Grose to saddle), because that was our time with packs.

Sounds about right Roger. I haven't walked that track for some time but can recall doing it with a full pack in under an hour going up. Have done it with a light day pack in much less time (ahem, some years ago); I think in less than 40 minutes but my memory is hazy. Unfortunately age is unkind and going down anything reasonably steep these days takes me much longer, steps or not . Actually steps are worse on the knees. Went in via, the less steep, Pierces Pass recently with full pack and my knees screamed at me all the way despite getting pack weight down substantially in recent years.

It would probably take me at least 90 minutes going down Perrys with full pack these days, although I believe the track has been improved near the bottom. Maybe another 10 minutes to Acacia Flat. YMMV.