Bushwalk Australia

Too rich for my blood - I think the 600m ascent over 2km at the end was the most difficult bit for me. The 11km walk in with unremitting descent over poorly aligned slab-steps covered (in places) with leaf litter, rocks, etc was also a constant attention-focusing exercise in not taking a tumble. Not that there's anything one could do about it really, short of installing escalators, and of course the Rodriguez Pass wouldn't be passable (to me, at least) without some kind of steps.

More importantly, though, it is worth knowing that there's been a pretty significant rockfall at Beauchamp Falls which obliterated (guessing) 50m of track, leaving a bit of scree and some boulders through which one has to scout a way.

Most important to be aware of is the 30cm soil ledge forming an exposed traverse across the upper section of the rockfall - NPWS have bolted about 20m of cable to the cliff at roughly waist height, and you have to sidle across it. The immediate drop under it is only maybe 3-4 meters, to a sloping platform with another ... I dunno, 10m drop below that. All perfectly safe, as long as you hang onto the cable and don't slip. It felt like my own little bit of El Caminito del Rey, but I'm a great big wuss.

Clarification: I see the photo of the cable section here viewtopic.php?f=36&t=7454 which was taken before 21 August 2011, so about 18 months ago. The footpath depicted there has eroded such that there's no way you could walk it using the cable as a rail, but have to sidle along with toe pointing into into the cliff. It's at least a foot-length wide except for one part of maybe 40cm you have to step over, as there's not even a toe hold. The rock fall is immediately below this section.

After talking over the phone to the info centre I was told it was all in great condition. The fact that I was taking three kids under the age of 10 down was my concern. Under the guidance of the info centre we decided to go. I must say it was a little hairy getting across landslide. The plan was one at a time but kids being kids all followed through immediately. In hindsight I probably would not take kids along there again. They thought it was great til they seen what was on the other side of the drop.

Really. Interesting. I spoke to a ranger there about the cable shuffle, she seemed concerned. Shining me on, I guess.