Reedy Creek Chasm - Wilderness area

[dinna89]

I was thinking of attempting the Reedy Creek Chasm over the aus day weekend, but after some research i'm probably leaning towards not doing it.
There seems to be two approaches, one from the south via Brumby Point Track, and one via the east from Wombargo Track or Mount Seldom Seen.
I'm guessing you need a proper 4WD to get to the Brumby Point track access? Brumby Point track itself is a management track.

I'm thinking a manageable route for a 4 day hike would be

• Mount Seldom Seen- somewhere on the Buchan River
• Buchan River-Reedy Creek Chasm
• Reedy Creek Chasm-Somewhere on the sugarloaf track
• Sugarloaf track-Mount Seldom Seen

I've seen a YHA trip report (page 10) that says they accessed Buchan River from Mount Seldom Seen, and a Melbourne Bushwalkers trip that did the same in reverse, would someone be able to PM me with some details of this approach, as it's off track? I'm also looking for some info on how to get to the chasm from the confluence of Reedy Creek and Buchan River, is it pretty much walking up the stream? I'd also be interested in knowing if anyone knows the location of good campsites in the region?

For anyone thinking of the southern approach, Here are two references I've come across.

[wildlight]

Hi dinna89

Brumby Point intersection can be accessed easily by a 2 wheel drive vehicle. I was in the area in December 2015. It's every bit as good - if not better- that the road to Sheep Yard Flat on the Howqua. Two trucks could pass on the approach roads to Brumby Point Track,they're all wide and in great condition.
To answer your question about campsites, there are many small ones throughout the region. Would it be just one tent- or more? Campsites options shrink, as group size expands. Some good ones exist along the banks of Reedy Ck, coming upstream from Reedy Track.

Expect the walk up the creek section (from Reedy Track) to take all day, if you are coming from Wombargo.

You won't have to backtrack far from the chasm to camp on the creek bank, if you've walked the creek from Reedy Track. The final link you posted, has information about the Wombargo approach, as well as the Brumby Point approach.

Cheers
WildLight

[dinna89]

Thanks for the info wildlight
There's three of us, one tent each, we may have to get cozy. I'm leaning towards the Wombargo approach, I'm just trying to work how the off track section works, I've never done any serious off track walking before, and the linked sources get fuzzy on details for the off track sections.
Looking at the topo's it looks like taking the spur to the north of Mt Seldom Seen, aiming to emerge at Buchan River around Honeysuckle Creek.

I've also just realised that the approach to Reedy Creek is also off track, if anyone has any pointers for that section, that would also be appreciated

[wildlight]

hey dinna89

The scrub is not bad scrub. Now I don't know where you're from... but if you go to Grant's Picnic Ground Mt Dandenong or Kallista whatever it is, and head south up to the very end of the carpark (on foot) and walk for a couple of Ks on an MVO track, (more or less South) until the track starts to descend sharply after swinging left... the bush to the left of that track, just before the descent, would be the thickest you'd encounter coming from Brumby Point or Wombargo approach. And not a lot of it would be that thick.

The forest to Reedy is different- it's a drier area. Kind of similar twisted snow-gums and understory to what you get in the off-track areas of the Baw Baws. You'll be fine. If you can read a map- and you are following distinct features- not navigating a flat featureless area- you won't have any problems.

The bush there is not "5 km per hour" type bush through trackless terrain, for most people. Some people here are supercharged and nothing slows them down- my perspective is definitely not from that stable.

There will be the occasional thicker bits near the end of descents to water- but they're not a problem. It's surprisingly devoid of blackberries, too. The spurs are more broken and rocky on the crest than most in the Howqua Jamieson area- and the vegetation is woodier with less undergrowth. MickyB here on the forum is your man for that- he is a botany wikipedia, can give you more info on plants and habitats than I ever can.

I'm in Melbourne's South-East, if you want to catch up and look at maps, drop me a PM.

It would be awesome to read of your successful trip in there. I hope you do it.

Cheers

WildLight

**an edit to fix some typos created by what must be a spell-checker...?

[dinna89]

Gave this a go on the weekend. Moderately unsuccessful.

Made it to about 3kms from the chasm, then was confronted with the prospect of 500m of elevation loss (and then elevation gain when we'd be leaving) over 2k's of scrub that was thicker than anticipated. Decided it would take about 7 hours, and that we didn't have the energy for it, so we backed out and ended up driving out on Monday night.

Lessons learnt
- Scrub bashing is slow and tough - assume 1km max per hour.
- river walking isn't particularly tiring at the time, but is slow (2.5 km/hour), and the effort of walking in the water catches up with you.
- although it was expected, the Reedy Track west of the Buchan River has some interesting gradients

Thanks to wildlight for his help and information about the area. I might try the Brumby point approach next time.

[MickyB]

MickyB here on the forum is your man for that- he is a botany wikipedia, can give you more info on plants and habitats than I ever can.

Have just read this. Thanks for the compliment wildlight but there are plenty of people on this forum with a lot more knowledge than me. Always happy to try and help though

[JohnR]

Hi

I plan on doing this walk in the next few weeks and would be keen to hear what are the best map(s) for the area.

Thinking of entering via the Brumby Point Track and doing a circuit.

Cheers,
John