Dumphies to Coxes River Via Carlon & Breakfast Creeks, Return via Ironmonger Track 24th April 2018

I arrived at Dumphies to find the car park almost full, other times I have been here I have had the car park all to myself. Then the penny dropped, today was the day before ANZAC day.This is the closest car access to Splendor Rock. Many bush walkers camp overnight at Splendor Rock or nearby Mobb's Soak, so they can be at the rock at sunrise to remember fallen ANZAC bush walkers. I was thinking, this means the track would be inundated with tourist. Surprisingly after leaving the parking area I was completely on my own until I returned. 

Nearly all the first section down Carlon Creek had lots of stinging nettles, I did cop a few stings, I didn't notice them while running and walking, rather on the trip home my lower legs were rather itchy, gators or long leggings next time.

A couple of these Red Bellied reptiles raised my pulse somewhat. They both seemed quite sluggish, maybe due to it being quite late in the season. 

Aboriginal grinding grooves on Iron Mountain.

More Aboriginal masonry work, holes ground into the rock for unknown reasons, about 100mm diameter.  

The Coxes River is in that gorge, taken from Iron Mountain

A large recent (within the last 2 years) rock fall taken from the Megalong road on my way home. The Hydro Magestic is the white building on the top of the cliff just to right of the rockfall.

Stats for the day: distance 16.5 Km

                             moving time 190 minutes

                             total climbing 863 metres

                             estimated calories 1732

Pierces Pass to Victoria Falls Lookout & return

4th April 2018

Today was a 22 km out and back run/walk from Pierces car park through the Grose Valley and up the Western side of the Valley to Victoria Lookout. A little jogging mostly walking. Within a kilometre of starting down Pierces I almost stood on a Euastacus Sustralasiensis (Sydney Smooth Crayfish), by the time I had the camera out and ready to shoot, it had disappeared down it's burrow below one of the split logs that made the steps of the path.

The only human contact for this run was a couple of day tourists near the turn around point and a over night camper near the start when I was almost back to the ute.

My GPS recorded over 2 km of vertical ascent, I do think this figure is way to high. IE GPS error.

The weather was ideal mostly sunny.

The lowest point of the run, the Grose river crossing

My second sighting of a Euastacus Sustralasiensis in a tributary of the Grose

Victoria Falls