Contents


Section O click on thumbnail to see larger photo. Back

O CComb Saddle WCCOMSADDL (W) 96947/ 90532 down N to junction with Kero Spur Horsetrack MACLCCOMB8 97055/90859 through waypoints MACLCCOMB 7-2 to Macleay-Kero Spur junct MACLCCOMB1 (W) 00575/92725 4.9 km

180 minutes


 

1: 25000 Map

Projection

(AGD 66)

Waypoint Name Zone Eastings Northings

HASL

(metres)

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB1 56J 0400574 6592725

240

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB2 56J 0399725 6592050

468

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB3 56J 0399436 6591311

731

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB4 56J 0398800 6590950

785

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB5 56J 0398494 6590636

872

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB6 56J 0397950 6590500

923

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB7 56J 0397630 6590640

892

Winterbourne UTM MACLCCOMB8 56J 0397056 6590859

968

Winterbourne UTM CCOMBSADDL 56J 0396947 6590532

1026

Winterbourne UTM MACLKERWIN 56J 0399750

6592950

245
Winterbourne UTM MACLKERSUM 56J 0399752 6592576 250

This is one of the best ways to access the Macleay from the Cocks Comb, which was used previously by horseriders and trailbikes. Once you find the horsetrack, it’s a good even ridge with excellent views back to the cliffs, and across to the Macleay. There is the choice of two excellent campsites if you’re heading up the Macleay – see, Section R Photoguide.

 A fine morning in Cocks Comb Saddle, packing up.  This is near MACLCCOMB8 AG66 97056.90859, the start of the horsetrack that leads down to the Macleay via a long spur to the S of Kerosene Creek.  By now, the track is well defined, and in places there are signs that people maintained it, logs across little gullies, stumps of trees that would have made riding difficult.

You can only catch glimpses of the views at this stage- looking across Kerosene Creek headwaters towards Postmans Creek.

The tree nearly blocking the path is Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa). They are a welcome sight when you are climbing out of the gorges, as they usually grow near the top, you know you are nearly on top.

By now the track is very well defined, as you head around the end of the Cocks Comb…

...and start to get views back to the cliffs with their “Devil’s Post Pile” appearance.

 (the crest to the right of the photo is waypoint MACLCCOMB6) . The common shrub hereabouts is Native Broom (Jacksonia scoparia), a pea plant which manufactures nitrogen in nodules on its roots, pretty handy on such poor soil.

You can see how the Cocks Comb is guarded by cliffs on the north and east, and a big scree on the S. The horsetrack we have just come down is certainly the best route from this side.

The Native Broom is particularly thick here.

The ridge narrows…

… and gives some marvellous views. The very straight section of the Macleay below begins just above Kerosene Creek, and terminates at Blue Mountain Creek junction at the mid-left of the photo.

Starting to head steeply down, and that water is looking pretty inviting by now, if the knees can last.

Grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea species). Look under the outer fronds when it is raining, for great kindling. The fronds char off in fires, thus forming an insulating coating for the inner plant- it is very long-lived. Often found on very steep slopes.

John on last steep descent (W) 001.924 . (You need that trekking pole by now!)

 

 The track is very obvious in this narrowest part of the ridge.

The centre of the photo is where the Macleay comes down from the right, and meets Blue Mountain Creek on the left. The deep saddle above it is called Lorraines Pass by Armidale bushwalkers.

(view due N). At the bottom of the U-bend on the left is Kerosene Creek junction. Directly opposite it across the Macleay, about 50 m into the trees, is Summer Camp. Looking straight across is the open space of Winter Camp to the right centre. Then the straight bit of the Macleay up to the ski-jump of Lorraines Pass above Blue Mountain Creek junction. Barely visible at the top centre of the map is Enmore Long Point between Blue Mountain and Postmans Creek. (Section R for camp photos)
 Looking straight up Kerosene Creek, with the Cocks Comb cliffs on the left, and Baby Cocks Comb on the middle skyline.

Kerosene Creek coming in from the left to meet the Macleay.