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.
|
|