River height readings?

[puredingo]

Last Sunday I headed off for a couple of days in the bush. This particular walk meant crossing the Wollondilly river, so I checked the water levels on the BOM site which indicated it had dropped almost back to normal. Seeing it had been a good 7 days of nice weather since the big rains I thought it would be pretty accurate but on a approach yo the river I was met with a still raging torrent.

I don't know much about how they gauge the levels, so I'm assuming the depth is right even though the width of the river was way wider than normal? If you HAD to cross it it was doable but risky (especially with a full 3 night winter pack) but the flow was awesome.

Anybody else have any river crossing troubles over the weekend?

[michael_p]

I was in Nattai NP on Sunday and I wouldn't say we had problems but every creek we crossed was running really well. In a few spots we put some branches across the creeks so those without waterproof boots didn't get their feet too wet.

Considering the staggering amount of rain I would imagine it will take a fair while for the water to drain away.

Cheers,
Michael.

[puredingo]

What did you get up to on Sunday, Michael.

[michael_p]

Checked out the Martins Creek area north of Wattle Ridge.

[puredingo]

Hmmm just as I suspected. I think I may have been in your footsteps today.

[michael_p]

Wow. Great minds think alike.

Did you make it down to the waterfall and mini canyon?

[robl]

A couple of extra sites to try to guess rainfall and downstream water levels.

http://www.hydro.com.au/water/lake-levels

http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/realtime-data/hydro-rivers

[puredingo]

Thanks for that Rob.

Didn't get that far Michael, I ended up doing a loop type thingy from the car park out to a newly pushed track that links the Nattai Rd to long nose ridge fire trail. Then back along long nose to nearly the car but dropped into martins creek then down the creek until you climb the ridge that dumps you back at the car.

I seen your bush bridge over the creek and a cairn built heading off from the base of the last ridge, assuming it leads you down stream?

[michael_p]

I ended up doing a loop type thingy from the car park out to a newly pushed track that links the Nattai Rd to long nose ridge fire trail.

So that track does go all the way up to long nose road. We didn't go up to long nose as the turn off to the waterfall is on the nattai rd side of martins creek.

a cairn built heading off from the base of the last ridge, assuming it leads you down stream?

Sure does. We hurriedly put the cairn there for future reference. NPWS have put out a ton of flag tape all the way down to where this track intersects with the nattai-long nose trail. The flag tape made it relatively easy to find our way, even through the swamp (it really is a swamp at the moment). NPWS have done a lot of burning off down the creek so the track appears and disappears as you walk along.

Our walk route:
We walked past the NP gate. Took the trail about 100m in on the right (by the sounds of it this is the one you exited on). Dropped down off the plateau and turned left at the intersection. Crossed the swamp and continued on the trail as it winds its' way down to the intersection with the nattai-long nose trail. Turned right and headed down to martins creek. Crossed the creek before realising we missed the waterfall turn off. Back across the creek and up the hill a bit before spotting the turn off to the waterfall. Walked down to the waterfall. Had lunch. Only thing different on our return walk was we turned left after the swamp and walked up to nattai road not back up the ridge track.

Hope this make sense.

Michael.

[puredingo]

Michael do you have a GR for the waterfall or at least a general whereabouts? Was there any descent camp sites.

With that new track pushed through, not to mention Troys, starlights and the slott way there is many a circuit to be had in that little area.

[michael_p]

Michael do you have a GR for the waterfall or at least a general whereabouts? Was there any descent camp sites.

Some waypoints:
Waterfall turn off approx location: -34.263233,150.412083
Waterfall: -34.258957,150.408798
Google satellite photos of this area are poor and the waterfall location is in a shadow. SIX maps has much better aerial photos.

Lots of scrub down at the waterfall not much room for a tent. You could find a spot up the hill a bit. Plenty of room back at the fire trail.

With that new track pushed through, not to mention Troys, starlights and the slott way there is many a circuit to be had in that little area.

Absolutely. It is now possible to do some interesting day, overnight and multi-night walks within 10km (ATCF) of the car park.

Michael.

[michael_p]

I forgot to mention earlier. One of my companions had done this walk before so I was able to leverage her knowledge.

Michael.