Sally's Hole
13th & 14th August 2005

Written by Bryce R Messner.

We all gathered at Clive’s Shop at the New Adventure Centre at Lucknow all before the meeting time of 10.00am. Nick a prospective new member from Yetholme a communication guru with State Forests working out of Lithgow, was to meet us later this afternoon at the campsite.

The day a little dull & grey but saw us in good spirits as we made our turn to Blayney. We travelled through the little town of Millthorpe (a well maintained historical town with fantastic old buildings worthy of a stop if in the area).

The day starting to brighten up with a little sun and we passed the town of Carcoar, also worthy of investigation if out this way with its great museum and lots of picture perfect old buildings and if armed with a fishing licence, the Belubula River produces trout.

Moving on down the highway (Mid Western) we turn off at Lyndhurst a small town that you wonder why people live in these towns, consisting of a general store, closed down Service Station and some tidy, if overdressed homes.

Out past the golf course along an ever-increasing narrow road we eventually hit the dirt that would take you into Quart Pot on the northern side of Wyangala Dam foreshores if you kept going.

Along here at a secret location there is a nondescript turn into the forest, so insignificant that if you were speeding along you would miss it, well you guessed it I did. Backtracking a little we made our turn engaged diff lock (in my case manually as I still haven’t fixed since Cave to Caves in July).

The track was showing no signs of previous vehicles passing for some time, as there were lots of fallen trees and branches littering the track that we manoeuvred around to proceed. A little damp in places but not as damp as I had hoped, thinking that recent rains would muddy up the track. A couple of spots were tricky but the lack of traffic making the track almost hard to follow.

We arrived at Butchers Flat for morning tea, but decided that we would have lunch so we didn’t have to stop again and, as it was 11.30 and after an early start, appropriate. We moved off again tacking through the forest until we eventually coming to the typical red clay forest road of Roseberg Track, winding through thick pine forest.

Normally down the track here we turn left and drive past the long abandoned homestead/ forest working quarters, but on this occasion deciding to go straight ahead to discover new tracks.

Along here we came across a stone creek crossing that became a gorge that at sometime in the past must have had huge volumes of water deluge along its coarse as there were tons of piled timber along its shores up to 12 feet deep in places. Also further down here a severe rutted uphill section that had me grabbing low range as I was struggling but engaged quickly enough to overcome and get through. Not so David and his heavy 130 slightly bogged but enough movement backwoods for another go eventually making it.

We wind and wind and wind; over forest tracks hoping to locate the required track of Baldys Track, slipping in spots but of course we locate our track & turn right then left to start this section. It winds its way through forest of Scribbly Gums and black wattle not quite ready to burst into their yellow flowers, next week I guess.

The track is not as challenging as it has been in the past but still interesting and our visit to the spot of our 16 hour bogged four trucks saga of four years ago, hard to imagine now that the earth could be that wet then and this dry now.

We start our undulation section winding over switchback and spur and eventually come to our “No Slipons Past This Point” sign which descends very steeply to our campsite on Sally’s Hole Creek (real name changed to protect the site) and Sally’s Hole itself. We set up camp and are sitting down to beer at 2.30pm as Nick announces his presence over the UHF and meets up with us 10 minutes later.

Coming straight from work, still in his State Forest uniform and his brand new dark green Defender, white roof and all and no frills back to basics “worken truck”.

We had a brilliant star filled night and a terrific campfire with plenty of tall stories being told, to finish off a perfect day.

Sunday arrived and the area was covered with frost where there was no tree cover and most windscreens covered in ice. I got the fire going the billy on before the first of my fellow campers decided to join me. A hearty breakfast was cooked by all of us and after breaking camp a walk up to Sally’s Hole to view the waterfall and pond at it’s base, the reason for coming.

We all stared at the very steep ascent near camp, but looking at it wouldn’t get it done. I tackled it first and got to the top easily (different to last year) and the others followed all with success. We wound & bumped our way along the track turning off onto what is named “The Goat Track” a nasty little diversion when wet but easy on this occasion as it was dry (previous trip we had a winch-a-thon to get us all up).

We diverted off an unmarked track I know and came to a fairly rutted section that gave us no trouble now, but in the future will get worse as it was twice as bad as last time.

We wound out onto Pennsylvania Road where Nick took over to lead us up to a fire tower he had the keys to. Turning onto Koala Rd then onto “Track 6” we had found ourselves on an incredible track with just the slightest hint of water on it (the day after rain) would be a nightmare & I would guess impassable.

It wound itself upwards leaving the pine forest surrounds for native hardwood not long ago subject to a burn off and snaked up to the top of the ridge. Three quarters of the way up on a particular steep pinch, after Nick and I had passed wheel spinning slightly, behind us was Dave’s heavy 130 looming to be bogged to the axles.

Sure as eggs Dave goes down in a “Spring” broken through the surface and all the wheels are down, the rear the worst. The following two vehicles give aid while Nick & I are at the top. It is decided to put Clive’s chains on the front but on this occasion to no avail, just too heavy and steep. Then the hydraulic winch is brought into play, but this too fails, running off the power steering pump next to useless, Dave vowing to toss it at the first opportunity or pay $1200 to fix it with a Maxi-Drive PTO pump.

It is then decided to call me back to attempt a snatch, hoping that I also wouldn’t succumb. Driving down the descent and a 5 point turn later; we hook up with Dave’s new snatch strap (replaced after snapping 2 on the last High Country Trip). After two attempts the third one is successful and we are all away again.

Losing an hour or so here we head to the fire tower and have lunch while those brave enough climb it, on this day I opt out.

Looking at my watch after lunch, its 3.15pm and still aways to go to finalise on Mt Conobalas. Nick leaves us at the fire tower as he wants to explore a few more tracks here but we must press on.

Travelling out through Neville a tiny town, we pass by Cadia Gold Mine, when its finished in about 50 years, one of the richest in the world.

Finally we arrive at Four Mile Creek and cross to ascend ever upwards to 4975 feet to the top of the extinct volcano Mt Conobalas.

Near the top we encounter snow and stop for the obligatory photos and snow fights.

We eventually arrive at the summit to very cold condition, but sunny all the same.

Well this ended yet another Sally’s Hole trip very successfully, with no casualties and all looking forward to next years with the hope of rain and more snow at the end, those that didn’t come missed a great weekend.