Searching for Caves in the Budawangs: When things don't go to plan

Рет қаралды 3,832

Күн бұрын

Join me on Patreon: / kategrarock
or please consider becoming a channel Member:
/ @kategrarock
The original plan for this video was an epic 7 days exploring the Budawangs in Morton National Park. I wanted to explore the area and visit many places I have been dreaming about for years. I took the week of work I had spent many days planning and organising. The weather was looking cold but good. However, at the end of the first day the wind started to pick up. I was still comfortable camping, tucked up safe in a cave/overhang I discovered. The next day as I hiked further into the wilderness the wind continued to blast though in gusts. I was starting to worry as the tall burnt forest started to bang above my head. I hiked to a high point and got reception to check the weather. Sadly I discovered a gale force wind warning had been issues for my area with a severe weather warning for damaging winds. I was devastated 1.5 days into a 7 day hike I had to make the tough decision to hike out.
I'll be back to try again when I get the time.
Although it wasn't quite what aI had planned it was still a brilliant Australian hiking adventure cave camping in the Budawangs. I love wild camping and discovering new areas and I can't wait to get back out to this remote wild area.
I’m an ultralight hiker, hiking in the Australian winter I had just over 4kg of food for 7 days and my equipment weighed 6.45kg
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land, I pay my respect to Elders past and present.
For the video of whats in my pack: • What's in my pack: pac...
For the video of what food I took: • Overnight hiking food ...
The frog App I use is FrogID: www.frogid.net.au/
Some info on how amazing Lyrebirds are: www.theage.com.au/environment...
For a full rundown of what is in my pack including details about weight check out my hiking website www.kategrarock.com
NOTE: All equipment was purchased with my own money. I have no affiliations with any brands. I just like to chat about cool gear.
For a packing list see
www.australianhiking.com/hikin...
Thanks for watching.
If you enjoyed this video please like, subscribe and leave a comment.
Contact information
Personal website: www.kategrarock.com/
Instagram: / kategrarock
twitter: / kategrarock
Music by Joshua Wellington
The Brumby
What have I done
Ukulele Jam
Echoes of a former life
Rolling with the punches
Bucket Song

Пікірлер: 79

@angelicamason1650 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing us this beautiful part of the world, Kate.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

My pleasure - thanks for the lovely comment - made my evening :)

@amandadaisydogwanderings 3 ай бұрын

thanks kate, i love how much i learn from you watching your videos!

@KateGrarock 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for the lovely comment. I really appreciate it. Happy hiking to you

@rachelvine6808 3 жыл бұрын

You scored a lyrebird feather---special!!! Awesome video and the sprouting trees are so pretty.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

The best hey. 😀😀😀

@michaelodonnell4467 3 жыл бұрын

Great video's Kate, thanks

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot. I can’t wait to get back in there

@flash2mc Жыл бұрын

Brilliant!

@KateGrarock Жыл бұрын

Cheers

@cja888 3 жыл бұрын

Good call. Not worth the risk in bushfire country. I hiked the Great South West walk in Vic early July before regional lockdown. My right knee started playing up due to a tracking issue which caused a shin splint to start out of Nelson. So frustrating. Sometimes it was fine, sometimes painful. In the end I decided another 5-6 days of food and hiking on sand could and probably would have injured me and I was solo so I pulled out at Nelson. The hardest part was indecision. Once I knew what I was going to do I was ok

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Totally agree it’s the process of making the decision hey. It’s so hard on your own. But yes as soon as you make the decision it feels good. How good is the great south west walk. Happy hiking.

@anthonygrace1807 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kate thanks for the video I really enjoyed it. As for calling it quits on a hike we have never done it but we have called it quits before we started cause conditions were going to be bad or high risk of fire. Thanks again

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Anthony - great to hear from you. Thanks for the kind words. Yes always good to call it early :)

@MandyCreighton 3 жыл бұрын

Budawangs epics, the stuff of legends and lasting memories... Several hours battling the scrub to travel less than a kilometre across the top of Sturgiss Mountain on a hot January day... Planning a trip from Long Gully up and over Mt Owen then not finding the pass to get up through the cliff line and having to retreat and camp overnight on the way back down with minimal water... But we keep going back, such a magic place

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

haha sounds like a typical budawangs experience - never a dull moment.

@heathertuynman6592 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kate, I've just started watching your videos after a link you put on a fb hiking forum re food you take out hiking with you. I just wanted to say I love your outlook and positive attitude! We can't always choose the music but we can choose how we dance to it! I also love the little bits of info you give about the wildlife/eco system you give along the way. Thank you for sharing with us! I've just read a book called deep survival, it covers the psychology of how/why we sometimes get ourselves into bad situations and you absolutely made the right decision... tough as it is at the time! It's too easy, after the circumstances change/new info comes to light, to stick to the original plan because you had your hopes set on a goal. Kudos to you for making the hard but smart decision!!

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Heather - i replied to this but some how it disappeared. Thanks for the lovely comment. I actually love that book and listened to it while hiking the cape to cape. I also love the science of fear. Happy hiking

@heathertuynman6592 3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock I’ll have a read of the Science of fear, thanks for the recommendation 😊 I’m always looking for good reads to add to my list!

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

@@heathertuynman6592 so good to talk to someone who has read deep survival 😀😀😀

@helenwallis5914 3 жыл бұрын

So loved this episode, thank you .

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Helen. I can’t wait to get back out there. Hope you are well

@seanobrien698 2 жыл бұрын

This video was a great lesson in making the right call - getting out of a tricky situation and then being resilient about it, seeing the positive and not the negative. A vital skill in bushwalking. What part of the Budawangs was this, northern end?

@KateGrarock 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Sean, yes was hard but better to hike another day. Yep its the northern section near the nerriga entrance round Quilties

@ShazBookOwl 2 жыл бұрын

Always best to make the safety first call. We have never collectively had to pull out of an overnight hike; we do have a friend who calls it sometimes though, and luckily she was able to organise a lift home or to alternative accommodation... So not from a completely remote spot (e.g. GNW). Of all the weather elements, wind is by far the most dangerous - falling trees are real and present danger in the Aussie outdoors. And they sound like a car crash when you hear them... so... Silver lining - you did get to spend a night out in the bush - and you know the wilderness will be there, waiting, next time the conditions are right. Thanks for sharing Cheers

@KateGrarock 2 жыл бұрын

Totally mate. Wind is a scary one. Especially now in the fire affected landscape. Th is for watching and happy hiking

@FreedomOnFoot 3 жыл бұрын

You definitely made the right call to bail given the conditions. It’s so disappointing to have to do it but safety of course always has to come first. I hiked the Overland Track last year, starting it with a friend who unfortunately came underprepared with wet weather gear. On the first day she got soaked through within a couple of hours and started to become hypothermic. She started becoming slightly delirious due to her body temp starting to drop and I had to really keep her focused on just putting one foot in front of the other so we could get down into the valley to the safety of the hut. Fortunately we got to the hut after being in a really dangerous situation up on an exposed plateau with freezing gales and pouring rain. It took a few hours of her being wrapped up in two sleeping bags with a hot water bottle and hot drinks for her body temperature to stabilise. Was very touch and go there for a bit. She had to make the decision to turn back from there as the weather was set to get colder and remain wet for almost the whole week and she just didn’t have suitable clothes for the conditions. I offered to quit as well but she said that would make her feel even worse if she killed my hike. I walked her almost all the way back out the following day in even worse conditions to a point where I knew she was going to be safe and then headed back to the same hut for a second night to continue my trip. Made for a very stressful start to the hike but could have turned out much worse for my friend. The rest of it after that was an absolute blast with snow and all, in February! It was disappointing it had to end that way for my friend but there was no other choice for her to make in that situation. Gotta respect nature and always put safety first. Hope you can get back out to the Budawangs soon!

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Wowzers that’s epic and so scary. So glad you made some good decisions there and your friend was ok. Must have been some very scary hours. It’s always good to hike another hike. I got back out this weekend. It was amazing

@scarps113 3 жыл бұрын

Love hearing frogs on a hike👍 agree always a good sign of a healthy environ.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

They are amazing hey. Happy hiking and happy frog hunting

@kevinbrennan5113 3 жыл бұрын

As we say in Scouting, -" Do Your Best". You certainly did that, young lady. Common sense, wins over insanity, every day.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Kevin yep i'll be back

@hikerinaustralia 3 жыл бұрын

Nice to see lots of water and re-growth. Some sections looked so lush and green. :) Better to listen to your gut and walk out early than get taken out on a stretcher. When you are out solo all by yourself you need to be extra cautious. You made the right call.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks yes - I'll be back one day. It's nice to see the green popping though I am excited to see the wildflowers this spring too :)

@danielschmidt8695 Жыл бұрын

Hey Kate- really enjoyed this little vid- love all the random info you throw in along the way. Would you be kind enough to give the coordinates of your waterfall? I’m about to take 5 days off and keen to spend it in the Budawangs.

@KateGrarock Жыл бұрын

They Daniel sorry got to this a bit late. Happy to chat if you send me an email. It probably doesn’t flow that often and the regrowth might be getting a bit crappy

@margueriteleahy4585 3 жыл бұрын

When you started talking about frogs I thought “I’ll mention the app” next sentence, Kate’s all over the app! Of course!

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Oh how good is the app. I have been loving it. It feels so good to be out hiking, to help take little scientific observations and help in a tiny way.

@margueriteleahy4585 3 жыл бұрын

Kate Grarock I’m a Geologist in a past life so science is a definite interest (Now a train driver). I love those rock outcrops.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Marguerite Leahy OMG I need some more geology knowledge. I simply love it. I got a book on Morton National park geology. Now I just need to download it into my brain 🙂

@DebOxy 3 жыл бұрын

WOW the Budawangs are still fire impacted, this is going to be a slow recovery from such hot fires. I know you watched my video up above the dam at Tallowa, it was crook then, slow recovery all over i think. You did the safe thing listening to your gut feelings and pulling the plug, no one will say anything indifferent to your decision Kate, so i say good call. We had a similar thing happen a few years back, up on the Shoalhaven River, we kayaked for several hours, found a nice camp spot and for some reason of what i could say is "dread" came over me, I could not set up camp it was the weirdest of feelings and being so disappointed and peeved, packed up and paddled all the way back to our car, the storm hit us 30 mins from our car, it was like a hurricane and the rain and pelting hail stung, two drowned rats we looked like, but we did laugh our heads off loading the ute back up. Two weeks later we did it all over again, same paddle same camp and there were trees down all over..OMG, we made a good call after all . We still talk about this to today. Look forwards to your next outing, Cheers Deb (Mash Potato) :-P

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Wow such an amazing thing intuition hey. You gotta listen to it I absolutely agree. That’s an epic trip with the hail. I love that area. Thanks for sharing it. Happy hiking to you.

@NathanaelCBR Жыл бұрын

I am probably too prudent when it comes to pulling the plug on a hike, but I try to quantify the risk and add up a score based on likelihood of injury, what supplies I have and if I'm prepared to stay out overnight if needed, heat stress, waterways, subzero overnights so if I score like a 3 or 4 then it's a no-brainer to pull out.

@KateGrarock Жыл бұрын

Absolutely always good to know that hey. I think as I get older I’m better at assessing that more rationally. I love the evolution of one’s hiking life hey. The different priorities and the learning yourself. Cheers Nathaniel

@rlhydn3438 3 жыл бұрын

I remember one of the creepiest sounds was a really big tree creaking and cracking under the breeze. Was near Mount Tarn, the bush was so wild and overgrown. But yeh, big willies, feeling very tiny amongst the giants. Cant wait to go back, despite the obvious devastation.... as I am sure you are! Thanks for filming!

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. I felt so small. Thanks for the lovely comments. I did the castle on the weekend and it was really nice to see the burn wasn’t as devastating in some areas. There were still trees with canopy leaves and some nice wildflowers coming out. Happy hiking

@danielparsons2859 3 жыл бұрын

The cracking sound of a tree falling shakes your whole being. Very scary. You obviously had no choice but to get out while you could. Great video.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Yes totally agree it was a spooky sound. Cheers

@annelucie123 3 жыл бұрын

Loved watching you explore, Kate! Sorry you had to cut it quits. Looking forward to your next video! :D

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much mate. Hope you are safe and well.

@victoriacrabtree8946 3 жыл бұрын

Shame you had to end it early but safety first. Stunning scenery and very interesting to learn about the flora, fauna and history of the region. Budawangs on the top of my list of hiking the next few months.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks yes - I shall be back. It's such a lovely place just be prepared to get a little lost. Happy Hiking

@l214laus 3 жыл бұрын

Hello, impressive looking initial scene. I'm sure I'll be enjoying this video, Cheers, Paul

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment Paul. Hope you enjoy :)

@petepercival8728 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing Kate

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Pete 😀

@deaniew2210 3 жыл бұрын

Kate I reckon it was a good call. And hey if you hadn’t taken that exit you wouldn’t have found that awesome lyrebird feather 😊 I know that sad feeling. I got stymied by snow on the pacific crest trail last year. It was 300% of normal snow pack and as a solo hiker from the beach in Australia it was super challenging. Lots of people who were thru hiking just went home for a month to wait for some melt. My 3 month extended section hike turned into just 5 weeks with lots of jumping about and backtracking. One side-effect of the long winter was the amount of bear activity. I saw four bears in one day. At that point I exited the Trail to buy bear spray! So yeah, stymied ! I know how it feels. Did you jump in the car and go somewhere else for your remaining days off that week? Thanks for sharing your adventures 👍

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Wowzers 300% and on a long trail that sucks. I would love to do some hiking in the USA. Did you just skip ahead or did you have to end it there?

@deaniew2210 3 жыл бұрын

Kate Grarock I bounced around is the best way of putting it. E.g. several days into a section I had to backtrack out, skipped around up to a place that I’d heard was better, did that, several days in came across people coming other way saying it was the hardest snow section they’d ever done and they wouldn’t do it again and they certainly wouldn’t go in alone so I bailed and then I skipped out to another section completed that. That was cool but a bit easy, even though I fell on my head. then the next section after that was crater lake which was a basket case of snow so skipped past it. The place I skipped to had a great forecast (up near mount hood) but then bam, blizzard conditions, hikers bailing left right and centre. Hitched out then Amtrak’ed to meet up with a mate to do another section did two days, then he was like f* this I didn’t come out here to die, and I couldn’t go in alone too dangerous. So after all that I came home. lol.

@BlackshacksBushcraft 3 жыл бұрын

Good call. Better safe than sorry. You saw that video of mine where I was on a 4 day trip which became an overnighter. Basically overweight pack combined with my fitness level not being where I thought it was. Exhaustion caused me to sit and have a rethink and I decided that, being solo, it was safer to call it quits and not push on as the very next part of the trail was harder than what I had done to that point.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Yes Yes I remember that one. And it's so good that you shared it. I think it is so good to see others make hard decisions so we can all learn as a community. It's not a failure to turn back, it can be the strongest and smartest decision to make sometimes. Cheers

@hiketheplanet 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Good call on leaving early. Extra caution is needed when solo hiking.I've pulled out of solo hiking one of my favourite tracks because the surface was super slippery that day and I thought the risk of injury was too high. Drove to another nearby track and just enjoyed being out in nature despite not being able to finish the track I'd initially planned.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks totally agree. So good you had a back up plan. Happy hiking

@AmyOutdoors 3 жыл бұрын

I just had to call my last section paddle a day short last night 😕... totally different reasons (though still about personal safety). I feel your pain on having to call it early. Wow, that lyre bird feather was an awesome find! I love the science you incorporate into your videos! Keep that coming for sure! Don't apologise for making the sensible choice... we'll be hanging around for your next adventure, of course! PS. I love Joshua's music, it suits your videos really well.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Oh nooooo hope you are ok and safe. It’s bloody hard to call it hey. Look forward to watching your vid

@AmyOutdoors 3 жыл бұрын

I stayed safe by making the call, so all good. I'll always choose safety over what I'd planned especially when I'm on my own. Calling it done a day early still doesn't sit well in your stomach afterwards though.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Totally sounds good. Happy paddling

@waynemcmillan5970 3 жыл бұрын

Sorry Kate you had to pull out but that was a wise decision. As usual a top video for serious bushwalkers and lovers of history and nature. Your knowledge of flora and fauna is great, I learn something new from every one of your videos. Many years ago I was caught in a huge thunderstorm with lightning in the Grose valley with a fellow bush walker. Lightning strikes were everywhere, so we high tailed it out of there pronto.

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

thanks for such a lovely comment. It means a lot to me to get such a lovely feedback. Goodness, lighting would be extremely scary, I am glad you made the right decision and got out safely. Happy hiking

@NathanaelCBR Жыл бұрын

I find it really hard to enjoy severely fire-affected landscapes, I find it depressing. Any tips on how to appreciate places despite the damage? I try to really notice the regrowth, the birds and fungi, rocks, geology, water ... but I miss the trees, and all that ash and burnt wood 😢

@KateGrarock Жыл бұрын

Yeah it’s hard hey. You have it right focusing on the smaller details. But I struggle too. One thing that was cool were all the wildflowers I saw on a hike about a year after a big fire. But often I do find it harder to spark that joy. But yeah the little things are a good focus.

@interestingoutdoors8446 3 жыл бұрын

That's a tough one Kate, cool feather though. Sure you'll get to do more next time. 👍

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Yes heart breaking it yep. On to the next. Happy hiking

@Madbulli 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Kate. Thanks for posting the vids. They are always positive, fun, exciting and informative. I'm not sure if you are keen to say but if so, where did you start off from and where did you go to before you turned around ?? Where were you intending to go, if you had been out for the duration. Thanks Tim

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tim. I started at the Nerriga entrance and was just exploring some of the massive cliffs near the vines. I wanted to go through hidden valley over to folly then down Holland’s gorge up to the castle and over tarn and back. I’ll get back out there soon I hope.

@holdenrestoration2557 3 жыл бұрын

By the way have you found any "formations" in any of the caves that look like typical limestone stalagmites? but aren't limestone? there is some work being done on this in some caves in the Sydney basin...would be interesting to learn if the format has extended into the Budawang sandstones...

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Oh good question - not that I am aware but i'll keep an eye out and let you know if I do. cheers

@holdenrestoration2557 3 жыл бұрын

The solution is simple just wait a bit and go back, the dead fall will be a problem for a while me thinks.....so hazard/ risk...what to do....

@KateGrarock 3 жыл бұрын

Totally - I almost love that about the budawangs - it is seldom easy to get to some of these places, but once you do get there wow. thanks for the comment