Thurs, 15th Sept, 2016 Dales Campground, Karijini NP, WA (exploring Gorges)

7.30am 17 degrees, clear blue sky.

Off to explore the other gorges and waterfalls. Back 12km to Info Centre then across the very corrugated road for 23km to Kalamina Gorge. Checked out the info board then walked down to check out the falls from the lookout.

Couldn’t see the falls as they are under the big tree.

Went back to the truck for a cuppa. Chatted with two couples that had just come back and they said it was easy walking but they didn’t go all the way to the Rock Arch Pool. Grabbed our walking sticks and headed down the rough track down to the gorge bottom. Nice flat slabs to walk on.

The meeting of two waters as there is another little creek running down from the other gorge.

Continued down the gorge along the creek’s edge.

Debris high up in the tree shows the flood height.

Lovely walk.

Steve startled a sand monitor.

Continued on till the slabs were broken up at the intersection of another gorge.

The white is from the high content of calcium in the water. It is starting to appear on our kettle etc too.

Nearly at the Rock Arch Pool then looking back.

Down to the pool – big walls around us.

Looking back up the gorge then across the pool to the arch.

Better shot of the wall and arch without the sun making it dark.

Great place for camera buffs – pretty good reflection too.

We made it.

Back around the ledge to head back up the gorge.

Big turmoil here in the rocks making them all twisted.

Another little gorge off to the side – lots of calcium on the rocks.

Back to the big pool – fed the fish with our muesli bar.

The little waterfall area.

At the base of the very rocky stairs up to the lookout.

We continued up the creek, clambering along the rock ledge to Kalamina waterfall. So lovely and there is plenty of ledges to sit on. They suggest it is a 3 hour walk – 1 hour for us. Wonder if their time estimates put a lot of people off going for these walks.

Up the stairs again to the truck. Back out the 6km to the road and another 11km to Joffre Falls and Gorge. 

This area was all burnt but looking good again now.

Short walk and a few steps down to the lookout. Spectacular view but not enough water over the falls. This one would be fantastic to see after the wet.

A couple were doing the gorge walk so we called out to cheer them on as we aren’t going to do it as we can see everything from here. They just get to the bottom and would have to swim to get around to the falls.

Back to the truck and further along the road to Knox Gorge.

Walked to the lookout. Fabulous view. Downstream, straight below then upstream.

A couple were having a dip in the pool way below us.

Another young couple just climbed up and said it was the hardest gorge walk they had done of all the gorges so we decided to skip it – we can see it all from here!!

As we drove around one end of Hancock Gorge – you wouldn’t know it was there.

Drove down to the lookouts between Hancock and Weano Gorges. A memorial to a SES Volunteer who died here saving someone else. It says “The Celtic Cross marks the spot where on the 3^rd April, 2004 the body of Newman SES Volunteer, Jim Regan, was recovered from Hancock Gorge. Jim gave his life whilst performing a cliff rescue of an injured visitor to Karijini. At 4am a flash flood swept Jimmy and other rescuers down the gorge. The tragic result of this was the death of Jim. As a mark of respect this pool below this point has been named Regan’s Pool and will stand as a stark reminder to all that entering the gorges is dangerous and puts other people’s lives at risk when things go wrong. Jim’s family, children, friends and SES Volunteers from Newman and Tom Price miss him dearly, but with this cross Jim maybe gone but by no means forgotten. RIP Jimmy ‘Irish’ Regan.

The pool was known as Junction Pool before as it is the meeting point of the four gorges, Hancock, Weano, Joffre and Red Gorges.

Looking at one wall of Red Gorge which is only a short gorge joining Weano to Witternoom and Knox Gorges.

 Very narrow gorges so hard to see down to the bottom from the lookout (Hancock Gorge).

Further along the track was Oxer Lookout.

Looking up Weano Gorge.

On the other side of the bush across Red Gorge to where it meets Knox Gorge.

Next is Joffre Gorge.

Then up Hancock Gorge (see the lookout).

Back to the day use area to park and head off on the gorge walks. Checked out the info hut.

Across to Hancock Gorge for the hike down to the bottom and along to Kermit’s Pool. Steep climb down. It’s a Class 5 walk hence it is a bit rougher.

Down a steep ladder.

View from half way down – upstream then downstream.

Another ladder to the bottom.

Following the little markers.

The rocks are very shiny here with all the hands and feet passing over them.

Shoes off for this next bit.

Next section was a lot deeper so we dawdled decided what to do.

 A young chap went by us and used the rocks to get to the end. His girlfriend followed then he came back and guided us along the ledges – bit hairy. Don’t think I would have gone if he hadn’t been so encouraging. The rocks are made for this with lots of foot spots and rocks to hang onto though this section didn’t have wide footholds etc.

Made it – looking back as another couple start their trek back.

  

Into the Amphitheatre.

Lovely little waterfall.

Next is the Spider Walk. Watched as the young couple made their way down!! I put my foot on a rock and it was very slippery so don’t think we can walk through the water and I don’t think I can do the spider bit.

Steve climbed down to the rock to see if he could see around the bend to Kermit’s Pool. We could hear people bomb-diving into the pool.

Headed back though this time Steve had to find the way which he did well and it wasn’t as bad going back.

Back up the ladders and the long climb up to the carpark. Didn’t quite make it but that was good enough for us. Over the other side to do the Weano Gorge Walk.

Another rough track down to the bottom.

I walked over to the pool for a photo. Great reflection.

Then we turned downstream to head to the Handrail Pool. Very pretty walk through the trees with lots of colourful rocks.

The track narrows here and leads into a lovely little pool.

Long way up.

Around the edge.

The track is very narrow now and we step each side of the little stream leading down into Handrail Pool.

Across to wall on other side of pool.

Steve climbed down the using the rail then I followed. Lovely and cool down here.

Another great reflective pool.

The gorge continues through the narrow gap to meet the other gorges at the Junction Pool.

I walked around to the other side for a view back to the handrail and the water trickling down into the pool.

The rocks make good seats.

Hope that bit doesn’t fall now.

Found an anchor point. There is a canyoning company or maybe it is when the SES has to do rescues.

Looking up makes us feel very small.

Back up the rail and through the narrow walk to the little pool.

Steve got me coming through.

Looks so peaceful.

Took off my boots to dip my feet – it was deeper than I thought. Not freezing cold either. May as well wet the hair again. Should have put my togs on. Not hair flick today as that just soaked my back. Curled it up and put it under my cap instead.

Back to where we walked down and then we continued along the gorge upstream.

The gorge walls got lower then we followed the track up through the spinifex onto the ridge.

You can barely see the gorge as we head back to the carpark.

Lots of huge ant hills everywhere.

Back at the carpark we met the German girls again and told them to go down to the pool. They were worried about leaving it too late but we said it was only a short walk really. They didn’t want to be driving back too late as there little car doesn’t like the rough road much even though they did the long drive around on the bitumen rather than the rough road we came over, this last 11km in was rough enough for them. We had seen a lookout above the pool so headed back towards the lookouts to see if we could find it. It turned out to be a rescue platform.

The girls made it back and we passed them going slowly along the dirt. We turned off to check out the Eco Retreat. Glam tents, units and campground ($20/person/night) and restaurant.

Lots of info and photos.

Didn’t pass the girls again so they must have made it to the bitumen ok. We headed back with the setting behind us. The girls arrived about a half hour later.

Great day though the calf muscles haven’t done that much climbing for a long time.