I was wandering around with my son Shane, setting controls for his "Karn't Breakout" rogaine to be held on 27 March 2010, and at various spots I had the thought "this would be a good spot for a cache, must get back here and place one". I prepared four caches and four sets of Finder's Cards, and was waiting for the rogaine to be run before placing the caches. The day before the rogaine we went back to check the patrolled road was clear and to place the last few controls, so I took the opportunity to place them.
This cache is hidden beside the walk trail towards a waterfall, at the spot where you get the best view of the waterfall. The waterfall was flowing in January, when there had been no rain for about three months, was dry in early March when the nearby Rogaine Control was placed, and was flowing profusely at the end of March after Perth's serious storm a few days earlier. This spot should give great views of the waterfall for at least eight months of the year, and is also a wildflower wonderland during spring.
Four wheel drive access is possible to within about 50 metres of the cache, but I recommend only serious 4WDers go there. You will also need to turn around at this point (only a three or five point turn) because the track becomes extremely steep just across the creek. If you are feeling really adventurous you can approach from the North (as we did on our first visit, and as I did on a Maintenance Visit in May 2012).
To take this route proceed as follows, using waypoints prefixed with T and 4WD:
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T1 At S 32° 24.785 E 116° 01.025 Turn South Onto Scarp Road from Kingsbury Dve, follow Scarp Road for 2.93 Km;
T2 At S32°26.159' E116°1.506', if you haven't already done so, ENGAGE 4WD, Turn West off Scarp Road, proceed 390 metres to track junction;
T3 At S32°26.148' E116°1.265' Turn South, proceed 660 metres, taking extreme care over the steep descent the last 60 or so metres (we used Low Range 1st gear);
Cross the creek, park, walk to the cache, return to your vehicle, engage High Range if required;
T4 Note: That last 60 metre section beyond S32°26.471' E116°01.294' has got worse, there is a good parking spot without going down the last downhill section, and not too hard to turn around there. The only problem may be crossing the creek on foot if the flow is high - I had no problem in May 2012.
If you drove across the creek, after finding the cache continue along the track for about 230 metres until you reach Gobby Road. You may wish to disengage 4WD at this point.
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For those with cars and those not wanting to "rough up" their vehicle, I suggest parking near the track junction at S32° 26.482' E116° 01.157'. To take this route proceed as follows, using waypoints prefixed with P and Easy Route":
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P1 At S32°25.612' E115°59.241', From South Western Highway Turn East onto Gobby Road, follow Gobby Road for approx 4.17 Km.
P2 At S32°26.482' E116°01.157', Park at the track junction or in the wide clear area just to the West. Walk about 230 metres down the track to the waterfall trail.
OR (EXTREME 4WD ONLY) drive most of the way, park close, make at least a 5 point turn around. DO NOT DRIVE PAST HERE UNLESS YOU ARE CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS, it's only a short walk anyway.
P3 S 32° 26.480 E 116° 01.150 Easy Route Hard Parking W4D ONLY!!! (Parking Area)
At the top of the hill you can assess your ability to go down to this area AND GET BACK UP!! Crossing the creek and continuing up towards Scarp Road is an EXTREME 4WD option - I wasn't prepared to drive DOWN that section in May 2012. Turning around is DIFFICULTY 5 at this point, Difficulty 1 at P2 - Please choose before descending. |
This cache is a drab camo'd 1 Kg plastic fruit container hidden beside the walk trail towards the waterfall, at the spot where you get the best view of the waterfall. This trail starts at the edge of the creek, should be no need to bush-bash!
Initial contents are First, Second, Third and Fourth To Find cards, finders cards, Darwin keyring, Spin Top, VW Touareg car, 'Gloria' Madagascar 2 figurine, bangle and ring, dinosaur, log book, pen, clutch pencil, pencil & sharpener.
The contents should be well protected in a screw-top container hidden out of the weather, but the log is Waterproof just to be sure. Please be sure to re-hide the container well.
When trading items please consider trading up or trading even and leaving items that you would want to find, and please don't take the pen, pencils or sharpener. If you can't trade up or trade even I don't mind seeing TNLNSL in the log. Also please don't put the pen or pencils in the log book bag, it tends to destroy the watertight integrity.
Trackables (geocoins and travel bugs) are not tradeable items. Please feel free to take them without making a trade, but please leave a note in the logbook and your online log, and do log them online.