Hazelbrook Retreat Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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In the late 19th century, there was an efflorescence of walking tracks constructed in the Blue Mountains, financed by hoteliers and merchants with the aim of enticing the denizens of Sydney to travel up via the newly constructed train line.
Some of these tracks are still popular with tourists, especially the network that radiates out from Echo Point (The Three Sisters) in Katoomba. But many others have fallen into disrepair, and are visited rarely, and almost exclusively by locals. The paths of Terrace Falls Reserve fall into this category. So I have placed this cache to encourage others (both locals and visitors) to come and explore the old paths.
The cache is hidden near Lester Pool, up on the Western slope of Bedford Creek. To get there, follow the well formed track down to Bedford Pool. In 1892 there was a wooden bridge across the creek, it has long since gone so you will have to find your own way across. Depending on how much rain there has been, you may be able to pick your way across on stepping stones, otherwise a very shallow wade could be required.
Once you are over, follow the bank around for about 10m till you find an easy scramble up to some old stone steps. Follow the path next to the creek South till it fades out at Lester pool. At this point you scramble West up the slope of Aeroplane Hills for 50m or so till you reach a small cliff line (2M or so high). The cache is hidden here. Since GPS reception will be poor, I have included a spoiler photo. Cache is a 400ml Sistema with logbook and pencil only, although there is room for small trackables.
There is another cache very close by ("Hidden Fortress" by bikerbuddy) but I do not recommend attempting to continue up the slope in a straight line to get there from here; as soon as you go above the cliff line housing this cache the terrain gets much trickier and slower. A better way of linking the two would be to retrace the path to the old steps at Bedford Pool, then following the overgrown track East for 100m or so, then finding a good spot to leave the path and start climbing up the ridge.
Congratulations to Bikerbuddy and Team Canary for being First To Find this cache!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
urnqf hc
Treasures
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