Mt Buangor- Mt Cole State Park Trip Report

25^th-26^th of March 2006

Trip participants: Lance, Debbie, Melissa and Belinda Griggs,

Chris, Louise Sarah and Jessica Burton,

Steve, Carol, Cathleen and Jessica Westbury,

Anthony, Simon, Tash and Mia Sultana,

Rick, Daniel Cori and Kirsty,

Greg Goulden

Walter Bevilacqua.

The trip started at the meet point at Gladstone Park McD’s Carpark at 9:30 Sharp! Well this was my first mistake. The food smells emanating from McD’s made some of the group hunger for kilojoules or Hash browns whatever way you want to look at it. Enough said, the convoy started at a not so sharp 9:50.

From the ring road we joined the Western highway to depart the big smoke (Deer Park). We caught up with the rest of the group at Bacchus Marsh. From here we meander through Ballarat towards Beaufort. With No calls on the radio to stop for coffee or Milk we headed directly to the campsite off the Western highway along Ferntree Gully Rd. at Middle Creek Camp ground. With the site declared as acceptable and with plenty of room the group decided to proceed on a small trip up to the summit of Mt Cole. We headed up along Old Dairy Maid Rd. then on to Frees Point Rd. and finally up Mt Cole Track (ring track) the track was small rock climb up to see the limited view (too many tall trees!!) of the surrounding areas. From here the trip leader tried to navigate back to the Camp Ground but long story short, we ended up back at Beaufort for the Coffee, Milk and fuel stop. Now all organised we went back to Camp Ground and set up Camp for the afternoon. With Lunch and Tents set up and fire wood collected we waited for 5:00 ABC news to declare a non fire ban day to allow us to light the camp fire. So after a resting afternoon and nice Dinner we settled into a campfire circle discussions with marshmallows roasting and MM’s disappearing. Fortunately a beautiful clear night with plenty of opportunity to spot Satellites. Although Louise seen to be checking the inside of her eye lids!

The next morning was fine and sunny and after breakfast and with all the gear packed away (after waiting on trip leader family to pack), we headed out of camp by 9:45am, the group headed for Ferntree Gully Waterfalls to see if any water was there to fall. We hiked through the Fern and Maidenhair lined, temperate microclimate gully forest. Fortunately the falls had a trickle of water to sip and splash in. After the photos snapped we headed back out north along Saddle Rd. then onto Wallaby Caves Rd. (Only one wallaby seen on the road) we then turned east on Barranga creek road to Dawson Rock track to the Mugwamp Hut. Here we had our morning tea. From here we climbed up Mt Buangor Track to the summit of Mt Buangor with spectacular views to the South. After the trek to the Peak by foot we headed to the Ararat Reservoir for a look see. Unfortunately the track to the ‘Dam’ wall was not accessible by vehicle. We then detoured to the Chinaman Camping Ground for Lunch where we caught up with Wimmera 4x4 Club.

After lunch the group celebrated Greg Goulden’s birthday by singing Happy Birthday over the UHF radio. Then (minus Westbury Family off to meet Carols cousin in Ballarat) we ventured up the steep Telephone track and onwards towards the summit of Ben Nevis to view a couple of Hang gliders soaring through the air and to meet a Strange character (Hobo) at the old hut and fire tower carpark (Why was he there??) from here we headed down Cowan track and then onto Eversley-Sugarloaf track very steep but soft and dusty due to a lot of Bulldozer works. The trip ended as we headed to the Western Highways and all had a good time. This was a reconnaissance trip for another future trip into the area. This is an explanation for the many (7 total) double back on track intersections. Specials thanks to Navigation Adviser Walter Bevilacqua for helping out.

Trip Leader

Lance Griggs

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