Copperlode Dam

Wednesday 26th June 2002. The BLUE ARROW TRACK, Cairns was closed so we climbed to Copperlode Dam from Crystal Creek. Features: lovely views, rainforest and open areas. Leave: 8.30am opposite Barron River Hotel, 37 Stratford Parade, Stratford.  Standard requirements. Duration: to mid-afternoon.  325m climb.  Max elevation: 325m.  Track type: start & finish - steep ascent/descent. Contact Gillian FORSYTHE on 40551441 or Karen LYNCH on 40517209.

I took a car load from Mareeba - Noel, Lee, Phil Murray and Betty. My camel pack water bladder leaked on the way down so I had to refill, then I conked out on the initial climb. Was it the early start and busy start or did I start too vigorously? My legs filled with lactic acid. Anyway I rested and recovered, taking it more quietly under Angela's instructions. The road to Copperlode Dam was still closed so it was deserted at the picnic area. We walked across the dam and up the road to the power line. It goes through and there were good views from up there. We had lunch at the picnic ground and it was an enjoyable day.

One of the good things about this walk was that we climbed to Kahlpahlim Rock in August and looked down on it over lunch.

Windin Falls

Wednesday 12th June 2002. WINDIN FALLS.  Features: spectacular waterfall, rainforest, view and swimming (for the brave). Leave: 7.30am, Atherton; 8.15am Butcher’s Creek.  Standard requirements, coat. Grade is easy/moderate.  Length is long, 10-12km.  Duration: all day.  Climb: undulating.  Track type: old forestry roads.  Contact Kathy KILPATRICK on 4095 4536.

Kathy and Steve Kilpatrick, Noel, Phil Murray, Brian, Trish Veivers, Pat Gillespie?, Marie from Butcher's Creek [pipe band], Marie from Tolga [touch football],

This was a nice walk in from past Lamin's Hill along an old forestry road. The valleys overlooked were deep and rugged. There was a nice swimming hole upstream from the falls - reached from an alternate descent from the end of the road where there was an old picnic table.

 Marie, Steve Kilpatrick, Brian, Kathy, Marie - Bluey boiling up in background. The falls descend a long way from here into the upper Mulgrave area.

Lunch at Windin Falls. Noel Brooks and Phil Murray mid-stream above the falls.