This morning the sun was out, wasn’t too warm and perfect morning for climbing Mt Chambers to find the cache, GCVFN0 Mt Chambers. We split into 4 groups, all taking a different route to the top. I teamed up with Nibs and we headed along the nearest ridge and up through a steep fissure to the top. It wasn’t too hard going but still worked up a sweat. Once on top, it was up and down a couple of times on the ridge, meeting up with the other teams at the cache. Spectacular views from here and no one was injured in the finding of the cache.
Nibs heading up the hill
The View North
Mt Chambers Peak
Looking down to Camp
Came up there …
Looking towards Chambers Gorge
The Group with the Cache
The climb back down was via the nearest scree gully and we were back in camp in 30 minutes. Up and back in an hour and a quarter.
Heading back down …
The view on the way down …
Time for final packing and we were back on the road towards Lake Frome and the cache, GCB372 Comet Frome.
Neville showing the way to Lake Frome
It was a fun drive to Lake Frome with creek crossings although dry, sand dunes and pipeline roads. Our mission here was to replace the cache container that had been burnt. We found that the cache container had been replaced by another cacher but we had a more robust ammo can so we found a more remote location to place the can. Despite all the rains over the last month or so, Lake Frome remains dry – at least where we were.
Hiding the new cache container …
Car lined up and waiting …
As we were heading back to Balcanoona Station, the CB was crackling with some coords for a new cache that had been planted by the Burtons, GC1ZQYD Let sleeping ladies lie. It appeared to be on the way to Arkaroola and as I was ahead of the group and heading for tyre repairs, I sped off to find the cache. Found the cache OK – wasn’t too hard as the Burtons and Wackys were nearby and there was only one logical location.
There is a cache there somewhere …
We got up to Arkaroola and got the tyre repaired and Burtons got another puncture while we were up there. Next on the list were afew caches to the north-east of Arkaroola around Partlana Hot Springs and Arkaroola Springs. There was some spectacular scenery to these caches. Freddo had a Geiger counter and we measured the water at Partlana and it was certainly offering some noise well above background radiation – no drinking or swimming here.
Too “hot” to drink or swim …
Another cache find …
It was then climbing time again when we got to the Echo Camp backtrack – it must be a day for climbing. Cache was found easily and more sweating was done. Bradley did the full walk and climb with this one.
View from Echo Camp backtrack …
It was getting near sunset but there was still one cache to find before heading to camp. The last one was at Arkaroola Springs. There was evidence of water some time ago but nothing to be found near the cache. Bradley was happy as there was some rock climbing to be done with this one.
Evidence of water at some time …
Cache is up there …
As the sun was setting we headed south to the Gammon Ranges for tonight’s camp. Bradley and I grabbed a shower at Balcanoona Station on the way. Tonight was the big camp cook-off and there were camp ovens everywhere with plenty of different meals to sample but I think the curry came up the winner. More campfire and caching stories to be had before bed.
Cache finds for the day:
GC1ZQYD Let sleeping ladies lie
GC1Y77R We didn’t start the fire
I will certainly be back.