Friday 23/04/2021 Jamison Lookout – Princes Rock Lookout Track – Undercliff Track – Fletchers Lookout – Wentworth Falls Lookout – National Pass Track – Slacks Stairs – Jamison Creek
Blue Mountains National Park, NSW
Dharug Country
Participants: Beth Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Pablo Ureña Vega
This walk turned out to be much shorter than we would have liked as the National Pass Track was closed at the track junction at Slacks Stairs. Despite this closure, it would still provide us with the opportunity to introduce Pablo to some cliff walking in the Blue Mountains.
On a more technical note, this walk has sections along narrow, often overhanging ledges on cliff faces and resulting in the accuracy of any GPS devices can being severed reduced. This is evident in the many incorrectly positioned points on the recorded GPS track shown below.
Max elevation: 872 m
Total climbing: 3618 m
Total descent: -3616 m
Average speed: 11.13 km/h
Total time: 02:44:18
We had fantastic views from both Jamison, Wentworth Falls and Fletchers Lookouts before descending on an extraordinary section of track clinging to the cliff edge. The views along here change rapidly and are a must see for any visitor to the Blue Mountains.
Once below the cliff line the track descends to and crosses Jamison Creek where you are very close to the base of Wentworth Falls, with little wind around today we avoided any spray they would often produce. From the falls there was a modest climb to the bottom of the cliff-line on the southern side of Jamison Creek where you need to be very short or stoop over to move through one section.
Lower Falls on Jamison Creek
A little further along, as previously mentioned, the National Pass Track was closed. From this point we headed further downhill on Slacks Stairs, mostly consisting of steel steps and ladders some even enclosed as an improved safety measure. Not far past the end of the ladders, the track returns to Jamison Creek where you encounter your second waterfall.
As we needed to be home by 4:00pm, we turned around at this point and returned to the carpark the way we had come. Pablo was impressed, stating it was one of the top ten walks he had ever down.
NSW National Parks signage along this track also states
Award winning restoration
100 years after this historic track first opened, major restoration works were completed in 2008 by NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Working with heritage stonework specialists the restoration works took 5 years to complete and used a combination of traditional stoneworking skills and modern equipment.
The outstanding restoration was recognised in 2008 when the work on the National Pass won a prestigious UNESCO Award of Distinction for Culture Heritage Conservation. The judges hailed this conservation work as an “heroic effort” and cited in part:
The consolidation and reconstruction of steps, bridges and staircases using local materials and traditional building techniques demonstrate excellent craftsmanship, ensured the historic continuity of the walking track, and reconfirmed the relationship between nature and humankind.
The project was also recognised by the National Trust Energy Australia Heritage Award 2008 for conservation of a built heritage.
Stone and tools
Hundreds of steps and stepping stones form the fabric of the track. Many of the larger stones, weighing up to 600kgs each, had to be airlifted onto the track by helicopter.
Much of the sandstone used on the track is recycled from historic structures which could not be restored. These stones were removed from culverts built in 1868. They show the typical finish (known as sparrow pecked*) produced by working the stone with hand tools such as a metal pick.
Captain Murray’s Vision
Many of the walking tracks in the Blue Mountains were constructed over 100 years ago local communities were in competition to provide the most spectacular round trip walking routes to attract tourists to their town. Developing tracks in such steep and difficult conditions involved extraordinary efforts by those involved.
Here in Wentworth Fails, Captain James Murray supervised a team of workers, known locally as the Irish Brigade His team took over 2 years to build the 2.5 km National Pass track. Accessing the base of the falls, which involved cutting steps down the sheer cliff face, was one of their biggest challenges.
It is thought that Captain Murray was lowered over the edge from a point near here in a bosun’s chair (a simple canvas seat on ropes), in order to work out a possible route.
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