Report by Dave Flimpyhead

Just a brief update on the 3 Peaks attempt by Nat, Chris, Jan and myself this weekend. We left Katoomba at exactly 4pm on Saturday (start - the pizza place opposite the post office). The gave us until 4pm Monday to achieve the 48 hour target. The plan was to walk to the Cox's River with big packs Saturday night and set up base camp. On Sunday we planned to take Camelbaks to climb the three peaks (Cloudmaker, Paralyser and Gouogang) and return to base camp that night. Then on Moday we would return to Katoomba.

From Katoomba, we made good time along Narrowneck and after sunset the full moon was magnificent and helped our cause. We reached Tarro's ladder at about 7pm and then down to Medlow Gap and westward on the track to Mobbs Swamp which we reached at about 9.30pm. Nat's headlight globe had blown hours earlier so Chris had swapped with her and was walking without light. Meanwhile, Jan's household torch (he had forgotten to bring an LED headlight although he had just purchased TWO the other day) was dying rapidly. If it wasn't for the moon we would have been screwed. We finally hit the Cox's River at about 12.15 am and after a knee deep crossing walked upstream 500m to the junction of Kanangra Creek where we made camp.

Up at 5am the next day (Sunday) and as soon as I put my shoes on and tried to walk I knew I would not be able to continue. My feet had been quite sore for the last three or four hours the night before but I thought they may recover during the (short) night. I decided to start heading back to Katoomba. The other three stuffed some supplies into their Camelbaks and left camp at 6am. I watched them take the first of many uphill steps on the climb up Mount Strongleg which begins immediately from camp, knowing that they had an interminable day of pain ahead of them.

I packed my stuff and left camp at 7.30am, not knowing how far I would be able to walk. Every step I took was painful and I had to move at a snail's pace. I found the least painful approach was to take lots of tiny strides - least painful but mentally it was very demanding to keep the howling dogs of frustration at bay. Innumerable times I considered stopping and bivouacing beside the track, but I figured my feet was be just as sore the next day. After a dreadfully tedious day I reached the locked gate at Narrowneck at 6pm. Mercifully, a young couple gave me a ride in the tray of their ute the final 8kn to Katoomba. When I removed my shoes in the train (to the understandable disdain of other passengers) it was hard to find a section of either foot which was intact from blisters.

Meanwhile, I guess Nat, Chris and Jan are still out there. I hope the hot weather does not sap their energy. Jan took his camera so we will ask Kevin to post the photos on the site - I expect one from each of the peaks and a triumphant photo of the three at the pizza shop at Katoomba with a time stamp of 3:55pm, 1st October 2001. Good luck, guys.

Dave Flimpyhead