Been getting a few questions about the gear I used on this one. Check out my Kit at kit.co/KateGrarock/australian-hiking-ultralight-kit

OMG, I hate spiders, those pools would definitely come to my rescue. That fire in the sky is totally amazing. The regeneration looks great. Awesome caves. The Hidden Valley is awesome. That view at 13:34 is AWE! Brilliant Views. I love the way you also label your flowers Kate. EEEEK! A funnel web spider burrow. Arn't you glad you had a companion to do the walk with. Beautiful gorge. 25:06 Magical panoramic views. Pretty Pool 34:34 great place for camping and a dip! You do love your Radix meals. What a great adventure Kate and Laura. Thank you for taking us along on your great adventure. I am so itching to do an overnight hike. Our lockdown has stuffed all of our plans. We had hoped to do the Camino last year and then the Aussie Camino. All failed then we planned the Wilson's promontory and that failed. Not having much luck!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Oh thanks so much. Yes Laura is the best hike buddie she picks me up after my 100th fall and we always have a good laugh. Sorry to hear about your plans. Been a rough couple of years. Hopefully you can get a little joy from all the great Australian hiking content coming out on youtube. Happy hiking when you do get out. Cant wait to watch your next vid

Easter 1980, very wet. Came in from the Braidwood Rd end. Set up camp in the approach to Mt Cole. Attempting the Castle but way too wet and in the clouds, got as far as Monolith Valley, rescued a party stuck on top of Mt Cole, but the delay meant we had to bivouac in a cave. Made it back to camp the next day and did Hidden Valley on the way out. To top it off I tipped the car upside down on the Nowra Braidwood road, along with a few others, and caught a train back to Sydney then Newcastle. Another exciting adventure to the Budawangs. Fortunately subsequent ones were more “normal.”

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Wow what a trip - so glad you live to tell the tale. The Budawangs always has something interesting. I've seldom completed a trip without having to make a few changes. Maybe that's why I love it. Thanks for the story

Loved watching this video Kate. Love the scenery, love your commentary, love the combination of stills and video, love the music that you put with your videos- chilled, easy-listening vibes. Thanks so much for sharing your videos.

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. It was such a wonderful hike. So glad you are enjoying the vids. Hope to get back out there soon.

Oh Kate! That was my favourite! Hard earned but totally worth it. As always thank you so so much for sharing. You are such an inspiration to this old hiking bird. That sh!t was outta my league but to be able to experience it through you, well what a gift. I love that you educate along the way talking about the flora, fauna and geology. Thank you (and Laura). 🙏

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Louise. It certainly was an adventure. I must admit I'm looking forward to a less hectic adventure next time. Happy hiking.

That regrowth! It's fantastic, but hard trekking and navigating. Imo some places really needed it. Pre fires they were barren and historically slammed by grazing. But now you can barely push through them. I still struggle with the intensity and scale of those fires. Traumatic.

@KateGrarock

Жыл бұрын

Yeah is was pretty hot and epic fire. More regular low intensity fires would be better. And much more patchy I can’t even comprehend how much bush burnt that summer.

Kate, Laura, livin the dream ladies. Excellent vid and guide to that trek, thank you. Hard yards through that regrowth ;-D

really enjoyed watching your sluice box falls trip, brought back many memories. probably too hard for us now, so nice to be able to relive the beautiful budawangs through your channel. keep up the great work and looking forward to watching your next adventure

@KateGrarock

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much. Really love this comment. Keeps me going out there. Cheers

@mathewwilcock6284

4 ай бұрын

The exact reason responsible permitted 4x4ers should be allowed so you in your condition are still able to enjoy the region. Can't stand this attitude of locking Australian's out of Australia. The organisation that locks yous out don't even have sale papers or deeds of ownership. Aka national parks and wildlife.

Thanks Kate. You guys are truly awesome. Some of my best memories were made bushbashing in the Budawangs over the last 50 years, though sadly not often enough. Apologies, but I would give the foil-wrapped tucker a big flick. I am constantly picking up other people's partially burnt foil (you might be careful and carry your trash out, but many don't). Stick to rolled oats, powdered milk and coffee for breakfast; nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, hard cheese and crisp/flat bread for lunch; and rice, lentils, ikan bilis, stewed dried apricots and the like for dinner; and carry your tucker in washable/reusable, drawstring japara bags (mine have lasted 40+ years and were made by my late mother whose working life started as a seamstress for DJs in the mid 30s, back when Australia could make clothing; so they endure and so too the memories they carry). Basic ingredients are good, and back to basics in the bush has a kind of poetic appeal to me. I think Michael Pollan would have some sympathy with this idea.

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers mate. I always aim to leave no trace but yes some great suggestions for good hearty meals. Thanks for watching and commenting. So cool thinking of you bashing around in the budawangs 50 years ago. Would have been a crazy place back then.

@ianriley8136

2 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock Back then the country was relatively open, a consequence of more frequent, low intensity fires and even a legacy of the indigenous burning regimes of, the then, not so distant past. Now you look at the sketch map and ask, what kind of masochist ever thought walking from Sluice Box Falls to Folly Point could be deemed a negotiable route. Well it was then. It was like a walk in the park - low heathland/grassland grazed by roos. It was easy to find indigenous sharpening groves beside the small creeks along that route. So, yes, the ghosts of the past loved that place too and could easily hunt for tucker. More recent fire exclusion policies helped make the recent fires so terribly intense. I cannot comment on the conservation/biodiversity merits of either period, but some 50 years ago there were more roos and even dingoes about, and getting about was much easier. You can find some old photos on flickr posted by Janette Asche.

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

@@ianriley8136 oh wow those would have been the days - I can only hope I get a chance to do some hiking in there like that one day. A walk in the park sounds so nice. And what a special experience to see evidence of the remarkable history and use of the area. I will def check out the photos cheers.

What a trek! The tough going is so worth it though when you get to see hard-to-reach places like Sluice Box Falls. Thanks for taking us on the adventure!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Totally mate. Thanks a lot. Looking forward to your next vid

@FreedomOnFoot

3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock, just about to be released. Stay tuned!

Wow, wow and wow! You two are absolute legends, the landscape is beyond stunning and the resilience of the Aussie bush is inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. Hope you are well

Loved it got my excited for next week when we heading back out there for 4 nights. Bush whacking is so brutal at times, but holds a certain reward! We'll be just sticking to tracks this one. I have also switched to Radix (made the change last year at the Budawangs funny enough), awesome food, but yup just rocking nights with them, as I find they are so rich that doing all meals is intense! Wraps and some tinned fish, cheese for lunch is my preference now. Keep having fun!

@KateGrarock

Жыл бұрын

So cool. Many adventures to be had out there that’s for sure. Sing out and let me know how your trip goes. I’m always keen to hear about areas visited and track conditions. If you are Instagram that’s prob best place to reach me if you want. Happy hiking

Amazing! What a spectacular area and so inspiring to see the smile it brings to your face even though it was so tough going. Can't wait to visit this area.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed - yes it would take a fair wack to get that smile off my face out in the budawangs. :)

Thanks for sharing, brought back many memories from the 80’s. You guys were champions.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure! So cool you were out there in the 80s? Would have been a bit more of an adventure back then before PLBs, phone navigation and ultralight gear.

Incredible scenery, thanks for sharing👍

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much - love sharing them :)

Love watching your videos, Kate. This looks like a truly epic trip!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! 😊 I'm already in planning mode dreaming of the next time I can get out there.

What an awesome video. Beautiful country. Kept it interesting all the way through.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. So great you think so. cheers

Gosh, just beautiful viewing Kate. Bravo, gutsy hike. Love how you identify the plants too. 👍🏻💚

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Jeannette - yes I'm slowly trying to absorb some botany. cheers

Hi Kate, some tough terrain shame about the track to Styles Creek been so overgrown it was always a great campsite beyond Hidden Valley more bushwalkers are needed to bush bash their way to clear a path

Those falls were spectacular!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

So beautiful hey - I'd love to spend a couple of nights there

Great effort and video as always.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the lovely comment :)

Love your info on plants

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much - I'm learning too :)

Great video! off track in the Budawangs is always challenging... I visited Sluice-box Falls about 8 years ago, on that trip it took us a few challenging hours to get across the top of Sturgiss Mountain battling hakea scrub which has now been burnt but from the base of Sturgiss to the falls wasn't too bad in comparison although from memory still slow going. I was out there a few weeks ago and the old track from the Enrick River firetrail into the Hidden Valley turn-off is almost no existent, head high Acacia's and lots of Lawyer Vine same as what you found coming in from the south (except further) and I made the mistake of wearing shorts.... Also giant kangaroo apples and enormous tall weedy things that may be Tobacco Bush, it took us about 3 hours to walk from the Enrick River firetrail into the Hidden Valley turn-off, when we came back the same way the next day we couldn't even see where we'd bashed through the bush the previous day so it will be interesting to see if there is enough walking traffic through there to re-establish the trail...

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much. Wowsers your trip sounds hectic, love hakea but not in the face. Yes the regrowth is epic hey. I loved that old track to hidden valley. Hopefully, with time a trail will open up again. I remember wandering though there and it taking me forever as the fungi was simply mind boggling - the diversity and colour. Nature is such a beautiful thing, I'm excited to keep exploring this magnificent landscape as it keeps changing.

@MandyCreighton

3 жыл бұрын

Great to see you got the Z-packs Duplex, I have one as well and I love it!

Bloody amazing Kate! Sluice box falls...wow! Just exclamations from me. Thanks so much

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much - so glad. Yes a wonderful place.

what a fantastic hike, well done ,enjoyed every minute 🤠👍👍

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much. So glad you enjoyed it :)

So excited to see this on my subs feed tonight! Just got into a town this arvo and ready for a bit of gratuitous YT action in my caravan park cabin, lol (yep, I bring an HDMI cable so I can 😜)... up pops Kate and a stupid-hard trip through the Budawangs. Good on ya gals, bloody tough trip and always with a smile on your faces! Great job as always on the editing Kate 👍

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate - so glad I can give you a little company on your epic journey. Thinking of you

@AmyOutdoors

3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock cheers mate, I really appreciate that! Hard to feel lonely so far, I've had so much support and well wishes along the way 😊

will look amazing in another couple of years. Great vid Kate.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! 😊 Yes so nice to see it bouncing back

You ladies are brave to climb that mountain . I would be scared lol Well done and worth it for all the views .

@KateGrarock

10 ай бұрын

Was a special place to visit, that’s for sure

Wow, what a great adventure Kate! Only yesterday, mid-Sept 2021, did my mate Dave and I adventure into the Hidden Valley in search of a way up to the top of Mt Sturgiss. We spent 4 hours at the western base of the mountain trying to find a way up, all without luck. Must have gone into 3 if not 4 ravines which all led to dead ends (vertical cliff faces), and only late in the afternoon did we find one that looked promising, but light was fading and we had to get back out before dark. Watching your KZread segment confirms there is a way up, so we'll try again at a later date. Very inspirational, and what an adventure, - well done!

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

Oh so cool thanks. Man envy you out there exploring. It’s a bit tricky. Did you find dark bro cave? It’s incorrectly marked on the map. It’s not a large overhang but lots of honeycomb weathering. The scramble starts about 100 m north of the cave. I must say a mates gpx track helped greatly. But it’s so confusing how far up or down the cliff faces you should be. You go up for a bit then start traversing the cliffs heading south back above the cave. The chain was so good to see as we knew we were on the right path. We had to backtrack a bit there were several ways to go but eventually found a way that wasn’t too sketchy 😀😀😀 good luck let me know how you go

@stigpedersen6460

2 жыл бұрын

​@@KateGrarock Thanks for your speedy reply Kate. No, didn't actually find the cave, but we would have passed it just below a couple of times. Agree with the GPS; we carried one, and having just worked out how to track and follow pre-loaded tracks it made for great walking when we lost the trail (which simply isn't there at times)! Your extra bits of insights into the climb up the mtn from close to Dark Bro's Cave is great info Kate. We are avid plant people, and were looking for a Tea-tree on top of Sturgiss, so will try again. Your shots of various flora are impressive too! Re-growth of wattles, gums, etc. in your post is every bit as it looked yesterday; had to laugh at your black sooty faces, - like looking at ourselves in the mirror yesterday! Well done!

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

@@stigpedersen6460 oh man just talking about it I miss it so much. Was the trail from quilties a little easier to follow to hidden valley, or is it all overgrown. So exciting you are looking for a special teatree. Let me know how you go. Oh and bark bros is on the same level as the valley floor so not up high at all.

@stigpedersen6460

2 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock It was reasonably easy to follow till maybe a km before the turnoff towards Hidden Valley. The regrowth looks exactly like how it is on your post, causing the trail to disappear at times. Will update you once we (hopefully) have made it to the top and back. Btw, I take it you descended Mt Sturgis on the eastern side to get to Sluice Box Falls?

@stigpedersen6460

2 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock Hi Kate, back again. Just to say we concurred Mt Sturgiss yesterday at our 2nd attempt! As you said, the way up is the ravine just around and beyond Black Brother's Cave. It took us 2hrs from base to top with a couple of false attempts leading to dead ends, but we finally made it. However, we never found the chain as shown in your KZread, - still a mystery to us? For anyone's info who wants to climb this beast: we steered to the left hand side of the ravine as much as we could, occasionally trekking a few metres out from the cliffside where needed. We are both in our mid to late 50s, did it barehand, - no ropes, no chains, so there's hope for the rest of you!!! How does the route compare with yours Kate, we wonder?

Awesome trip ladies👌

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Such a special part of the world

Top marks for making a great film in that middle of that tough hiking! And you’ve solved a question for me - I will definitely need to stick to fire trail walks in this area, my days of bush bashing and rock scrambling are over. But even the fire trail area you walked through looked amazing.

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

Haha thanks a lot mate. yes its a bit of a slog. Unfortunately some of the fire trails are a little overgrown when i went though but hopefully many hikers have bashed their way through and things are looking a little better out there. Happy hiking to you. Thanks for watching

Wow Kate, amazing to see how different the area looks now, but still some of the best country going! The thickest veg I've ever walked (pushed, fallen) through was on top of Sturgiss (before the fires), so felt that one as I was watching haha. Awesome adventure mate!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Haha cheers mate. The budawangs never disappoint with providing adventure hey. Happy hiking

Fantastic walk and video. Just gold. How do you navigate? And how did you know the way off Sturgiss on the east side? I have the topos. Are there some good track notes available somewhere?

@KateGrarock

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Gary. I use map and compass and also download gpx tracks onto my phone and use Avenza. For a hike like this I actually take a back up phone just in case. We popped off the SE part I had a couple of gpx tracks I found online. There were a couple of rock cairns but it was still pretty sketchy. We had to commit in a big way and slide down a 2m cliff knowing that we wouldn’t be able to get back up. But i do a lot of research and know you can follow the southern cliffs west to get back styles. Basically heaps of google searches for the area. I never like to rely on one persons notes. Best of luck. Hopefully the regrowth isn’t too crazy

This is living 🙌

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

totally :)

It’s not a true budawangs trip unless you get your arse kicked! Great video Kate, I must get to those falls, looks incredible!

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

haha absolutely. I alway feel a little defeated after a trip to the budawangs. Happy hiking - hope you enjoy that special place. I'm already planning my next trip there

Fantasitc video! So nice to see decent outdoor video by Aussie females. 👏🏻 Hoping to do this soon and looking forward to seeing Hidden Valley without all the toilet paper everywhere! 😫

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate. Yes it’s a great area to explore. I’ve heard the regrowth is even thicker now so allow plenty of time. Cheers

A little different foliage than what I'm use to seeing, but loving it.✌

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

haha totally. thanks mate

Hi Kate, great video thanks for sharing! Can't wait to get back out there again soon! Noticed you have a Zpacks now, what are your thoughts on it? How does it compare to the Dan Durston? I have been tossing up between the two but I'm really indecisive.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

thanks mate. I LOVE it but the Durston is a blooday good tent. I'd say it depends how much you are prepared to spend and if you are a gram counter. Durstons weighed as much as my old tent so I was keen to shed a few grams (400). I was happy to be able to pitch on a rock platform. I think the off set poles in Durston are brilliant but the Duplex is cool how you can really open it up. I also love how quick duplex is to pitch and roll up. They are both brilliant tents - will be interesting to see the weights when Durston brings out the Pro model. I have been wanting a Duplex for about 5 years and i'm really happy with it. Yep it was bloody expensive but hiking is my passion. Looking forward to a rainy night when I can really test it out

Oh maaaate! That was heckers! Absolutely stunning, but I don't think I could have done all the rock climbing - you two are hardcore :-D But thanks for doing it so I don't have to!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

hahaha thanks mate. That one had me leaning towards the lovely wine and cheese style hikes that's for sure hahahaha

Awesome!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers mate :) couldn't have done it without you to pick me up after my 200th fall

@lauracox3859

3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock Of course. Thanks for taking me.

WOW! You ladies are badass hiker chicks! If I could give you more than 1 thumbs up I would!!! Looked like a super tough hike but man it looks insanely beautiful out there. Great video! Loved it so much!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much. It was both hard but rewarding. Happy hiking to you.

Outstanding. So did you actually have a bath? How cold was the water? It would be an awesome place to cool off in summer.

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Yes we did but it was very brief and VERY cold hahaha

Hey Kate. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure. We’re thinking to go out soon and base ourselves at Styles Ck with two day walks, one over Sturgiss to SB falls return and the another day trip to Tarn and back. We’re thinking to enter Styles via the Eastern side of Quilty’s and then exit via the western side of Quilty’s. However, as you’ve said, the western side involves some private property. Just wondering how to ask the farmer for permission to go through his beautiful land. Thought I’d ask Nerriga pub. Any suggestions please?

@craigwoodburn4436

2 жыл бұрын

oh wow. It looks like it might be 350 Meangora Road right? I remember walking through maybe 25 years ago when there was a man rebuilding the stone cottage which it seems they showcased when selling the property back in 2017. It looks amazing now.

@craigwoodburn4436

2 жыл бұрын

It’s ok. I’ve worked it out. Their cottage can be hired and the property is Endrick River Farm.

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry for late reply. Yep that’s the one. How was the trip. Sounds like a cracker. The regrowth is pretty brutal.

@craigwoodburn4436

2 жыл бұрын

Haven’t gone yet and we’re doing in a few days’ time. Hoping for some great weather.

I'm interested in the route you took? Have you got a basic map of the start to finish? Add in the campsites? pete

@KateGrarock

Жыл бұрын

Hey mate happy to discuss offline. Check out my bio for an email address

Hey Kate check out my budwang it's only about one hour walk from the lock gate near Mongarlowe

@KateGrarock

2 жыл бұрын

So cool. You live there? Best backyard ever

is there only the low-res video? no 1080p?

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

i uploaded in 4k so hopefully you can click a better version - perhaps it takes a sec for youtube to supply them all

@richardstewart6160

3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock I think you're right - it's there now... it wasn't before! All good!

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

@@richardstewart6160 Weird hey - great to hear - I was a bit worried - the file i uploaded was 13 gig so should be some crisp clear mountain joy in there. Thanks for letting me know though - def wanna make sure that was rectified. cheers

Noice Kate... Duplex vs durston? Thoughts?

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

Oh great question - I want to do a duplex tend review when I have a bit more use with it. But basically I'm a gram counter so the duplex wins there -- but I absolutely love the Durston design and price. To be honest I emailed dan to see if they would make his in the ultralight fabric as I love the shape and design of the Durston.I think it is coming but not for 6-12 months. I think I like the doors better on the Durston. Will be very very interesting to hear what weight he can get that tend down to. That said I love my new duplex - very easy to pitch and it's bloody huge and so easy to throw back in pack. Want to check it out in some rainy conditions. So basically if you have a bit of cash i'd go Duplex but the Durston is a bloody good tent

@KyleD

3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock awesome thanks for the insight

@ramblerkitty4760

3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock thanks!! I was going to ask the same. I just got an Xmid yesterday very excited to try it out soon

Look at that! Charcoal makeup 😁

@AmyOutdoors

3 жыл бұрын

😆 that's a Kate trademark now isn't it?

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

haha yep - maybe it's good for the skin - maybe i can market it hahahaha

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

haha and the only real makeup i wear - bliss

@KateGrarock

3 жыл бұрын

also did you notice how little Laura had - I'm not really sure how i do this hahaha maybe from my hiking poles

@AmyOutdoors

3 жыл бұрын

@@KateGrarock haha, yep! You'll have to ask what her secret is 😄