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Cathedrals - open?

davetheyounger

5-Aug-2009
3:29:12 PM

Its not official but it looks like christmas will be when the Cathedrals will be open again

pmonks

5-Aug-2009
3:49:56 PM

What year?

Access T CliffCare

19-Aug-2009
10:46:12 AM

(Have put this on a couple of relevant threads)

Hi All,

Spoke to the ranger at Cathedrals. The target opening date is end of October. Cup weekend 09.
There has been a lot of work going on clearing trees and getting the park to a state where people can visit. Some tracks are closed such as Friends nature walk and possibly the track that goes through the Farmyard area. They are wanting to realign this track so work might or might not have started on that by then. You can still access North Jawbone where most people do which is by turning right heading up to the cliff base steeply, rather than continue left through to the Farmyard. Basically all the climbing areas are still accessible, its just some of the walking tracks which need work. Neds Gully and Mills Campground were untouched by the fire so camping is ok.
From what the ranger has said, the view is amazing!! As in, you can see everything across the park now. This obviously means that cliffs more difficult to access will be easier now. The idea to keep in mind is be thoughtful about the track you are creating. While a steep track might get you there quicker, the damage it creates once it gets used a lot is severe and sometimes difficult to repair once done. There will be no ground cover, making erosion a definite. The damage has been severe so be prepared to see a very different Cathedrals. As for rock quality, not a huge amount of inspection has gone on. Some of the boulders have some exfoliation on them. As quite a few of the climbing areas are heavily visited by groups there is not a lot of vegetation close to the cliff so this could have meant less impact heat wise. But as always, be aware that the area has been fire damaged and take care and precaution when considering what you are doing and what you are climbing.

When we get in there, we will get a better idea if anything needs to be done from a climbing and climbing access perspective. Possibly the steep track up to the Jawbones might benefit from a little stabilizing as it was pretty bad in sections before the fire. Maybe even a little consultation might work re tracks accessing uncovered cliffs.

Cheers,

Tracey

earwig

21-Aug-2009
9:15:37 AM

The Boulders from Sugarloaf carpark - May 2009

bl@ke

21-Aug-2009
8:13:45 PM

Not to say that parks or whoever is in charge of rebuilding the cathedrals isnt doing a great job, but do you think that they would have been reopened alot quicker if they were as popular as that ski place near marysville?

Also if anyone is that way go to buxton and try the cathedral burger there :)

davetheyounger

22-Aug-2009
8:56:26 AM

Lake mountain is a private business, parks is government and there are only a couple of parks workers to fix both Lake eildon NP and the Cathedrals. Normally Parks borrow DSE workers but at the moment we are a little busy ourselves

Paul

22-Aug-2009
10:18:52 AM

On 21/08/2009 bl@ke wrote:
>Not to say that parks or whoever is in charge of rebuilding the cathedrals
>isnt doing a great job, but do you think that they would have been reopened
>alot quicker if they were as popular as that ski place near marysville?

No, I don't think that it would open quicker. The large amounts of tall dead standing timber near roads or walking tracks and erosion issues are waht would most likely be the factors which holdup the re-opening. Most of the ski runs at lake mountain are 4x4 accessable, and if not are quad bike accessable making easier access to do erosion works and remove dangerous trees. A large proportion of the Cathedral Range are walking tracks only which makes access to do works a lot harder and more time consuming.

andi nismo

24-Aug-2009
10:37:07 AM

The reason Lake Mountain was opened so quickly is because it is a major drawcard for the area and we rely on it to bring tourist dollars to the town. The government has put a large amount of responsibility on Lake Mountains shoulders to assist in the recovery of the areas economic health. I say let's be thankful they did'nt open up the Cathedrals too soon. It means they have given the damaged trees near the roads a chance to prove whether or not they are sturdy enough to leave in the ground. The roadsides coming into Marysville have been raped by Murrindindi council. Perfectly good trees are being torn down 'just in case'. The old fear of litigation etc. Anyway, for those of you who've done the Bissets Pinnacles bash without success, you'll be glad to know access is now a doddle.

Fish Boy

24-Aug-2009
4:56:32 PM

^ Bissets access is pretty damn slippery, the only thing easier is being able to see it! Climbing areas at the northern end are untouched (Neds Gully/Ten Fathom/Sunset Strip), Northjaw bones is equally slippery and much burnt bush action waaaay up the cliff.

I think the tree clearing is finished?

JamesMc

24-Aug-2009
9:33:57 PM

Hopefully the fire cleaned up South Jawbone. It might be possible to ROCK climb Possum Run now.

JamesMc

TooFatToClimb

26-Oct-2009
6:21:47 PM

On 19/08/2009 access t wrote:
>The target opening date is end of
>October. Cup weekend 09.

...does this mean it's open this weekend?

earwig

16-Dec-2009
2:39:01 PM

Cathedrals will be open and ready to rock from Friday 18th December, which means this weekend.

All the campgrounds and carparks are open. The facilities at Sugarloaf are gone, including the steps at The Boulders.

Walking tracks are open to Farmyard (and therefore the Jawbones), Sugarloaf and Neds Saddle, Neds Peak area but closed between Cathedral and Little Cathedral and so Sunset Strip isn't accessible yet.

Erosion around the walking tracks will be a problem until the vegetation comes back a bit more.

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