Monthly Archives: July 2013

Spring 2000

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The snow cover of the best ski season for 10 years has lingered on the Great Western Tiers above the Mole Creek valley. We have seen more Queenslanders this spring than before. Thanks for coming! and I know you all have enjoyed the novelty of the backdrop of snowy mountains, even if the air was crisp.

Those magic days of spring are really with us now, and the crystal clear air smells sweet with blossoms of bush and garden all around. Water levels are now receding in the caves, after showing us spectacular waterfalls with all the snow melt and rain. As the season continues, we are able to more safely and comfortably explore river passages of the caves. There is something good in every season.

COMMENTS OF THE MONTH, VISITORS’ BOOK.

“Incredible waterworks in Honeycomb Cave. Great experience, thanks.” John Nankiell.

“Absolutely, well and truly worth the 6am wake up, the 1 hour drive through the snow and the freezing cold conditions. Would do it again on the coldest day of the year!” Cath and Andrew Colville, Pennant Hills, NSW.

“Very informative, don’t miss it, wet and muddy arse, excellent experience. Thank you.” Kaare Anderson, Mildura NSW.

“The best experience I have ever seen or had.” Steve and Kaye, Brisbane, QLD.

“I really enjoyed the experience.*” Alwyn Waldron, Hurgon, QLD. *What this guy actually SAID to me during debrief was that the water was quite wet…. (I had to say that, Alwyn).

“From someone who has never done anything like this before, I would strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone. Had I known how spectacular it was going to be I would have booked the whole day!!” Shane Dunlop.

“Wonderful exhilarating experience. Learnt a lot. Enjoyed the whole tour. Congratulations, Deb, keep up the good work.” Vicki Moseley.

“Amazing features, very enjoyable. Enjoyable experience of nature.” Joy and Paul Young.

“It was awesome and I’m going to go home and find a cave.” Tim Seers, USA.

“Absolutely fantastic. The best caving ever. Unforgettable experiences encountered today. What a great adventure. Thanks Deb. And we saw a platypus. Excellent.” Danny and Hayley Susel, Bendigo, Vic.

“Absolutely fantastic experience. Debbie is a fantastic guide and very knowledgeable. It’s worth every penny. Don’t miss out!” James Curtis, London, UK.

“Had a terrific experience – never seen anything so beautiful yet mysterious in my life. Very challenging though through tight areas- great twin waterfalls. Thankyou. Great fun, highly recommended, great guiding and experiences.” Aaron and Sam McKindley.

“Absolutely fantastic experience. Something everyone should take the time to experience.” Debbie Long, Brisbane, QLD. (this girl actually went through the high squeeze in the left hand side passage at the Abseil Hole, Honeycomb Cave.)

SHORTBREAD RECIPE
(for those who wanted the recipe – of Wild cave Tours’ morning tea fame):

200g flour (I use unbleached); 100g rice flour (I use whole grain rice flour); 250g butter;

120g castor sugar

Mix flours together and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the sugar. Turn onto a board and divide in half. Form into rounds and shape to10mm thick and 15cm diameter on a greased baking sheet. Crimp the edges, prick with a fork and bake at 180C (350F) for 10 minutes then reduce temperature and continue baking at 150C (300F) for 30-40 minutes until browned. Sprinkle with castor sugar, leave on baking sheet for 5 minutes then mark into wedges and transfer to a wire rack to cool. I bake it in a large wood fired oven, which may give different results than in your own oven. Perhaps use both oven elements (or fan forcing?) for that even, dry heat.

Spring 1999

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Tasmania in spring shows off a multitude of colours. Standing in the Mole Creek valley and gazing at the Great Western Tiers the first impression is the dense gold blossom of the black wattles against the sombre darkness of the native wet sclerophyll forests. The brilliant green of the mosaic farming landscape before the escarpment of the Tiers is stunning. The villages and farmhouses are brilliant with spring gardens in flower. But delve beneath the surface, into the caves, and the picture of our valley is complete. In spring, when we get plenty of rain, the caves’ formations are vibrant with colour as well; enhanced by the mineral rich water flowing and dripping over stalactites and flowstone.
Rivers are flowing strongly through the caves. Cave passages are the river systems here, and in summer and autumn when the cave streams are quieter, you can still sense how much water must flow at other seasons. You can sense that the underground world awaits the next seasonal flush with mountain water.

People at a cave entrance
Doorway to discovery

The rich colours of the calcite-streaked dark blue-grey cave walls in the stream passages contrast with the rich enhanced colours of the formations emerging from the ceilings. The waterfalls which rejoin stream branches in the lower cave system show dramatic white water when we turn our lights onto them. The roar of the churning water in the confines of the passages is very exiting. Much photography has been the rage here this spring. I hope all the photos turn out really well.

Most of the large cave spiders seem to have hatched their broods, and are able once more to roam for food after their long vigil, guarding their egg sacs for up to 5 months. They can be hard to spot now when they are so lively, and I must be careful not to linger with the lights as it disturbs them. The constant influx of fresh food from the forest on the rushing streams excites the glow-worms, which now appear to be increasing in numbers or brilliance, especially if you linger in a river cave long enough to gain complete night vision. The blind white shrimps are making a comeback into the main passages after each high water event when they hide in quieter nooks. I have seen two “calling cards” of platypus so far this spring in the caves, indicating these animals are finding fresh food in the caves.

Our exploration has sometimes been restricted largely to the upper levels of caves while streams are rising after heavy rainfalls or snow melt. Mostly we’re out of the rain in there, but don’t stand under that cluster of straw stalactites! There have been two days only when there was too much water to explore caves at all. At those times even the show cave, Marakoopa, was closed.

But spring is full of surprises. It’s great to enter the caves during rain and emerge to warm sunshine or shafts of sun between dramatic clouds. I’ve noticed more northern Australians coming to Tasmania to see the seasons they can’t experience at home.

As one of my responsibilities, I coordinated a Search and Rescue exercise in one of the river caves this week. A tremendous success all round, and a necessary public service to keep in practice with. We reckon it’s fortunate if we don’t have need to use our skills. These practice days are a lot of fun and stimulate discussion and awareness of the problems of evacuation in caves generally. They are supported by Parks, Police and our local caving club, the Mole Creek Caving Club.

More later. See you underground (again?).