Remote Search Capability

The Illawarra Remote Area Search program has been progressing well, we’ve had a few activations and training days since its inception and vibe has been positive. It was my turn to run a training weekend and I chose the Budawangs (west of Ulladulla) in the Morton NP as a perfect spot to test our skills. Just quietly I wanted to also combine my other love of geocaching with a hike in the area.

On Friday 27^th July, a few members of the group met at Wog Wog campground in anticipation of the 2-day hike the following day. As we arrived onsite we were greeted by a campfire which had us in a false sense of warmth considering how cool the surrounding temps were plummeting. After a bit of banter around the fire and our tents setup we turned in for the night.

Saturday dawned under clear skies but with a real chill in the air, we all commented on the coldness of the previous night and this was confirmed by a thermometer which read -4deg at 7am. After the remainder of our group arrived, we set-off on our hike at 9am. The crispness of the morning soon gave way to a mild day with temps in the mid-teens. The early parts of the walk were a little bland and sceneless as we made our way out onto the plateau. By late morning we’d gotten our first glimpses of the vast and spectacular Budawangs with prominent features like Pigeon House Mt and Mt Cole standing out amongst others. By 1pm we were enjoying lunch on top of Corang Peak but a strong wind had picked up making the exposed peak a little less appealing but still worthy of some great photos. Pressing on we soon found ourselves at Corang Arch while for me was geocaching goal, a recently placed cache making the hike a little more pleasant. We spent some time here exploring the surrounding caves and Conglomerate rock formations.

By mid-afternoon we’d reached our overnight destination of a well-formed camp cave. Dropping our packs after a day’s hiking felt like heaven, we each picked a suitable spot to roll out our bivvy bags before heading off in search of firewood and a nearby lookout. Traversing the track for a few more km’s we reached the stunning Yungra lookout just as the sun was setting on the expansive valley below us…. The view making the day’s hike so rewarding.

Back at our camp cave we settled in for the night as we each enjoyed a hearty meal and the warmth of good campfire. The day’s exercise had clearly taken its toll on us because by 7.30pm we’d retired to the comfort of our sleeping bags and well-earned sleep.

Sunday dawned with the winds stronger than yesterday, thankfully our camp cave had kept us well protected but soon enough we were all packed up and heading into the teeth of a chilly wind. After retracing a short section of yesterday’s walk, we were soon pushing through virgin territory as we continued our Corang Loop hike. One our team had picked up a knee strain which slowed our progress but with gritted teeth he pushed on through some noticeable pain. Traversing the various spurs and ridges we soon found ourselves walking along the banks of the Corang River. The picturesque waterway providing a perfect backdrop to stop and re-fill our water bottles while one of the many cascades gave us another opportunity to find another cache. By late morning we’d moved away from the river, making the slow uphill walk back the cars through the heavily wooded forest.

Nearly 28 hours to the hour after starting our hike we’d made it back to the warmth and comfort of our cars. We’d successfully completed the 30km Corang Loop hike and thoroughly road-tested our capability and equipment.