2020 November
Day-trip Pantoneys Crown via Baal Bone Point
Gardens of Stone National Park, NSW, Australia
Preview
A quick preview of the photos is in this link :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RaaXFvdxteOZrTBUbEMapYlQgNdADfcI/view
This view of Pantoneys Crown is from somewhere along Baal Bone ridge to Baal Bone Point.
As you can see, it is a mesa, a free-standing mountain with a long flat-top plateau.
For peak baggers, the summit is about 1030 meters in elevation.
And this view is from near the saddle between Baal Bone Point and Pantoneys Crown.
Interested to climb it ? Then read on :-)
If not, I don't know what will get you excited !
Prolog
Taking
- Harold
- and 3 wonder women, Jing, Lily, Lisa, who relish at scaling vertical cliffs
to climb Pantoneys Crown via Baal Bone Point ... in Gardens of Stone National Park
Harold and I climbed this mountain from the north 4 years ago in 2016 September.
It is fitting that he and I should climb it today from the south.
The 2016 trip report is in this link :
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
Other trips in the Baal Bone area
2021-03 Mercurys Boot to Baal Sphinx Rock and ridge to the west, Ben Bullen SF
Pictures only: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_dV9zYyatuY3t7iUSqdJNczww13slTV7/view
2020-10 Mercurys Boot to Baal Sphinx Rock to Poseidon Arena, Ben Bullen SF
Pictures only: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ddJIJj_Rrhlk0AkqYOmfBvgHpL9pFyx0/view
2020-09 Mercurys Boot to Baal Bone Point, Ben Bullen SF & Gardens of Stone NP
Detailed trip report: https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/mercurys-boot-ben-bullen-to-baal-bone.html
Map
LPI 1:25,000 scaled 8931-4S Ben Bullen
Map 1) The relevant part of the 1:25,000 topographic map
GPS tracklog file & route
The GPX tracklog file of our walk can be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ik8CqYq5v0vpVvpVIGTiu0jMXd99_C1E/view?usp=sharing
Map 2) The same GPS tracklog, in red, is in the following 1:25,000 topographic map:
- Brown oval below Baal Bone Point: We went the wrong way while heading to Baal Bone Point :-)
- 5 blue arrows, top to bottom:
1 GR 2890 2440 Summit of Pantoneys Crown
2 GR 2832 2373 Bottom of slot where we climb up the cliffs of Pantoneys Crown
3 GR 2711 2716 Top of slot where we climb down the cliffs of Baal Bone Point
4 GR 2739 2124 Jabba Hutt Pagoda
5 GR 2757 1925 Start and end of walk
Map 3) Satellite image of previous map
In summary, the route for today is:
- Park Harold's car at GR 2757 1925 on Moffit Trail.
- Walk northward along Jews Creek.
- Then along a west side tributary of Jews Creek to a ridge south of Baal Bone Point.
- Along ridge to Baal Bone Point.
- To summit of Pantoneys Crown.
- Retrace steps back to the car.
Timeline and Distance
Park Harold's car at GR 2757 1925 on Moffit Trail
08:33 0.0 km Start walking
09:24 2.47km At Jabba Hutt pagoda, GR 2739 2124
09:29 2.58km Climb down ridge to walk on a ledge
(We could have kept going along the ridge instead. We'll do just that on the return leg.)
10:03 3.9 km At Baal Bone Point
Morning tea
10:19 4.0 km At GR 2711 2716, where we start to climb down the cliffs of Baal Bone Point
Set up my climbing tape for the steeper part of the descent
10:28 4.02km Everyone is at bottom of the climbing tape
11:19 5.88km Near saddle between Baal Bone Point & Pantoneys Crown
Rest
11:26 5.88km Start climbing up the slope of Pantoneys Crown
11:55 6.35km At GR 2832 2373; bottom of a slot in a gap in the cliffs of Pantoneys Crown (start of a steep climb)
12:18 6.38km (At top of slot) Crawl through a hole formed by boulders
12:22 6.42km At plateau of Pantoneys Crown
12:49 7.45km At summit of Pantoneys Crown
Lunch
13:20 7.65km Leave summit
13:57 8.75km At a lookout at south-western tip of Pantonyes Crown plateau
14:03 8.82km Resume walking
14:08 8.9 km Start to descend Pantoneys Crown plateau ... same spot as at 12:22
14:10 8.93km Crawl through a hole formed by boulders ... Start of steep descent down slot
14:39 8.97km At base of cliff ... end of steep descend ... same spot as at 11:55
Jing put band-aid on Harold's hand. Skin came off back of his hand while descending.
14:44 9.0 km Resume walking
15:21 10.15km Stop for rest ... Near saddle between Pantoneys Crown & Baal Bone Point
Rest
15:32 10.15km Start climbing up the slope towards Baal Bone Point
16:04 11.1 km Stop for rest ... almost at the base of Baal Bone Point cliffs
Rest
16:08 11.1 km Resume walking
16:16 11.25km At bottom of my climbing tape ... same spot as at 10:28
16:25 11.27km At top of my climbing tape ... same spot as at 10:19
16:27 11.32km Stop of a rest (still at Baal Bone Point)
Rest
16:43 11.38km Resume walking
17:20 12.6 km Stop for a rest
Rest
17:29 12.62km Resume walking
18.10 14.87km Back at Harold's car
==============================================
Total: 9 hrs 37 mins
14.87 km Distance is from Google Earth
Photographs - Jews Creek
Initially, we walk northward along Jews Creek (in Ben Bullen State Forest) towards Gardens of Stone National Park.
1) Jews Creek
Tributary on the west side of Jews Creek
2) Now at a tributary on the west side of Jews Creek ~~~
- Upper pic: West side cliffs of the tributary
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• Harold walking along the dry tributary
3) Tributary on the west side of Jews Creek ~~~
- Cyan arrow: Our route
- Upper pic: Depression diagonally across the pic is the dry tributary.
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• White circle: Same as the rock in photo #4
4) Same as the rock in the white circle of previous pic (Photographer: Jing)
- Lisa
- Yellow arrow: Our route
5) 240-degree panorama centred at the headwaters of the tributary on the west side of Jews Creek ~~~
- Upper pic: West side of the tributary
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• Also west side of the tributary
• Yellow arrow: Our route towards Baal Bone ridge
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• East side of the tributary
Baal Bone ridge lookouts
We've climbed up to the ridge south of Baal Bone Point.
6) 200-degree panorama from a rocky platform on the ridge ~~~
- Upper pic:
• 2 red arrows, left to right:
1 Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
2 Tayan Pic (faraway tiny triangle peak)
• Yellow circle: Baal Bone Point is behind those rocks. (We are heading to Baal Bone Point now.)
• Yellow oval: Pantoneys Crown, south-east side of the mountain
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Gundangaroo
2 Mt Canobla
3 Point Cameron
4 Mt Davidson
5 Mt Jamison
7) Pantoneys Crown, south-east side (Photo taken at the same spot as previous pic)
- 2 red arrows in both pics below:
1 Summit of Pantoneys Crown
2 Tayan Pic (faraway tiny triangle peak)
- Yellow arrows: Our route
- Upper pic: Jing
8) At another rocky platform about 2 minutes north of the one in photos #6 and #7.
- Upper pic: A good view of where we are going.
• Yellow circle: Baal Bone Point is behind those rocks.
• Red arrow: Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
• 3 yellow arrows, left to right: Our route
1 Initially, route is along top of the ridge.
2 Then down the cliff (It is possible to walk along the ridge instead of climbing down.)
3 Then along a ledge.
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
2 Summit of Pantoneys Crown (facing south-east side of the mountain)
3 Gundangaroo
4 Mt Canobla
- Lower pic: (Right half and beyond of the middle pic) Jing & Lisa
• 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Summit of Pantoneys Crown (facing south-east side of the mountain)
2 Gundangaroo
3 Mt Canobla
Jabba Hutt Pagoda on Baal Bone ridge
Named after Jabba the Hutt, a Star Wars movie character
Grid Ref: GR 2739 2124
Waiting for BushExplorers https://www.bushexplorers.com.au
to add "Jabba Hutt Pagoda" to their Encyclopaedia :
https://www.bushexplorers.com.au/encyclopaedia.htm
Some of us climbed it in 2020-09, 2 months ago, in a trip from Mercurys Boot to Baal Bone Point; but not today.
( Refer to photos #36 and #37 in this link :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/mercurys-boot-ben-bullen-to-baal-bone.html )
9) Jabba Hutt Pagoda, named after Jabba the Hutt, a Star Wars movie character ~~~
- Middle pic: (Photographer: Jing)
- Lower pic: Lisa (Photo taken in the 2020-09 trip)
• 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Blackmans Crown (the black hill) ... north-west-ish
2 & 3 Nerve Test Rock & Nose Rock ... reference:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/mercurys-boot-ben-bullen-to-baal-bone.html .
Other pagodas on Baal Bone ridge
10) Both pics below are of the same pagoda.
- Upper pic: Looking back at Lisa
- Lower pic, white arrow: Jabba Hutt Pagoda
11) Jing and Paul climbing up the next pagoda ~~~
(Photographer: Lisa ... taken from where she was in photo #10's upper pic)
12) I've climbed up the pagoda of previous pic.
- Upper pic: Facing the high point on left side of previous pic
• White arrow: Jabba Hutt Pagoda
- Lower pic: Facing forward, towards Baal Bone Point
• Yellow arrows: Our route ... Down the cliff (middle arrow); then along a ledge (right-most arrow)
• Cyan arrows: On the return leg, we'll walk along the ridge.
• Left to right: Harold, Lily
• This pic and the 2 pics in photo #13 form a 200-degree panorama.
13) Still at the same spot as where the previous pic was taken ~~~
- Upper pic: (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• Jing ... a lot of suncream on her face :-)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Tayan Pic (faraway tiny triangle peak)
2 Summit of Pantoneys Crown (facing south-east side of the mountain)
3 Gundangaroo
4 Mt Canobla
- Lower pic: (Panning to the right of the upper pic)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Point Cameron
2 Mt Davidson
3 Mt Jamison
4 Mt McLean ... south-east
• Crown Creek flows in the valley in front of the Point-Cameron-to-Mt-McLean ridge
Ledge to Baal Bone Point
Shortly after the previous pics were taken, we climbed down the cliff.
14) Walking on a ledge towards Baal Bone Point ~~~
- Upper pic, left to right: Harold, Lisa, Lily, Jing
- Lower pic: Lisa, Lily, Jing
(Note: One could have kept going along top of the ridge ... no need to climb down to this ledge.
And indeed, on our return leg, we'll walk along the top of the ridge all the way.)
Near Baal Bone Point
After the ledge, then a bit more walking ...
15) Rocky platform near Baal Bone Point ~~~
- Left to right: Harold, Lily, Jing, Lisa
- Red arrow: Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
Baal Bone Point
Now at Baal Bone Point
16) 270-degree panorama taken from where our group were in the previous pic ~~~
- Upper pic:
• Yellow arrow: Previous pic was taken by me standing there.
• Red arrow: Moffitts Pagodas
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• Orange arrow: Blackmans Crown
• Red arrow: Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
• Cyan arrow: Coco Creek
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Large rock dominating the right side of this pic: Tip of Baal Bone Point
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
2 Tayan Pic (faraway tiny triangle peak)
3 Small part of Pantoneys Crown jutting out behind the large rock
4 Gundangaroo
5 Mt Canobla
• 3 girls, left to right: Lily, Jing, Lisa
17) The large rock at the tip of Baal Bone Point ~~~
- Red ovals in the 3 pics below: They circle the same rock.
- Upper pic: Lily heading to the rock in the red oval.
- Middle pic: (Photographer: Lisa)
• Yellow oval: Small part of Pantoneys Crown jutting out behind the large rock
• 2 red arrows, left to right: Gundangaroo, Mt Canobla
• 4 of us, left to right: Lily, Jing, Paul, Harold
- Lower pic: Lily
18) Baal Bone Point from another angle ~~~
- Red arrows in both pics below: They point to the same rock.
- Upper pic:
• High rock behind Lisa: Lily was sitting on it in the previous pic.
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• Large rock at the centre: Tip of Baal Bone Point
• Flat-top mountain on the right: Pantoneys Crown
19) Panorama (Continuation from the right of previous pic) ~~~
- Upper pic:
• Red bar: Pantoneys Crown
• 3 red arrows, left to right: Gundangaroo, Mt Canobla, Point Cameron
• Cyan arrows: Crown Creek
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Point Cameron
2 Mt Davidson
3 Mt Jamison
4 Mt McLean ... south-east
5 Baal Sphinx Rock is somewhere there.
20) Rock at the tip of Baal Bone Point ~~~
- Lower pic: Lisa
Climbing down Baal Bone Point
Baal Bone Point is a scenic area.
But we can't stay here for long as our destination is Pantoneys Crown.
21) Lily & Jing leading the charge down steep a slot ~~~
- The slot is on the east side of Baal Bone Point and is the only way down the cliffs around this area.
- Tree in the middle will be used as anchor for a rope ... Refer to photo #22.
More pictures of this area are photos #70 and #71 in this link :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/mercurys-boot-ben-bullen-to-baal-bone.html
22) Jing & Lily managed to climb down without a rope !
I set up my yellow climbing tape for Harold, myself and Lisa to use.
The tape is anchored to the tree of previous pic.
- Upper pic, left to right: Jing, Lily, Harold (I'm look down from the tree of previous pic.)
- Lower pic: I've climbed down, looking back at Lisa ... The same scene is in photo #75.
23) We've climbed down the tape, ie down the steep slot; now looking back at where we climbed down.
- Yellow arrow: Direction of walk
- Yellow oval: These logs were the ones at the bottom of previous pic.
They are very helpful for climbing up/down the cliff.
24) Once down the cliff (previous pic), go towards a hole/tunnel ... as Lisa is doing now.
- Yellow arrows: Direction of walk
- Left pic: Facing the opposite direction compared to the previous pic
- Right pic: Through this hole.
Looking back at Baal Bone Point
25) We've climbed a fair way down Baal Bone Point, now looking back at the large rock at the tip of the point.
- Lower pics, left to right: Jing, Lisa (Photographers: Lisa & Jing)
To Pantoneys Crown
26) Facing Pantoneys Crown ~~~
- Red arrows in both pics below: Summit of Pantoneys Crown, destination of this trip
- Yellow arrows & dots: Our route
- Upper pic: We are going down the slope of Baal Bone Point.
• Left to right: Lily, Harold, Lisa, Jing
- Lower pic: Near the saddle between Baal Bone Point and Pantoneys Crown
27) Lily finds an interesting rock cave.
Climbing up Pantoneys Crown
28) This near-vertical slot is in a gap in the cliffs. It is the route up Pantoneys Crown.
Jing is band-aiding a minor cut on Harold's hand.
- White arrow: Same rock as pointed by the white arrow in photo #29
- Red dot: Same rock as marked by the red dot in photo #29
29) Lily leading the climb up the near-vertical slot, followed by Jing & Lisa ~~~
- White arrow: Same rock as pointed by the white arrow in previous pic
- Red dot: Same rock as marked by the red dot in previous pic
30) The 2 pics below are of the same scene.
Jing & Harold are climbing up the near-vertical slot ... not easy.
We are not using a rope. But we'll deploy Harold's rope for safety when climbing down later on.
31) While climbing up the near-vertical slot, I look up at the cliffs.
- Cyan oval: Roughly the same area as the cyan oval in photo #32's lower-right pic
32) Still climbing up the near-vertical slot ~~~
The 3 pics below (plus photo #69) are of the same scene. (Photographer: Lisa)
- 3 white arrows in each pic: They point to the same area.
- 2 white ovals: They circle roughly the same area.
- Upper pic: Lily
• Yellow oval: We'll climb up the vertical gap there.
A photograph of that area is photo #67.
- Lower-left pic: Paul
- Lower-right pic: Jing & Harold
• Cyan oval: Roughly the same area as the cyan oval in photo #31
As mentioned already, photo #67 is a photograph of further up the cliff (yellow oval in photo #32).
33) Looking down at Lisa and the near-vertical slot where we are climbing up ~~~
- Red arrow: Ben Bullen village and junction of Castlereagh Hwy & Hutchinson Rd can't be seen from here.
They are just behind the ridge.
34) Lisa on the final ascent to the top of the near-vertical slot
Top of the near-vertical slot
We've climbed to the top of the slot.
35) Next ... go through the hole here.
- Lower pic, white oval: Photo #36 zooms into this area.
36) Zooming into the white oval of previous pic (Photographer: Lisa) ~~~
- Lower pic: Lily having fun
I've crawled through the hole in photo #35 ...
37) ... Now looking back at Jing doing the same.
Once through the hole of previous pic ...
38) ... We have a wonderful vista from south-west to north-east ~~~
The 2 pics below form a 200-degree panorama:
- Upper pic:
• 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Baal Bone Point ... south-west
2 Moffitts Pagodas
3 Blackmans Crown
• Yellow arrows: Our route from Baal Bone Point to Pantoneys Crown
- Lower pic:
• 2 red arrows, left to right: Genowlan trig, Tayan Pic
39) Final climb to the plateau of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
- Left pic, Yellow oval: Harold is leading us up the slope.
- Right pic: Zooming into the yellow oval of the left pic
Plateau at top of Pantoneys Crown
40) Some scenes along the plateau to the summit of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
- Upper pic: Harold & Lisa
• Blue arrow: Direction of walk
• This area is photos #53, #62 and #63 in :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
- Lower pic: Looking back at Jing
41) We come to a lookout on a cliff edge on the east side of Pantoneys Crown.
The 3 pics below form a 200-degree panorama.
- Upper pic: (Centred towards east)
• White oval: Sapling Flat
• Cyan arrow: Crown Creek
• The same scene is photo #64's lower pic in :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
- Lower left: (Continuation from the left of the upper pic)
- Lower right: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• Lily climbing down to investigate a cave
42) Walking to the summit of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
The 3 pics below plus photo #43 form a 270-degree panorama.
- Upper pic:
• 3 red arrows, left to right: Mt Davidson, Mt Jamison, Mt McLean
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
43) (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
This pic and the 3 pics in photo #42 form a 270-degree panorama.
- Yellow arrow: Our route
- Left to right: Lily, Harold, Jing, Lisa
44) Continuing to the summit of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
This pic and the 3 pics in photo #45 form a 360-degree panorama.
- Red arrow: Once you climb up the higher plateau there, you'll reach the summit of Pantoneys Crown.
- 2 blue arrows: Same as the 2 blue arrows in photo #47
- Yellow arrow & dots: Our route
- Left to right: Lily, Harold, Jing, Lisa
45) Panorama of the plateau ~~~
(Photo #46 zooms into some of the large rocks in the 3 pics below.)
- Upper pic: (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• White oval: Sapling Flat
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 6 red arrows, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill
2 Blue Rock Gap
3 Point Cameron
4 Mt Davidson
5 Mt Jamison
6 Mt McLean
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Red arrow: Blackmans Crown (the darker hill)
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is photo #44, completing a 360-degree panorama.
46) Zooming into some of the large rocks in photo #45
47) Continuing to the summit of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
Compared to photo #44, we are now closer to the summit.
- Upper pic:
• Red arrow: Same as the red arrow in photo #44
Once you climb up the higher plateau there, you'll reach the summit of Pantoneys Crown.
• 2 blue arrows: Same as the 2 blue arrows in photo #44
• 2 white arrows, left to right: Jing, Lily
• White oval: Refer to the lower pic.
- Lower pic: Closer to the rocks in the white oval of the upper pic
48) Looking back at where we came from ~~~
- Upper pic: Zooming into the white box of the lower pic
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Carpark at Baal Bone Gap (tiny white speck at both tips of the arrow)
2 Mercurys Boot
3 Baal Sphinx Rock
4 Moffitts Pagodas
• Pink arrows: Baal Bone Point area
- We can't see the large rock at tip of Baal Bone Point (blocked by trees in the foreground).
- Nose Rock is the tiny grey speck at the tip of the upper arrow.
It is about 600 meters (as a crow flies) south-west-ish of the tip of Baal Bone Point.
• 2 white arrows, left to right:
1 Large rock in photos #45 and #46's middle pics
2 Large rock in photos #45 and #46's lower pics
- Lower pic:
• White box: Upper pic zooms into this area.
• 2 red arrows, left to right: Mt Jamison, Mt McLean
A similar panorama is photos #47 and #69 in this link :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
Summit of Pantoneys Crown
49) We arrive at the summit of Pantoneys Crown.
- Red arrow: Tayan Pic (Tiny triangle peak)
- Left to right: Harold, Lily, Lisa
There should be a log book somewhere around the summit of Pantoneys Crown.
We can't find it ...
50) ... Instead, we find a painted rock at the base of the cairn.
Written on the rock: Giving hope those with rare ovarian cancer.
Roc Incorporated Facebook Group:
Rock for Roc Show us where you found me
- White arrow: The painted rock Lily is holding
- White oval: Sapling Flat
- Left to right: Lisa, Lily, Harold, Jing
51) Summit cairn of Pantoneys Crown, from different angles ~~~
- Upper pic: Lily holding the painted rock
• 3 red arrows, left to right: Mt Davidson, Mt Jamison, Mt McLean
- Lower pic: Harold
• This pic and the 3 pics in photo #52 form a 360-degree panorama.
Panoramas from summit of Pantoneys Crown
52) Panorama from summit of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
- Upper pic: (Continuation from the right of previous pic)
• 2 red arrows, left to right: Genowlan trig, Tayan Pic
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Gundangaroo
2 Mt Canobla
3 Mt Davidson
4 Mt Jamison
• White arrow: Sapling Flat
• Cyan arrows: Crown Creek
• Blue arrow: Lily taking photographs
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Red arrow: Mt McLean
• The horizon of this pic can be seen more clearly in Photo #53.
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is photo #51's lower pic, completing a 360-degree panorama.
53) The 2 pics below have a better view of the horizon compared to the previous pic.
- Upper pic: Lily & Lisa
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Jamison
2 Mt McLean
3 Mercurys Boot
4 Baal Sphinx Rock
• White arrow: Carpark at Baal Bone Gap (tiny white speck at both tips of the arrow)
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 2 pink arrows, top to bottom:
1 Nose Rock (tiny grey speck at tip of the arrow)
2 Large rock at tip of Baal Bone Point
• Red arrow: Moffitts Pagodas
54) 240-degree panorama, taken from west side of the summit ~~~
- Upper pic:
• Red arrow: Blackmans Crown (the darker hill)
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• Red arrow: Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Red arrow: Tayan Pic (tiny triangle peak)
55) 180-degree panorama, taken from east side of the summit ~~~
- Upper pic: Lisa & Lily
• Red arrow: Tayan pic
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 2 red arrows, left to right: Gundangaroo, Mt Canobla
• 3 white arrows: Same as the white arrows in each of the 3 pics in photo #56
• White oval: Sapling Flat
• Pink arrow: Sapling Flat Creek
• Cyan arrows: Crown Creek
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• 7 red arrows, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill
2 Blue Rock Gap
3 Point Cameron
4 Mt Davidson
5 Mt Jamison
6 Mt McLean
7 Mercurys Boot
• Cyan arrow: Unnamed east side tributary of Crown Creek
• White arrow: Carpark at Baal Bone Gap (tiny white speck at both tips of the arrow)
56) Starting to leave the summit of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
- White arrows in each of the 3 pics below: Same as the 3 white arrows in photo #55's middle pic
- Upper pic: Lisa
• 3 red arrow, left to right: Tayan pic, Gundangaroo, Mt Canobla
- Middle pic: Jing (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 2 red arrows, left to right: Gundangaroo, Mt Canobla
• White oval: Sapling Flat
• Pink arrow: Sapling Flat Creek
• Cyan arrows: Crown Creek
- Lower pic: Jing & Lily (Continuation, sort of, from the right of the middle pic)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill
2 Blue Rock Gap
3 Point Cameron
4 Mt Davidson
• Cyan arrow: Unnamed east side tributary of Crown Creek
Return leg along plateau of Pantoneys Crown
57) Retracing our steps along the plateau of Pantoneys Crown ... back to its south-western tip ~~~
- Upper pic: Jing
• 6 red arrows, left to right:
1 Unnamed hill
2 Mt Davidson
3 Mt Jamison
4 Mt McLean
5 Carpark at Baal Bone Gap
6 Mercurys Boot
- Lower pic, left to right: Harold, Lisa, Jing
58) Many interesting large and small pagoda-like rock formations along the plateau ~~~
- Upper pic: Jing
- Lower pic: Lily
This area is also in photos #46 of this link :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
59) More pagodas on the plateau ~~~
- Upper & middle pics: The 2 white ovals circle the same area of the pagoda.
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
60) In the afternoon, plenty of this type of planes fly low over Pantoneys Crown.
Very strange ... Why do they fly so low ? What are they doing ?
South-western tip of Pantoneys Crown
61) At a lookout close to the South-western tip of Pantoneys Crown ~~~
The same scene is photo #61 in this link :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
- In all 3 pics below:
• Left to right: Jing (in pink), Lisa (in red), Lily (in blue)
• Cyan arrows: Unnamed east side tributary of Crown Creek
- Upper left pic:
• 2 red arrows, left to right: Unnamed hill, Blue Rock Gap
Next, we are at the south-western tip of Pantoneys Crown.
Some more photos of this area are photos #56 to #59 in this link :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
62) 270-degree panorama at the tip ~~~
- Upper pic: Jing
• White arrow: Carpark at Baal Bone Gap (tiny white speck at both tips of the arrow)
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Davidson
2 Mt Jamison
3 Mt McLean
4 Mercurys Boot
5 Baal Sphinx Rock
• Cyan arrow: Crown Creek
- Middle pic: (Continuation from the right of the upper pic)
• 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Baal Bone Point
2 Moffitts Pagodas
3 Blackmans Crown
• 2 pink arrows, top to bottom:
1 Nose Rock (tiny grey speck at tip of the arrow)
2 Large rock at tip of Baal Bone Point
• Yellow arrow & dots: This morning's route from Baal Bone Point to Pantoneys Crown
Also, refer to photo #63.
- Lower pic: (Continuation from the right of the middle pic)
• Red arrow: Genowlan trig, 1040 meters (south-west-ish of Airly Turret)
63) Jing pointing at Baal Bone Point (Photograph taken at same spot as previous panorama) ~~~
- White arrow: Baal Bone Point
- 2 pink arrows, top to bottom:
1 Nose Rock (tiny grey speck at tip of the arrow)
2 Large rock at tip of Baal Bone Point
- Red arrows: Moffitts Pagodas
- Yellow arrows & dots: This morning's route to Pantoneys Crown via Baal Bone Point
64) An interesting gap close to the lookout of previous pic ~~~
(This is not the place to climb up/down Pantoneys Crown.)
- Lily goes down to investigate.
Climbing down Pantoneys Crown
65) Bottom of this pic is the slope to climb down Pantoneys Crown ... Lily, Jing, Harold (leading)
This is the same area as in photo #39.
(This pic is looking down the slope; whereas photo #39 is looking up the slope.)
After climbing down the slope of previous pic, it is through the hole in photos #37 and #35.
Then ...
66) ... Then from here on, it'll be a steep drop down the cliff. (Photographer: Lisa)
- Left to right: Harold looking down at the steep drop, Paul
67) Harold sliding down (Photographer: Lisa)
This scene is the yellow oval in photo #32.
- White oval: Same as the white ovals in photo #32 (its upper and lower-right pics)
68) Further down, for safety, Harold's rope is deployed, even though we didn't need it when climbing up.
- Lisa
- White oval: Same small shrub as in the white oval of photo #69.
69) Further down the cliff ... Lily
- Photo #32 has the same scene.
- White oval: Same small shrub as in the white oval of photo #68.
70) Further down the cliff ~~~
The 2 pics below are of the same vertical drop.
- Upper pic: Looking down at Jing watching Lisa climbing down
- Lower pic: Looking up at Harold climbing down
71) Lisa on the final descent ~~~
Jing & Lily are already down at the bottom, taking photographs of us climbing down.
- Red dot: Same rock as the red dots in photos #28, #29, #72
72) The final descent ... same near-vertical drop as the previous pic ~~~
- Red dots: Same rock as the red dots in photos #28, #29, #71
- White arrows: Same rock as the white arrows in photos #28 and #29
- Left pic: Paul & Harold sliding down (Photographer: Lisa)
- Right pic: Harold is the last to come down.
Return to Baal Bone Point
73) On our way to Baal Bone Point, the red arrow ~~~
- Top to bottom: Lisa, Harold
Climb up Baal Bone Point
74) To climb up the cliffs of Baal Bone Point, first go through the same hole as in photo #24.
75) Then climb back up the slot ... same scene as in photo #22's lower pic.
I left my yellow climbing tape here in the morning. Now glad to see it is still here :-)
To Jews Creek
Retrace our steps back to the car ...
76) Meet up with a local resident, Varanus varius (Lace Monitor)
This morning, we walked along a ledge below the ridge ... refer to photo #14.
Now, we walk along top of the ridge ...
77) ... Then come to these pagodas.
- Upper pic: Climbing over this pagoda
• Left to right: Lily, Jing, Harold, Lisa
• This is the same pagoda in photos #42 and #78 of this link :
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/mercurys-boot-ben-bullen-to-baal-bone.html
- Lower pic: Once over the pagoda of the upper pic, we come to this scene which is the same as in photo #10.
• White arrow: Jabba Hutt Pagoda
78) Passing an interesting rock formation along a west side tributary of Jews Creek
79) Lily & Jing getting down to the west side tributary of Jews Creek
Jews Creek
80) Now along Jews Creek ... We'll be back to the car soon. (Photographer: Jing)
White flowers are Stellaria pungens (Prickly Starwort).
- Left to right: Lisa, Harold, Lily
Insects
81) Insects on Pantoneys Crown, clockwise from top-left:
- Rainbow-coloured grub on the barks of a gum tree
- Helea (Pie-dish Beetle) ... which species ? ... found at the summit
- Larva of a Helea (Pie-dish Beetle) ... found at the summit
- Belenois java (Caper White Butterfly) ... found at the summit
Flowers
82) Flowers, clockwise from top-left:
- Solanum vescum (Green Kangaroo Apple or Gunyang)
- Isotoma axillaris syn. Laurentia axillaris (Blue Star or Star Flower)
- Ajuga australis (Austral Bugle)
- Well spotted and photographed by Jing
Dampiera stricta ... Plant identification: by Mark Goodson ... Thank you.
Should have green leaves and blue flowers.
This is a rare and beautiful mutant !!!
- Goodenia bellidifolia
- Scaevola aemula (Fairy Fan-Flower)
Post Script: Nearby trips
This area is so fascinating, it would be criminally negligent if you don't do more walks here.
To help you plot your ideas, here are the nearby trips I have done :
- Baal Bone area :
2021-03 Mercurys Boot to Baal Sphinx Rock and ridge to the west, Ben Bullen SF
Pictures only: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_dV9zYyatuY3t7iUSqdJNczww13slTV7/view
2020-10 Mercurys Boot to Baal Sphinx Rock to Poseidon Arena, Ben Bullen SF
Pictures only: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ddJIJj_Rrhlk0AkqYOmfBvgHpL9pFyx0/view
2020-09 Mercurys Boot to Baal Bone Point, Ben Bullen SF & Gardens of Stone NP
Detailed trip report: https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/mercurys-boot-ben-bullen-to-baal-bone.html
- McLeans Pass - Point Cameron areas :
2022-12 Stargate Tunnel to Point Cameron, Gardens of Stone NP
Pictures only: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iWAHjVWb0g1oOzqIY5LGHr0CyPwcUOyv/view
2020-11 Stargate Tunnel to The Nipple rock, Gardens of Stone NP
Pictures only: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SKwTenqaaKCZeoTBc0OAyw2LGWfaKxzL/view
2019-09 Stargate Tunnel to Hecates Cauldron, Ben Bullen SF
Under construction
- Pantoneys Crown area :
2016-09 Pantoneys Crown from the north, Gardens of Stone NP
Detailed trip report: https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2016/09/pantoneys-crown-gardens-of-stone-np-nsw.html
Awesome description and information. Thankyou.
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