Brown Barron
April 2021
November 2020.
For most of the year the rocks and water in Barron Gorge look like the above photo. However with all the rain we have had for the last four months the Gorge looks very different.
January 2021.
When the rain starts the water level rises dramatically and red topsoil from the Tablelands washes down the range making the water orangey brown.
The water raging February 2021.
This log was placed on one of the rock islands I like to to take photos from earlier this year during one of the high points. No photos from there that day :)
A drop in the water flow during February 2021.
During a lull in the rain during February the water level dropped down quite a bit but soon rose again.
Late March 2021.
The kayakers love the increased water volume but for me it means that I cannot access a lot of places. I had been hoping to get back deep into Barron Gorge regularly again but the rain stops me most days from doing that safely.
If the rain is light the rocks are too slippery with all the silt coverage and if heavy the water too high or a flash flood might be possible.
Late March 2021.
The rain is well and truly back as I type this but late February early March we got a lull in the rain so I decided to try to make my way up to Devil’s Pool. The brown marks on the rocks indicate where the muddy water level rose to during the peak. That is well over 10 feet.
Late March 2021.
As I make my way into the gorge the high water level mark is clearly well over my head. You do not want to get caught in the gorge when water starts coming down the range in that sort of volume.
Late February 2021
Looking up the side of the gorge through the light clouds I can see spots that I have climbed to in the past. They now have so much water flowing they are too dangerous to visit.
Late February 2021
Arriving at Devil’s Pool I am greeted with a mass of brown water and rocks. One can only imagine how furious the water flow was into this pool during the peak of the rain.
Late February 2021
This driftwood is over 30 feet above that water level below and gives us some idea of the surge of water that passes through here after heavy rain..
Late February 2021
Closer inspection of the waterfall shows that when the water smashed down the range into the top pool from left to right and then over into Devil’s pool it marked the right side of the waterfall with silt.
Devil’s Pool, July 2020.
For now I will just have to be patient until we get some gentler rain to clean the rocks without flooding the gorge. When that happens the Gorge will return to the state I love the most.