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  • Anonymous 11 Oct 2010 at 14:18
    I really enjoyed reading this article from 1928. Recently I have made two attempts to climb Mount Cougal and failed. It's a wonderful walk and climb and worth doing! http://www.walkingthegoldcoast.com

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Ascent of Mount Cougal J

A Peak of 2700ft. High.

MOUNT COUGAL, a peak rising

2700ft" at the head of the Tallebudgera Creek, on the border of New South Wales and Queensland, has been scaled for the first time. The feat was accom- plished by Mr, T. A. Vance, of the Commonwealth Defence Survey, in spite of the statements made by local resi- dents that it was impossible to reach the summit. The story of this thrill- ing climb Is told In simple and telling language by his daughter, Miss Helen Vance, who accompanied him for the greater part of the ascent.

"The Michaelmas holidays having arrived," said Miss Vance, "Dad, who is carrying out a triangular survey, allowed me to accompany him on a week's visit to Mount Cougal, on which he intended to erect a trigonometrical station. He had not visited this mountain before, but ho warned me to be prepared for a strenuous climb. Leaving Brisbane on the Monday morning, and, after an uneventful run of nearly three hours by motor car, we lunched at Burleigh. We left the main road here, and followed the old road through Burleigh West station, and on to Tallebudgera Creek. We then took the road up 'the creek. For- tunately, che weather was dry,'because we had to ford the creek 25 times; but the deepest crossing was scarcely over the running-board of the car.

_

A delightful spot for a-camp was dis- covered at the end of the trafflcable road, there being only bullock waggon tracks leading on past this. It is a very picturesque drive up this valley, with numerous houses nestling In the slopes of the hills, while the creek io fringed with beautiful weeolnt willows. After inquiries had been made from local residents our spirits were somewhat damped by the reports that no one had ever been successful in reaching the summit of Cougal owing to the tremendous précipices encircling it. The reports from the men who had been sent on before- hand to try to find a way up the mountain-after two days' searching were that it was Impossible to reach the summit owing to the sheer cliffs, which rose about 300ft. from the top. After considering the matter Dad de- cided to make Investigations for him- self, so we made a very early start from camp the following morning.

Starting the Climb.

"J EAVING the camp, we Immediately

began to ascend a grassy ridge, which soon changed to heavy forest

country. We followed up this ridge for about a mile, and reached a knob at an elevation of about 1200ft., where we were glad to stop for a breath. From here our first near view of Cougal was obtained. 'The peak was at a distance of about 1 mile, and towered about 1500ft. above us, A scrutiny with the field-glasses did.not brighten our hopes of reaching the top, as an apparently unbroken line of cliffs encircles the summit. We continued our scramble through the

nse undergrowth-up, ever up. In suite of the fact that the men had blazed a tiack I left a considerable part of my dress and stockings behind me on the lawyer vines. On reaching the foot of the cliffs we left our lunch and waterbag, taking only the camera and field-glasses with us. After

climbing about 200ft, with the aid of vines and scrub, our progress was stopped by a vertical wall of rock, extending upwards as high as we could see. The only possible means of ascent seemed to be a small crack in the face of the cliffs, After ex- amining this carefully, Dad, by means of a few plants growing out of the crevices, and using precarious foot- holds, was able to reaoh a small ledge. The face of the -cliff, although It appeared solid, crumbled away when one's weight was put on it, bringing the stones down in showers, which we, at the foot, had to dodge by getting behind an overhanging boulder. Dad gradually disappeared from sight around the side of the cliff,

Success Achieved.

" A FTER an anxious wait for an hour

in the blazing sun, during which we heard nothing except falling stones, we caught the sound of a coo-ee from the top. Thi3 told us that he had been successful. One of the men at- tempted to follow him, but did not get far before he was forced to turn back. After another hour's wait 'falling F tones indicated that Dad was return- ing. I was thankful when he reached the foot of the cliffs safelv. He de- scribed it as a nerve-racking climb,

especially when he' began the de- scent, which he found more difficult than the ascent. Although the top was found to be unsuitable for an observing station owing to dense scrub and timber, he had found a rock ¿utting out on the east side, on which he had decided to erect a small flag station. No more could be done that day, as ropes would be necessary to help the men to climb the cliff.«and to get the tools up, so we returned to camp.

Cairn on the Top,

"'W'EXT morning we set off again

?*? ' with ropes. Dad had to make the arduous ascent again, taking one end of a long rope with him. This time he found It even more difficult than on the previous day. But, after two houro' hard work, the rope was secured to a tree near the summit, and the end lowered down the cliffs. With the aid of the rope the men succeeded in reaching the top, and Dad returned to help me up. Alas I After getting within 200ft. of the top I was forced to give up the at- tempt, as my strength and nerves were

not equal to the task. A few trees were felled by the men and a small cairn, surmounted by a white flag, was ereoted on a jutting ledge of rock. I was very disappointed at not reach- ing the summit, as Dad »said a mag- nificent view of the Tweed district and the coast from Byron Bay to Southport, Including the mountains of the west and north, was obtained. On the New South Wales side the cliffs are sheer for some 2000ft. No marks or signs of any one having been on the summ- could be found, which seems to confirm the reports we had received, that this mountain had never been climbed previously. A long wire rope was left securely fastened near the too. and reaching to the foot of the cliffs, for any adventurous climber who may try to make the ascent."

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