A trek into the Drysdale Escarpment in search of Bradshaw art

Submitted: Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 18:07
ThreadID: 83681 Views:3893 Replies:11 FollowUps:4
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I have some friends over tonight who we met on last years trip up north. I put this little video together this afternoon of a walk we did and thought others might enjoy it as well.

This little video follows a full day trek into the Drysdale Escarpment in the remote north Kimberley in search of ancient Bradshaw art. Our camp was situated on the Drysdale river west of the Carson River and old Carson River Station. There are not many tracks into this remote area and our camp was situated at the end of a self made track.

We hiked a cross the river and into a narrow cleft climbing through the tangled scrub to the top. From here is was a matter of avoiding the ever present and nasty green ants and searching for caverns and overhangs in which ancient artists have shared their work. The Bradshaw art figures are believed to be over 17,000 years old and the their meanings and style of art has been lost in antiquity.

It was a hard slog through some pretty unforgiving country but thoroughly enjoyable none the less. Some great company, boats, quads, a chopper and a lot of foot work made for a memorable 8 days on the Drysdale.


Mick


''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 19:07

Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 19:07
Hi Mick

Yet another quality production, well done.

Thanks for the time to put it together and sharing.



Cheers

Stephen
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Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 19:26

Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 19:26
Most enjoyable, thanks Mick.
Dunc
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 20:28

Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 20:28
Thanks Mick.
There are only a few of us lucky enough to get to explore in there.
We busted a spring hanger pin in there in 2006.
Also got out to the King George Falls.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID: 441970

Reply By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 20:51

Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 20:51
Hi Mick,
Great Stuff!
Was out there back in 2001 on the Drysdale, but we were limited to our activities by the conditions on our permit, and would have dearly loved to have seen some good Bradshaws.
I did, however, back in the mid-90's, have the good fortune to be camping at a remote spot where Grahame Walsh was based, where he was collecting and cataloging pics of Bradshaws. Some fascinating campfire stories were told. He had a particular knack of identifying Bradshaw sites from the chopper. One beeswax figure we told him about, he was able to successfully walk into the site with only a very rough description of its location. In the world of anthropology, he was revered by some and detested by others for his views on the history of the Bradshaws.
cheers,
Gerry

AnswerID: 441971

Reply By: Drew - Karratha - Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 21:11

Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 21:11
G'day Mick,

I love reading / watching your posts and blogs - please keep doing it!!!!!!!

Drew
AnswerID: 441973

Reply By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 21:36

Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 21:36
Indeed a fascinating place. You seem to get all the tough jobs Mick;))

Did you get to see all you wanted or just enough to whet the appetite? Perhaps a return visit is in order...

Just imagine the tales those areas could tell...

Cheers
MJ
AnswerID: 441976

Follow Up By: Mick O - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 01:39

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 01:39
MJ you know just how much planning goes into a successful trip! This was definitely an appetite whetter and there will be more to follow for sure. You’re first on the list pal, mind you.....an F250? Hmmmm!
''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: equinox - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 01:52

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 01:52
You could fit a few Engels into an F250 :-)


Looking for adventure.
In whatever comes our way.



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Follow Up By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 21:34

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 21:34
"You could fit a few Engels into an F250 :-)"

-and plenty of fuel, probably need it.
-and plenty of booze, certainly need it.
-and more spares, and more booze..
-and heaps more food, and more booze.
-and maybe, just maybe, a passenger, and did
I mention the booze...lol lol

By the time I finish this project Al, it will make
a good travel companion for the 'Fair Maid'

Might have to put two coats of 'scratch pro' on tho'

Cheers
MJ

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Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 00:18

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 00:18
Fantastic Mick

It is amazing how the Bradshaw paintings have stood the test of time; they are magnificent and so many of them out there and not even available to the general public. Painted by birds with their wing tip feathers dipped in their own blood when time began.

Seeing names carved across ancient rock paintings and engravings in the Carnarvon Gorge, maybe keeping much of it away from the public is a good idea.

I am now re-doing my travelogues of our Kimberley trip for a website, and looking back, think the Kimberley is the best of what Australia has to offer, and we didn't even venture off the regular roads.

Motherhen
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Follow Up By: Mick O - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 01:10

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 01:10
Amen! .....and here endeth the lesson!

(mind you one should never discount the rock art in the isolated places east of the Calverts like Yowyungoo and Mungulu).
''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Member - John Baas (WA) - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 02:13

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 02:13
What a shocker of a life you lead Mick!

Always teasing.....

B******. :-)


Cheers.
AnswerID: 442002

Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 06:53

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 06:53
An excellent adventure Mick.
Thanks for sharing.
AnswerID: 442004

Reply By: Member - Bucky - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 07:48

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 07:48
Mick
Keep up the good work

CheersMate
Bucky

AnswerID: 442005

Reply By: Member - DickyBeach - Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 10:02

Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 at 10:02
As others have posted, I, too, love reading your stories, blogs etc.

You might like to read a book "Swimming with Crocodiles", written by a 19 year old American about his trek in 88/89 from the headquarters of the Prince Regent River into the same general area as you went and on which trek he, too, discovered some Bradshaw paintings. A good yarn.

Cheers,
AnswerID: 442008

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