Grampiens National Park and Beauchamp Falls

February 15, 2024

Waking up the next morning just outside Grampiens National Park, overall the morning was chill. I made the decision to take an extra step in making breakfast this morning. I boiled water to make instant coffee and I even put the english muffin to fry in the pan a bit after cooking the eggs to at least warm it up. I didn’t want a repeat of unfavourable textured bread a second morning in a row. An improvement on breakfast for the start of day two. Already finding my feet if I do say so myself. I can take my time with brekky if I want to.

Then I drove into the nearby town to get petrol and I had data to pick out my hikes that I wanted to do for the next day or possibly two. I decided on Mount Abrupt. As I went to turn down the road that would take me into the heart of the park I see a digital road side sign saying “Grampiens Closed due to Buschfires” umm what? I obviously didn’t look it up before, I’m not the most organized traveller, sometimes yes sometimes no. There was no smoke in the sky, and wasn’t sure if it was an old bushfire that they were keeping an eye on. So needless to say I was super bummed. I drove all the way out here without checking. So I go towards town and there a bunch of cars parked in a nearby parking area near a trailhead on the tail end of the park. Another car pulled up behind me and after I got off the phone with my friend Francesco, I chatted with the folk from the other car. They talked to the information or visitor centre or something and yes apparently its closed, but they aren’t really patrolling so wouldn’t know if you are hiking… except she talked to them lol. They told me they won’t go in the park but would be doing the one on the edge, so I thought why not me too. I’m not usually one to disrespect national parks lands and preservation efforts, but I didn’t drive all the way out here to not hike. Instead I’ll do this one, then move on as I’m obviously not staying two nights anymore. The hike was cool, it was on Mount Sturgeon. The start and end of the trail had shoe cleaning stations. To make sure you aren’t bringing anything in or out with your shoes. The hike up reminded me that I am not in hiking shape or form at all, but I got up in decent time after taking breaks for photos. And then once at the top I basically ran down lol. I don’t know where the energy comes from after grinding up, but my lungs and legs are not really tired anymore, it’s easier. I still stopped to take photos so didn’t run down crazy fast. I even spotted a few wallaby right at the very end. So overall I had fun on the hike and happy I was able to get one in. Maybe I can get into trail running one day, but only downhill running. Never uphill running.

Next up was driving to the next location, so I picked Beauchamp Falls that had a free campground next to it. A little bit of driving to get to it, plus a detour to other falls that I saw a sign for along the way. The detour to the other falls didn’t have much for viewpoints, it was basically blocked by foliage the whole time. Although at the bottom of those falls I did go off track around the viewpoint and walk across some rocks in the small river just to get a glimpse of it. No platypus yet either despite the sign saying you could maybe see some. So yeah quick detour, then finally arrived to Beauchamp Falls and parked the car. There are camping tables here and two outhouses even with some toilet paper woooooo fancy for a free camp! I wasn’t sure if I was hungry yet and what I wanted to do for the evening. So I decided to walk down to the falls and check them out. I didn’t bring except my phone and keys with me, I figured if I really like it I can come down in the morning to grab better pictures. Turns out it was fantastic. I even propped up my phone on a rock to get some video. I decided it might be better to film instead of pose for pictures, I can grab screenshots of what I want. I told myself I would go back in the morning for a swim and better camera photos. But I didn’t because in the morning most of the late night arrivals went to check it out and I knew I wouldn’t have it all to myself and enjoy it as much.

Anyways the rest of the evening consistent of me cooking supper, reading for a bit, and then watching the sunset for literal hours hahaha. I was mesmerized by it, it changed colours quickly and brought the warmth that I feel when I witness a very vibrant sky. I even started watching the sky turn to dusk and night and the gradients of the blues and oranges just meshing together. I even wrote about it too, in a separate note. I really enjoyed it. Then I went back to the car and felt like listening to music. So once I peed and brushed my teeth, I jumped in the car and took a few minutes to put up my very poor window blockers for privacy which made me realize I need a better and more efficient system. So that’s tomorrow’s plan. But yeah just had a mini laying down dance party in the car before deciding to start watching The Empire Strikes back and falling asleep.