If you ever drive into the Pine Rivers district and look west, the chances are you’ll see a pyramid-shaped mountain on the horizon. You can’t miss it. The 18th century English navigators didn’t miss it – they drew it on their sketches of the area. And the chances are if you read this blog you’ve already seen it in some of my photos:
A week or so ago I decided I’d like to climb it, but I wanted to take my bike as far as I could up the mountain. It’s a tough climb for hikers, so when I told my plans to my dear long-suffering wife, she gave me a look which gave no doubts that I should ask some friends to come as well in case anything went wrong.
So I asked on the excellent local mountain biking website MTBDirt.com.au for some riding buddies. “You have to be crazy to do this ride”, I said. “I’ve never done it before, I don’t know if it’s rideable, it will be wet and muddy. If you’ve got any doubts, don’t come”. So seven other guys turned up this morning for the ride. I was stoked 🙂
We had permission from the local land owner who let us ride through their property up to the national park. (Thanks Gab & Shirley – we love you!). But when we got there, we took a wrong turn and ended up bashing through a few hundred metres of lantana before we’d even really started:
Eventually, we found the fire trail, and half-rode, half dragged our bikes up the hill:
We eventually made it to the 500m line which marks a saddle between the lesser peak to the north, and the imposing pyramid of Mount Samson. It’s at this point that Hang Gliders used to jump off and glide into the valley below. The views, even at this point, were spectacular – despite all the clouds and rain in the area:
We pushed on and eventually reached a thick bunch of lantana that was impenetrable. There was no way we could drag the bikes any further, and as we tried to push through it, the horrible weed cut us and made any further progress impossible.
So we did what any fun-loving mountain bikers would do, turned the bikes around, and rolled down the hill. What a ride! About 450m of descent in 3 or 4 km. I crashed a couple of times as did others – but there was so much undergrowth that it was like landing on pillows. Also, while riding down we discovered the route we should have used coming up. It would have saved us some crazy hiking at the start and maybe saved us half an hour.
But it was a great ride with some really fun, fit, and slightly crazy guys. I’d love to try it again once I have a better idea of where to go when we reach the saddle at the top.
Total climbing: 832 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:45:15
More data
Cooee Neil Ennis
My name is Diane Manning.
This place is Tukuwompoo
The Summit Circle atop the pyramidal peak is a Sacred Aboriginal Women’s Lore Meeting place.
This Bara, Law Circle is in violate.
None other than full initiate Jundal Goundier of Imarbara Jalu may walkabout upon Burran Burran.
MALES ARE NOT ALLOWED THEREON.
As the Keeper of Imarbara Jalu Pathways of GARUMNGAR I extend to you this message stick that you and your associates may assist with respect to proscribed transgressions and assist with clearing pollutions and defilements eg. Buddhist chortens and all other dangerous changes to escarpments precipices lands and pathways waterways and skies.
You may care to view online my
Earth Elders Blog “Black Eyes” 1 October 2009 © Diane Mospan
And https://www.facebook.com/diane.mospan
Email:
Diane Manning
Imarbara Jalu
Garumngar
National Elders Council
GLOBAL
nationalelderscouncil@gmail.com
peace1earth@live.com.au
Ta
Diane and Families
Mingon, sounds like MinkOM
translation Personal Dreamtime Love
Shines like a light
☀
G’day Diane
Thanks for sharing this important information about your sacred site.
I apologize if due to my ignorance my trip to Mount Samson caused you and your council any distress.
I’ll make sure your message is attached to this blog post so anyone reading it in future is aware of your wishes.
Please pass on my respects to your elders council.
Neil
COOee
Not your ignorance Neil
No apology needed
Imarbara
Peacemakers solving the insolvable
through Song Story and Dance
MESSAGESTICK LAW
All
D R E A MINGS
[EVERYTHING meaning ALL LIFE]
People only one Clan
Mu Ning BuRRU M
translation, HEAD of the BORA CELEBRATION CIRCLE
GA RU M NG A R
translation, Land of the FOUR GUMS WHICH BLEED
ONE TRIBE, translation, LAND
KEEPER of ALL powers
Gave me a duty in 1961
Refer photo will inbox to you on facebook FIRST
Following that other photostories of significance.
All posts photos and comments may be shared.
You may care to know my family dwelled @ Kurwongbah opposite Harrisons Pocket, renamed Vores Road
on Terrors Creek Road renamed Dayboro Road
In 1981 following family tragedy myself and my eldest son
moved to 8 Cruice Street Dayboro Portion 1 Subdivision 1
Parish of Samsonvale
of Our beloved Grandmothers Walkabout Country
Unlawfully obtained by Tufnell after whom the notorious Tufnell Orphanage at Banyo is named. That gubba, dangerous killer, went on to be elevated to first ARCHbishop of Church of England in socalled Queensland.
SOVEREIGNTY never ceded
Mingon
Diane
Diane
Thank you for the info about the Garumngar name.
I love all the country you’ve described – Kurwongbah, Harrisons Pocket, Dayboro, Mount Pleasant – etc. I feel that by spending time in it, the country has changed me and made me a better person.
I’d really like more info about Mount Samson / Buran Buran. From what you have told me I now understand that the peak and the circle are sacred and inviolate under your law. What about other parts of that mountain? For example, there are houses on the slopes near Basin Road. Behind the houses are cliffs. Are these slopes and cliffs also part of the sacred site, or just the peak where the circle is?
Neil