Pages 148-151 of “Mountains Mishaps” describes the storm and Coxs River flood that drowned two people in August 1967. In 1967 The river peaked at 5.745m but in 2021 it peaked at 7.593m. It’s currently only slightly flooded at 1.1m but normally it`s at 0.4m. at Kelpie Point (near the junction with the Kowmung River).
On Friday July 8,1988 a girl and two boys were rescued by the Pol-Air helicopter from the south bank of Coxs River at Konangaroo Clearing when they became trapped by flood waters. The river peaked at 5.438m. The hikers were Carolyn Baker, 17, of Lindfield, Tom Walker, 15, and John McDonald, 15, both of Killara. They were members of the 1st-2nd West Kil[lara.Venturers Unit.
The threesome had set out from the Megalong Valley on the previous Saturday to walk and climb around Narrow Neck Peninsula to Kennel Flat, Splendour Rock, Yellow Dog, Yellow Pup Ridge, and Kangaroo Flat through the Wild Dog Mountains. Then they were to camp on the bank of the Coxs River for several days. From that location, they were going to hike back to Galgong Creek then to Carlon Head and descend from the valley at the outlet on the peninsula to Katoomba on Wednesday. However, continuous heavy rainfalls had caused fast flowing rivers and creeks to become impassable.
When they failed to arrive home on schedule, one of the boy’s father, Bruce Walker, and Scout Leader Alan Prior informed police at Katoomba that the three teenagers were overdue. The search began at 4am with a survey of the lookouts above the valley on Friday July 8. Members of the Police Rescue Squad, including Senior Constable Gary Thornton, were joined by NPWS rangers, Water Board Rangers, and Bushfire Headquarters Controllers. The Police Airwing was also called in. Shortly after the helicopter began its search from the Narrow Neck peninsula, the hikers were found on the bank of the swollen river. They were then airlifted to the Renaissance Centre at Katoomba. A relieved and happy Carolyn Baker is in the photo.
“As the exhausted searchers made their way out of the waterlogged valley, another alarm was received at the station. Another hiking party was overdue.” Lindsay Yule, 14, of Buena Vista Road, Woodford, and Horatio Wansbrough, 13, of Links Road, Leura had set out on a bushwalk along Six Foot T tack, from the Explorers Tree, the previous day at 8 am. They planned to proceed through Megalong Valley to the Coxs River and return home. When they failed to arrive, the police were alerted. The search began on Tuesday night and continued on Wednesday morning. They were found by the police helicopter by the banks of the fast flowing river at 11.15 that morning and flown to Megalong Road. Lindsay and Horatio are shown below.
“