Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Sunday 23 January 2022

Sunday 23 January: Molonglo Gorge – S/M. The path meanders among trees which will provide protective shade. The walk runs along the northern side of the gorge giving views up and down the Molonglo River. The path leads to a grassy area where we will have morning tea before our return journey.

Summary

Distance: 7.02km | Climb: 200m | Time: Starting 8.00am 2hrs 20mins moving time, plus 43mins of breaks | Grading: S/E; E(5).

Photographs

Photographs are available here.

gpx File

Download the gpx file recorded via AllTrails here (in AllTrails, activate …, Download Route, Select a file format, OK).

Track Notes

AllTrails trip report.

I returned for this walk with popular leader Phillip S on his CBC walk. 15 walkers and it was great to catch up with some old friends. Another reason was that on our recce we had missed the upper track. Although we walked it today, I missed realising we were on it because I was talking too much. Plenty of water in the Molonglo River making for noisy cascades. Lots of other folks and dogs walking the track – the car park was overflowing.

Track Map

The best track map is available via AllTrails, where you can pan and zoom. Don’t know why it has those spurious wiggles in it.

But here’s a GPSr recorded gpx file laid out on my old TopoView 2006 maps – no spurious wiggles:

Party

15 walkers.

Thursday 13 January 2022

Thursday 13 January: Molonglo Gorge to Blue Tiles – S/E. Three senior gentlemen walk the Molonglo Gorge Track to Blue Tiles and return.

Summary

Distance: 7.28km | Climb: 252m | Time: Starting 7.50am 2hrs 35mins moving time, plus 30mins of breaks | Grading: S/E; E(5).

Photographs

Photographs are available here.

gpx File

Download the gpx file recorded via AllTrails here (in AllTrails, activate …, Download Route, Select a file format, OK).

Track Notes

AllTrails trip report.

I was last in this area on 29 Jan 08, nigh on 14 years ago. I remembered it as pretty flat!

We motored individually to the Molonglo Gorge Recreation Reserve car park and set off along the low track, intending to return via the higher loop. The track is initially at the river’s edge and would be impassable after recent rain. The river provided a noisy companion.

I thought I was doing pretty well by keeping up with the leader, only to be deflated when he said he was going slow and making frequent stops for his companions.

The track soon climbed well above the river.

Many cascades and rock ribs.

A few ups and downs along the way.

At several points the debris indicated the height the river had recently risen to.

A few wild flowers about, an outstanding group of Fringe Lilies.

Blue Tiles is a pretty unprepossessing area, at least the up-bank view.

After a short break we turned about, the river continuing to provide grand and noisy views.

Around three quarters of the way back we headed right and up off the main track, hoping that this would be the higher loop track. It was a decent climb for an old codger like me, but we soon found ourselves heading north on the track. So we turned west, cut a corner and found an old vehicle track that descended a friendly spur. The track petered out, we walked a few tens of metres through the bush and came upon the upper loop track. Where it left the lower track at the eastern end is a mystery to us.

A quick return to the cars and on with the business of the rest of the day. Thanks guys, always a pleasure.

Track Map

The best track map is available via AllTrails, where you can pan and zoom

But here’s the AllTrails gpx file laid out on my old TopoView 2006 maps:

Party

Eric G, Phillip S (leader), me.