Again, we refuse to follow our leader
Saturday 26 May: The Long Weekend Rocks! (Part 1) – M/R. Castle Hill & Gibraltar Peak The ‘rockstravaganza’ begins with some interesting rock formations at the beautiful Castle Hill. From the Lanyon Shops, we will drive to the Lambrigg lookout along Tidbinbilla Road. We slither under a fence on to private property (permission has been granted) to start the 3.2km walk with a 310m climb (the lungs will be working hard!) With a bit of luck, the land owner may meet us along the way to share some of the history of his property if he is home. No trails, but assuming the sheep have kept the grass down, it will be easy to find our way to the top. After a 3 hour journey over the countryside, we will drive to Dalsetta Carpark at Tidbinbilla (drivers will require passes in to the park.) From here, we ascend to Gibraltar Peak via Eliza’s Saddle. A mixture of fire trails and footpads with some rock scrambling and beautiful views. We will descend via a different fire trail for a quicker return to the cars. The Gibraltar Peak walk is around 7.5km with a 400m climb. Allow 3-4 hours for this section. Leader: Lauren O.
Further Information
The Canberra Bushwalking Club wins again with the emergence of another young, female, walk leader! And not just one walk led, but a trilogy of ‘rockstravaganzas’ to rival the Lord of the Rings over this long weekend. I’m booked on Monday’s trip and will pray for walkers’ soles on Sunday.
Summary
Distance: 11.6km | Climb: 620m | Time: 8.10am – 1.50pm (5hrs 40mins), including plenty mins of breaks and travelling time | Grading: M/M; M(9)
Photographs
Photographs are available, where you can start a large sized slideshow.
Waypoint and Track Files
Download the gpx file for this trip (if your browser does not automatically download the file, it will open the gpx file in a new window and you can then save it). To use in Google Earth, do File, Open… and select Gps or All files as the File Type.
Track Notes
We met opposite my old folks home at the civilised hour of 8am and motored to the Lambrigg Lookout on Tharwa Road.
A stroll down the road (looking up into the unrelenting fog/cloud) boded a closed view from Castle Hill. We carefully crossed the fence line (either over or under via a wombat crawl) and huffed and puffed up the hill. The fog didn’t lift, but we were presented with eerie views to the ‘Tooth’ tors and the Castle Hill trig:
Too slippery to climb today
Copious quantities of sheep poo. We explored the ‘teeth’, choosing not to follow our leader on her closer examination:
Dental surgeon examines a cavity in Castle Hill’s ‘Tooth’ tors
Being Lauren’s first led CBC walk (not a leader to doubt – she’s previously led a great private trip to Mt Kelly), we took the opportunity to assess her. Minus 1 point for the sun failing to shine, but plus 1 point for getting us back to the cars.
We then motored to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Dalsetta car park.
More points accrued because, as we reached the lookout on the Gibraltar Peak Track above the Eliza saddle, the sun was breaking through:
The Tidbinbilla Range above receding fog from the lookout
A great lunch spot on Gibraltar Peak with heaps of other walkers, including other CBC members in another party. A little explore of the higher tors where, once again, we refused to follow our adventurous and contortionist leader. Fine views to the SE that I hadn’t appreciated before:
View south-east from Gibraltar Peak
We returned via the Gibraltar Peak Fire Trail to make a bit of a round trip. This also gave us the opportunity to walk the Xanthorrhoea loop:
Great leader, great trip, great company. Watch for more of this young lady’s walks!
Track Maps
Track Walk 1
Track Walk 2
Party
6 walkers – Adam and Leigh, Helen, Richard H, Lauren O (leader), me.