Rob H (fearless leader) and Eric D arriving at Mt Domain cairn

Monday 28 March: Fishing Gap to Mt Domain and return – M/R.Walk up the Fishing Gap firetrail and then follow the newly taped foot pad to Mt Domain. Return the same way.  About 12km and 800 m climb. Map: Tidbinbilla. Leaders: Rob and Jenny H.

7 of us drove in 2 vehicles to the Fishing Gap car park in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

Summary

Distance: 12.3km | Climb: 700m | Time: 8.20am-2.35pm (6hrs 15mins), including 45 mins of breaks | Grading: M/R; H(13)

Photographs

Photographs are available, where you can start a large sized slideshow.

Waypoint and Track Files

Download the .gpx file. (Right click, Save Link As…, Save – if you want to use it.)
To use in Google Earth, do File, Open… and select Gps or All files as the File Type.

Track Notes

This is the second trip to/towards Mt Domain that I am aware of since we taped it (with Rangers’ blessing) on 16 Mar 16. My objectives were to have the route worn in, to find my sunglasses and to find Sean S’s mobile. All achieved, thanks to Rob and Jenny putting on the walk.

A mild mannered leg from Fishing Gap car park to Fishing Gap, 3.7km in 55mins, under an over cast sky.

Hitting the bush, Rob cleverly allowed me to take the lead. It didn’t rain all day, but there was so much water in the regrowth that we were all soon soaked. A few more tapes needed at the beginning so that a pad, rather than many braided tracks, is established.

As the climb began, I found it easiest to check navigation by setting goto-s on my GPSr to every tenth tape, so that’s what’s on the track map and gpx file for this trip. Party members were kind enough to break off regrowth to help mark the route. A couple of us commented that is was easier to follow the tapes down rather than up. The freshly broken regrowth also helped on the way back.

As the timing dictated, we called morning tea (and later lunch) at the same location as on 16 Mar 16. I think it was before morning tea that I found Sean’s mobile and after morning tea Lorraine found my sunnies.

No views!

Quite a delightful climb from the cleared area at about Tape 20 to the Mt Domain cairn. We arrived at 11.30am and after a quick break, started back down.

A brief appearance of the sun, but then gone. It seemed we shook no water from above on the upward leg, as the regrowth was just as wet.

As I said easier to pickup the route going down. Sun finally consistently appeared as we neared Fishing Gap. A trot back down the fire trail to the car.

Thanks Rob and Jenny and all. A free shower and all objectives achieved.

I hope others might walk in this route too. It would make a great Wednesday hard walk. Beaut views (when they are available!).

Track Map

Track

Profile

Party

7 walkers – Mike B, Eric D, Rob and Jenny H (leaders), Stephen M, Lorraine T, me.