Old codger and young fella walk leaders | photo Justin Stone

Sunday 5 May: Bimberi Peak – L/M. A day trip to Bimberi Peak, the highest hill in the ACT. A 3-hour drive via Cooma, Adaminaby, Tantangara and Pocks Saddle Roads to the track head at Gurrangorambla Creek. Walk fire trail past Oldfields Hut to Murrays Gap, then rough footpad climbing to Bimberi for stunning views. Around 23km and 950m climb. For quick walkers. Help a Queensland walker bag the ACT’s highest hill for her State8. Maps: Rules Point and Rendezvous Creek. Leader: John Evans 0417 436 877 john@johnevans.id.au . Limit: 8. Transport: ∼$40 per person.

Further Information

Bimberi Peak at 1913m is the highest hill in the ACT. Previous trips on 31 Mar 18, 6-7 Nov 16, 16-17 Oct 16, 23-24 May 15, 25 Apr 13, 5-6 Apr 13, 4 Feb 12, 12-14 Sep 06.

Summary

Distance: 22.0km | Climb: 1000m | Time: 9.45am – 5.20pm (7hrs 35mins), including 30 mins of breaks | Grading: L/E-M; H(13)

Photographs

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

Video

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

I’ve been complaining a bit lately about the fit young things I walk with. Today we were led the last metres to Bimberi Peak by Adam, a 10 year old! What an incredible effort (22km and around 1000vm climb) by a very nice young lad. Accompanying Dad, Justin, was rightly very proud.

The main aim of this trip was to get Monika to her second State8 peak, she having done Mt Kosciuszko (NSW’s highest) the previous day.

The six locals met at my old folks home at 6.30am and we motored carefully via Cooma to Adaminaby, where we met Monika. A quick stop just before Adaminaby for Matthew (MJW1) and I (JohnnyBoyACT) to find and log GC63ZX0 Kennedy Airfield.

Our meeting place was the Adaminaby Bakery where we did introductions and fueled up on coffee and goodies. Monika jumped in our car.

Then another hour’s drive via the Snowy Mountains Highway, Tantangara Rd and Pockets Saddle Rd to the track head at Gurrangorambla Creek. The dirt was in pretty good nick. A ubiquitous mob of feral horses on the way in and another mob of 20 just down the creek from where we parked.

Feral horses at Gurrangorambla Creek trackhead

Away at 9.45am walking up Pockets Saddle Rd.

Cars left somewhere under the rainbow at Gurrangorambla Creek | photo Justin Stone

Then east onto the Murray Gap Fire Trail to Oldfields Hut. Cool, breezy and a bit mizzly all during the day.

Had a chat with a NSW NPWS dogger at Oldfields.

Oldfields Hut

Adam was walking strongly. A real pleasure to see a young fellow walking so confidently with his Dad.

Continued on and up to Murrays Gap, where we stopped for 10 minutes for morning tea.

Murrays Gap under Mt Murray

Don’t know why, but we crossed to my preferred southern side where we camp near the Namadgi National Park Murrays Gap sign.

Murrays Gap at the ACT border

Crossed back over to the cairn on the northern side and began our climb up towards Bimberi Peak. The footpad is getting better defined each time I see it. Now marked with yellow paint, as well as the occasional red tape and many rock cairns. I was thinking about the paint … then thought I’d appreciate it on a snowy trip.

Yellow paint, red tape and cairns mark the footpad up from Murrays Gap to Bimberi Peak

Yellow paint, red tape and cairns mark the footpad up from Murrays Gap to Bimberi Peak

We left Murrays Gap at 12noon and the 3.1km climb of 397vm took us 1hr 30mins. Met a lone walker coming down who was doing a day trip from his camp near Cotter Hut. Adam led us to the trig at the top, Monika second to mark her bag of the peak, then the rest of the party.

Adam and Monika lead us to Bimberi Peak

Monika and Adam top dogs in the ACT on Bimberi Peak

Adam and justifiably proud Dad Justin | photo Justin Stone

Cold, windy and fleeting views due to the racing clouds.

View north through south-east from Bimberi Peak

Matthew and I bobbed off to find GC5895 The top ACT – Bimberi Wilderness, then the last 5mins of our 20mins lunch break.

Raincoats on soon after we left, with the mizzle turning into a shower. Still cool, so my coat stayed on until the end. Our descent in 1hr 20mins was only marginally quicker, as the footpad was slippery.

We kept working at it, as time was slipping away. MEt a solo AAWT walker on his 39th day at Oldfields Hut. We reached the cars just before sunset and as the sky was finally clearing.

A careful drive back along the dirt and the highways to avoid the evening animals. Monika picked up her hire car at Adaminaby and also drove carefully, as she had a HUGE excess to pay if a claim was made.

An excellent day all round. Much cred to Adam and Justin, his Dad and Monika and the rest of the party.

If any interstate State8-er is reading this, I’m most happy to provide any level of assistance you require to bag the ACT’s highest hill. You deserve support if you’re prepared to travel a long and expensive way to Canberra.

Track Maps

Track overview

Track overview

Track 1

Track 1

Track 2

Track 2

Profile

Profile

Party

7 walkers – Monika E, Adam S, Justin S, Michael T, Ian T, Matthew W, me.