Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Saturday arvo/night 20 July 2024: Full Moon Walk * – L/E. Keep your trousers on 😂, it’s a full moon walk. A ‘day’ walk. Orroral Valley Circuit anticlockwise. Walk north in the valley in daylight, wet feet crossing Sawpit Creek. Complete the circuit by torchlight via Smokers Trail and Cotter Hut Road. Around 20km, 440vm climb, 6hrs. Bring a torch instead of sunscreen, tea (+a thermos for a hot drink) instead of lunch. Sunset Saturday 5.13pm, civil twilight 5.40pm. We’ll meet in Layon at 1.30pm and should be back around 9.30pm.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (recorded on Epix Gen 2) – Distance: 18.69km | Climb: 400vm | Time: 4:02 moving +1:00 of stops =5:02 | Grading: L/E; M(8).

Photographs

View photographs here.

gpx file

Download the gpx file here.

Track Map

Here’s where we went.

Trip Report

I last did this hike on 29 Oct 23.

The weather forecast for Canberra was not pleasant, with 9-24mm of rain, 8°C maximum temperature and wind gusts to 60kph. A bit more extreme in the Orroral Valley.

Yet as we drove south there were patches of blue sky. The wind was fierce and the road littered with tree debris.

A testing walk for our gear. I had 2 merino thermals on, a down jacket, waterproof jacket, a neck warmer, gloves … and shorts. We had a little extra group gear – a tent, emergency bivvy, spare down jacket and shell. But we were all warm and dry, proving that appropriate gear allows walking in most weathers.

Away at 2.20pm and it was frickin freezing.

The view north up the valley was a little different to that in a southerly direction.

A quick photo op at Rowleys Orroral Valley Hut site. It still looked pleasant facing south, with the Belfry on the Orroral Ridge of Stone.

At times the wind was blowing the sleet horizontal into our faces, but we made good time to Fishlock Yards.

To the SSW we could see the snow on Orroral Hill.

Passing the nearby Patrick McLaughlin Hut site, our next leg was across the stepping stones and on to Sawpit Creek. 7.4km in 2 hours to here.

Check out the photos for more crossing styles!

At the junction with Smokers Trail the party lights were set up and we had tea. Dessert was a slice of yummy caramel cake shared with all by Chris.

The return leg is not exciting walking along Smokers Trail and Cotter Hut Rd. But night walking really requires such. Head torches came on as we started along Cotter Hut Rd. From tea back to the cars was 10.9km in about 2 hours 30 minutes. The wind dropped, particularly in the lee of the SW valley ridge. Although it was spitting most of the time, a good pace kept us warm. The moon was occasionally seen.

Supper was chocolate brownie, thanks to Sandra.

I enjoy night walking. Trust everyone else did. Thanks for coming and holding my hand.

Party

10 walkers – Chris D, Anna G, Stephen J, Nadege K, Hsu L, Stephen M, Charity M, Sandra T, Michael Z, me.

AllTrails

The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Johnny Boy’s Walkabout Blog FaceBook Page

I’ve started up a FaceBook page. Each trip report posts to it. It’s another way to get some info to get out and breathe a bit of fresh air. Why not pop over and Follow the page, or give a post a Like.