Day 1

A magic long weekend was in the offing - blue skies, cool-mild weather, strong and experienced walking companions.  This was to be a trip to the last of 38 high hills in the ACT above 1400m.  Mt Namadgi had defeated me due to poor stamina on 2-3 Jan 06 and poor weather on 10-11 Jun 06.  This time was different and I was carrying a celebratory chocolate cake.  I was the oldest member of the party, but received no deference due to this fact.

Walking by just after 9am, heading across the grasslands towards the mouth of Middle Creek.  Mt Namadgi rose at the back (see pic 1) with Mt Burbidge to its left and Mt Kelly just peeping.  In the foreground on the left was Yankee Hat North and, on the right, the end of the Mavis Ridge.  We crossed Middle Creek just before 10am, having covered 3.3km.

The next leg of 1.8km in 1hr 5 mins took us to a leisurely morning tea of 20 mins.  A little higher up the N bank of Middle Creek than I've usually travelled through nice open bush, paralleling a fence line for a while and also crossing the perpendicular fence which runs down to cross Middle Creek.

Shouldering packs at 5 past 11, we continued on up the N bank of the creek for 3.6km, taking around 2 and  a half hours, including our 50 minute lunch break.  Closer bush in places, but still nice walking.  Just a shirt called for as, even though it was probably only just in the 20s temperature wise, it was easy to raise a sweat (I hadn't weighed my pack, but blame it all on the chocolate cake).

Away at 1.30pm up the last little pinch through a little tougher scrub to break out at the saddle at the top of Big Creamy Flats (this leg 2.2km and 1 and a half hours).  Very different to the misty rain the last time the majority of the party was here).

It was great to see the Mavis Ridge from Big Creamy Flats (see pic 2) and have an appreciation of what it's like up there, as I was there last Saturday.  Maybe a day walk to Mt Namadgi next autumn, as I'll then have covered all the track except from the Mavis Ridge down to Big Creamy Flats.  I guess it would be nearly a 12 hour day.  Anyway, this time we skipped down BCF to our camp site (0.8km in 25 mins, with all the camera clicking).  Our objective for the next day, Mt Namadgi, rose above the trees at the back of our camp site (see pic 3).

The usual drill of up tents, get water, dress for dinner (it still required long-johns, some extra layers, gloves and beanie).  Tea was the always gourmet TVP, dehydrated peas and corn, 2-minute noodles and lashings of Thai sweet chili sauce, followed by a little carton of fruit and a coffee.  Quick and easy.  To bed by 6.30pm with a Phil Pringle podcast sermon, followed by a dose of rock 'n' roll.  Plenty of tossing and turning during the next 12 hours to keep my aging hips comfortable.  A cool night.

Day 2

I was most grateful to Ian S, our leader, who honoured my 'bag' of the last named high hill in the ACT by insisting that I lead the ascent.  Setting out at 8am, I managed to keep a more or less respectable line to the Namadgi ridge, up behind our camping spot.  A slowish 1 and a quarter hours to cover the 1km  and 200m climb to around the centre of the ridge, but much time spent admiring and photographing the view opening up to the Mavis Ridge across Big Creamy Flats.

A left turn and we finished the 700m to the summit in 20 minutes, climbing another 70m along the sub alpine top.

An absolutely fabulous vista from the top, sweeping 360°.  All my favourite places could be seen, and a few places for a few more trips, too.  Ian pointed out an aboriginal stone arrangement (see pic 4).  We admired and photographed, then sat out of the wind for a while and consumed the celebratory cake and other goodies for morning tea.  Time for a walk around the summit and a visit to the local inhabitants (see pic 5).

Away at 11am to the SW, heading down to Rotten Swamp.  Spectacular views to Mt Burbidge and Mt Kelly overlooking Rotten Swamp (see pic 6).  1 and a half hours to descend the 1.1km to lunch.  A lazy time for 40 minutes.

We set off again at 1pm, heading across Rotten Swamp to examine the 'cricket pitches' (covering to help reestablish the worst fire-ravaged sphagnum moss areas), then climbing SW to the saddle between Mt Kelly and SH1733.  Down into the scrubby top of Sams Creek and finally out onto the flats.  We spent some time looking for the old Sams Creek fire trail, pretty indistinct up at the top.  A pair of walkers from Sydney NPA were enjoying the same challenge, but map, compass nor GPS were of much help at the beginning.  We finally found a footpad then, at last high above the creek, a bit of benched track.  It deteriorated into a footpad as it came down to creek level.

We called it a day at 4.15pm, heading up from the creek flats for a hundred metres until the ground was at least nearly flat for tent sites.  The afternoon leg was 5.4km and 3 and a quarter hours.  The usual evening drill (although, for a change, I enjoyed Back Country roast lamb and mash - pre-soaked and cooked for a while, not just add boiling water and stand for 10 mins).  Being in NSW, we were all fired up.  Up late till 7pm, a milder night.

Day 3

Away by 7.45am, we headed 3.1km S down Sams Creek fire trail (see pic 7) in 1 and a quarter hours, to a point W of Mt Gudgenby and just before the trail crosses the creek again.  The spot was were 2 of the party continued on down the fire trail and around to the 'S' Gudgenby saddle, whilst 4 of us headed NE up an excellent access spur to the 'N' Gudgenby saddle.  The NSW-ACT border follows the spur and the Naas Creek rises to the SE of the spur.  Easy open woodland walking up the spur (1.6km in 50 mins) until we curved to the E then S to commence the climb of Mt Gudgenby.

A reasonably breath-sapping climb of 190m over 800m in 45 mins, through belts of regrowth and granite, to reach the open, sub-alpine top of Gudgenby.

A 0.8km stroll S along the top, through burnt out scrub pockets amongst the fabulous granite (see pic 8).  A scramble around to the SW of the trig point, then up on the top at 11.15am.  A quick appreciation of the view, then down out of the wind for morning tea.

A plunge of 450m to the saddle where the party reunited (taking 1 hour 10 mins).  We enjoyed lunch for 40 minutes.

And so back to the cars, Ian cleverly finding our way down the indistinct footpad then braided kangaroo tracks to the Bogong Creek flats (2.8km in 1hr 50mins); then the final haul of 3.9km in 1hr across the old Boboyan Pines site.

An excellent wander.  Thanks Ian and to Sandy, David and Meredith and Ros for great company.  List all ticked off!

Distance: 34.7km  Climb: 1400m.  Time: 3 days.