17 July 2010 Mt Domain
Map: Tidbinbilla 1:25000
Getting There
This walk was organised and led by Mike B as a CBC walk:
Saturday 17 July: Mt Domain – M/R. Walk along the fire trail to Fishing Gap then off track through patches of regrowth and with some rock scrambling to reach the peak. Lunch at the top whilst admiring views of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and the Cotter Valley. Total climb of about 700m. Map: Tidbinbilla 1:25,000 Leader: Contact after 1 July, Mike B mcbremers@optusnet.com.au Transport: $36 per car + TNR entry fee. Limit: 8.
Further Information
Last trip here was on 3 May 08. It will be interesting to see how the regrowth is.
Photographs
Access all primary pics here. All thumbnails in the walk report are active - click for a larger picture.
Walk
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A pleasant stroll up Fishing Gap Road of 3.7km in 45mins. The Tidbinbilla River was gurgling.
I've heard polarised views on taping routes, but I think today's pink taping from Fishing Gap to the top of the first rise, around the flank to avoid heavy granite and regrowth, was a good move. Whether others do will be signalled by whether the tapes stay and a useful footpad develops, or they are removed. In addition, the taping doesn't spoil all the fun - there's plenty of navigational challenges and regrowth along the ridge to SH1402 and from SH1402 to Mt Domain.
So we taped the route from Fishing Gap and it's documented a little better in Namadgi Footpads (even though this is TNR, most of the route is actually in NNP!). Generally NE up the line from Fishing Gap towards the nose of the ridge to SH1402 to around the 1170m contour, then trending N then NE around the flank. The going was certainly better than the last time I came down directly.
We started to run into a little snow at around the 1280m contour, hit a little regrowth towards the top of this leg and wandered over the crest to great views E and NE over Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve for morning tea. Fishing Gap to morning tea 1.2km in 1hr 10mins, but it was slow hanging the tapes.
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| A bit more snow at around 1330m contour on climb to Mt Domain | A bit more snow at around 1330m contour on climb to Mt Domain | Wattle regrowth to breast stoke through at around 1370m contour on climb to Mt Domain | A perfect spot for morning tea | Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve from morning tea |
With the time now 11am, we headed along the ridge through SH1402. From morning tea, we kept on the NE side of the crest of the ridge which initially had relatively clear going. But soon the inevitable, with plenty of wattle regrowth, the snow ladened foliage bending it down in places. The little saddle before the easy scramble up to Mt Domain was open. Pushed through the final regrowth to find the Mt Domain cairn a little snowy.
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| Snow weighs down the regrowth S of SH1402 | 1 Regrowth near SH1402 | Mike about to enter more regrowth NW of SH1402 | 2 The cairn at Mt Domain 1506m |
As most do, we continued another few metres to the NW for lunch, where views open up W through N to E. A very pleasant spot.
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| The Brindabellas from Mt Domain | TNR from Mt Domain | The ridge towards Tidbinbilla Mountain and beyond from Mt Domain | 3 The ridge towards Tidbinbilla Mountain and beyond from Mt Domain |
We returned the same way, popping up a few more tapes on the final leg down to make it a useful and easier to follow route.
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| The first pink tape | Climbing Scree Slope Mt Domain (photo courtesy of Mike Bremers) |
A nice walk with a good result. Hopefully others will develop it. Thanks Mike B, and Chris L, Chris R and Cynthia B, David D and Stephen M.
Distance: 12.8km Climb: 700m. Time: 8.50am - 3.15pm (6hr 25mins), with 45mins of stops.
Grading: M/R; H(12)
KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Mt Domain
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This page last updated 20Aug22