13 October 2012 Corin Dam to Pryors Hut / (near) Gingera return

Brooding cloud above Tidbinbilla Mountain

Map: Corin Dam 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by Edwina Y as a CBC walk:

Saturday 13 October - Corin Dam to Pryors Hut / Gingera return - L/M. Follow Stockyard Spur from Corin Dam to Pryors Hut followed by a further climb up to Mt Gingera. Return the same way down the hill to the cars. Trip Around 20 km and 1000m climb. Map: Corin Dam. Leaders: Nathan H and Edwina Y. Bookings to Edwina please. Transport: ~$15 per person. Limit: 12.

13 of us drove in 4 cars via Tharwa (as Point Hut Crossing was closed in the morning) to Corin Dam.

Further Information

Very kind of Edwinda to accept me as a very last minute starter.

Walk - Track Notes

Snow visible on the drive out. Nice to cover this route again, in preparation for 27 Oct 12.

Flash new stone steps at the start of the walk. 2.3km in 1hr to the helicopter pad, at a quite reasonable pace. A bit of snow on the way up. Nice views to Mt Gingera from the slab, where we had morning tea. I wandered across to the other side of the track to snap some pics towards Mt McKeahnie.

Lovely views to a snowy Gingera ridge as we approached the Mt Franklin Rd. The marker pole has been removed from the Stockyard Spur/Mt Franklin Rd intersection, replaced by ubiquitous track signage.

On to Pryors Hut. A long toilet queue.

Further to the footpad to Mt Gingera, the 'Walking Track' sign replaced by a pole with a blue rock on the top of it. Snowy Flat Creek flowing well.

Shin-deep snow on the footpad to Mt Gingera and Edwina and Gerald did a great job keeping us on it. Around 400m E and 70m below Mt Gingera, ominous black cloud was seen over Tidbinbilla Mountain and an about turn was called. A safe decision.

Back down to Pryors Hut for lunch. I took the option to sit outside in the snow, to recharge my introvert's batteries after a heavy party yesterday. Trust no one took offence.

Back to the cars, passing a wonderful snowman on the track that someone had taken the trouble to construct. A few spots of hail, but that was all the precipitation.

The newly cleared track from Stockyard Spur down to Corin Dam should be easily navigable by torch-light in a fortnight.

Thanks Edwina and friends.

Distance: 19.9km Climb: 950m. Time: 9.00am - 3.50pm (6hrs 50mins), with 50mins of stops.
Grading: L/E; H(12)