10 November 2012 Birthday drinks on Mt Namadgi

View south from Mt Namadgi

Maps: Yaouk and Rendezvous Creek 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by me as a CBC walk:

Saturday 10 November - Birthday drinks on Mt Namadgi - L/R. Very early start, long and hard day, late finish. Champagne lunch on Mt Namadgi. In and out via Middle Creek. Around 30km and 800m climb. Maps: Yaouk and Rendezvous Creek. Limit: 8. Leader: John Evans - john@johnevans.id.au, 0417 436 877. Transport: ~$15 per person.

5 of us met at 5am and drove in one car to the Yankee Hat car park.

Further Information

Similar trip to 6 Nov 10, 7 Nov 09, 7 Nov 08 and 10 Nov 07. A little recce on 3 Nov 12.

On 10 November 2012, civil sunrise is 5.34am, sunrise is 5.52am, sunset is 7.42pm and civil sunset is 8.10pm.

We'll leave Canberra at 5am.

Wet feet crossing Middle Creek 4km into the walk.

Possible timings:

Ageing/bush recovery measure:

Walk - Track Notes

A faunal day - on the way out we saw a deer (I'd heard stories but this was my first sighting), a big old stag (with part of one antler missing) on the side of the Boboyan Rd N of Rendezvous Creek; two snakes on the walk; a pretty tame wild dog (a town dog dumped?) on the old vehicle track coming out of the mouth of Middle Creek; and a black bunny on the drive out from Yankee Hat car park.

I'd asked the walkers to be booted up prior to driving out, so it was only toilet and gaiters before we were ready to set off. I get a bit precious at the beginning of a walk and today's was fairly extreme. I'd set up some timing expectations, so every minute was precious.

Mt Namadgi had its head in cloud as we set off and the sun was struggling to cast its light. The grasslands were wet under foot. I waypointed the bit of tape at the end of the old vehicle track where it ends at Middle Creek, just in case we were coming back in the dark. (Of course we didn't and, as it turned out, I could have had longer and more frequent breaks during the day, but I'd rather finish a walk with a bit of emergency time up my sleeve than otherwise.) A couple of wet steps through Middle Creek and around the side of the rock shelter. 4.2km in 50mins.

We wandered up the edge of the thicker shrubs before turning left and followed reasonably well defined animal pads enhanced by human feet, down through a feeder creek line and up to cross the old fence line. 0.7km in 12mins.

Light bush, with the animal pads starting to run out in the next section, up to Cross side creek 1 at around GR 74772-44531 (MGA94). 0.8km in 15mins.

This next bit has always puzzled this old fella. Particularly at its start, pretty scrubby down near Middle Creek, with pea and wattle regrowth. And, usually on the return, like today, relatively easy. It's not just the coming home and downhill - the secret is not to curve around near Middle Creek (as we did on today's trip to the hill), but to take a straighter line higher up (as for today). Cross side creek 1 at around GR 74772-44531 (MGA94) to cross side creek 2 at around GR 74333-45571 (MGA94) was 1.3km in 37mins.

Can't remember much about the next section from cross side creek 2 at around GR 74333-45571 (MGA94) to cross side creek 3 at around GR 73881-46295 (MGA94). It was 0.9km in 20mins.

I'm eternally grateful to young Karen C who taught this old dog a new trick one year and now, thanks to her, keep well above this top Middle Creek junction (where the arm to Rotten Swamp goes up WNW, the centre line continues up to Big Creamy Flats and a significant feeder comes in from the right). It makes a bit of a boggy mess and I used to follow the creek up to Big Creamy Flats straight through it. We now head through Kaz's crossing at around GR 73609-46724 (MGA94). This section 2.1km in 1hr. We enjoyed an energy recharge at morning tea.

Kicked off again at 9.35am and reached the saddle at the crest of Middle Creek and Big Creamy Flats at 10.50am. 2.1km in 1hr 15mins. A small aberration on my behalf, in crossing to the West side of the creek. But it didn't make much difference, crossing this high up (unlike last Saturday).

A quick break, then off down the side of Big Creamy Flats. 0.7km in 18mins.

Now the idea of this is to improve one's angle of attack on the Namadgi summit. I still need to improve! Always too keen to swing left to the top, I caused much pain and suffering (when compared with our exit). The only benefit is to bring you in at the stone arrangements, but it would be better to go to the ridge, then sidle across to them. Our section up from Big Creamy Flats to Mt Namadgi today was 1.6km in 1hr 15mins. Always a joy to carefully walk about the two large area stone arrangements, with their quaint and aging (sounds like me) 1970s signage. There is another small arrangement in view from the top of Namadgi. Arrived at 12.25pm, just 5mins behind schedule. Rang home.

I love this place, even with the huff and puff required to get here. It changes me from a flapping old chook to a soaring eagle. The all-round view from the sub-alpine top is magnificent. Do have a look at the video! Out came the sparkling red and delicately rose-coloured champagne flutes (plastic unfortunately). After 6.5hrs of jiggling the cork went off into the wilds (even with an appointed cork catcher) - genuinely sorry about leaving rubbish up there. Also out came cashews, very fancy chocolates and fresh dates. Yum. Half a bottle is enough for 5, especially with another 6 hours of walking ahead. Brought up not not waste things, it was sealed with plastic film and a twistie and placed upright in my pack - we polished off the rest back down at the car.

Still precious about getting the party safely down and back before sundown, we left on schedule at 1pm. A whole lot better exit. Took a line straight down the open ridge/spur extending to the NW from the top and then bent away to the N down to the flats. The drainage line is running well at the moment, a good source of water. Back along the side of Big Creamy Flats to the saddle. This section 2.0km in 55mins.

Tried to emulate last Saturday's route down from the top of the saddle, but missed it and went too high. Generally, our homeward route was higher than coming in. 3.4km in 2hrs down to afternoon tea.

From arvo tea just above Kaz's crossing to the point cross side creek 2 was a beautiful run, reflected in our rate of travel, 1.7km in 35mins. Our route was just fractionally higher than going in. I don't know what it is - just the luck of route finding; obviously going downhill is easier that up.

Next, from cross side creek 2 down to the rock shelter by Middle Creek was 2.9km in 1hr 15mins. The going opens up a little nearing the fence crossing and, as described above, is on pads from there to Middle Creek.

The last leg home, via the old vehicle track, then across the grasslands and onto the Yankee Hat Walking Track was 4.2km in 1hr.

So with all that plus the record of previous trips, I can put together the definitive route. However, the bush is certainly getting thicker.

Will I go back next year on a day trip? I don't feel like it now ... but it's a lovely spot for a 65th.

Thanks to Robert M, Chris R and Cynthia B, and Ian W for your company and expensive, consumable, shareable gifts.

Distance: 30km Climb: 800m. Time: 6.05am - 6.55pm (12 hrs 50mins), with 1hr of breaks.
Grading: L/R; VH(15)