7 May 2013 Owl Rocks Ridge & Prairie Dog Creek Walkers view Split Rock, Cotter Gap, de Salis Knobs and Dutchies Peak over Sawpit Creek from Mr Singhs Lookout Maps: Rendezvous Creek and Corin Dam 1:25000 Walk Description This walk was organised and led by Ian W as an irregular CBC Tuesday walk: Tuesday 7 May: Owl Rocks Ridge & Prairie Dog Creek - L/R,ptX. The main objective is a beautiful 600 metre ridge of granite tors, shaded by a Mountain Gum and Alpine Ash forest at 735 555 (My name for it is Owl Rocks Ridge). From the former Orroral Tracking Station site we will spend the day on a meandering route mainly off track to the west & north in the headwaters of Prairie Dog Creek. We will eventually join the Alpine Walking Track near the Cotter Hut road and follow the road 6 km back to the cars. Expect slow scrub. Note: This walk is a repeat of the 9 Oct 2012 trip, with some variations. Minimum Distance: 16 km with 550 metres of ascent. Maps: Corin Dam, Rendezvous Creek Leader: Ian W. Limit: 8. Transport: Approx. 100 km return. 8 of us drove from Canberra via the Naas Rd, Boboyan Rd and Orroral Rd to the Orroral Tracking Station car park. Further Information Similar to 9 Oct 12. Photographs Click here to access all walk photographs.Track Maps Track maps: thumbnails are active - click for a larger picture
Videos Google Earth Track Notes We wandered up the Granite Tors Walking Track (see NNP track notes for it at http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/404608/Granite_Tors_Walking_Track_Notes.pdf to the bend at James Creek, plus a little bit, then down and across James Creek (which was running well). A 1.6km leg in 1hr 15mins up to 'Zen Terraces' and morning tea. Then a flatter approach to the SE end of 'Owl Rocks Ridge' via the top of Prairie Dog Creek. 0.9km in 40mins. 'Owl Rocks Ridge' is a special area. Numerous granite tors, a great lookout over the Orroral Valley, a fabulous granite tor surrounded amphitheatre, crawls and slots. All in around 600m from end to end. After lunch we headed just W of N down across Prairie Dog Creek, down to around 1330m, then N-ish to the final feature for the day. Massive views over the headwaters of Sawpit Creek to Split Rock, Cotter Gap, de Salis Knobs and Dutchies Peak. Too good not to name, we spent some time going through the options. Finally, we settled on 'Mr Singhs Lookout'. Have we immortalised Aman? A stroll down to the N to meet the AAWT and so to meet the Cotter Hut Rd and bash back to the cars. Not one to miss the opportunity to bag a trig for the CBC Centenary of Canberra 'Stretch Your Legs' events, we stopped at the Orroral Rd entrance to NNP and wandered 200m up to the Orroral Ford trig. Never knew it was there until I got the 1985 list. Marked by a couple of red and white painted star pickets but, nestled in the grass between them, a buried pipe marking the trig point. Summary Distance: 16.5km Climb: 580m. Time: 8.00am - 3.30pm (7hrs 30 mins), with 45mins of breaks. Orroral Trig walk just a few minutes. Walk Participants 8 walkers - Peter C, Roger E, Eric G, Jenny H, Stewart J, Aman S, Ian W (leader), me. Back to Walks Index This page last updated 2Sep22 |
