Enjoying the view from top of large cliff

Maps: Corin Dam, Williamsdale 1:25000

Walk Description

This walk was organised and led by Ian W as a CBC Tueday walk:

Tuesday 13 August: Deadmans Hill - M/R,ptX. Start at the Booroomba Rocks car park and walk east to the summit of Deadmans Hill. We will then visit some granite tors & slabs about 600 metres east of the summit that the leader hasn’t visited previously. We then descend the northern flank of the hill to the main feature of the day, which is a steep slab with good views. After a tricky scramble to get to the base of the slab we will continue to the Alpine Walking Track and investigate another small slab close by, before following the track back to the cars. Although a relatively short walk, it is mainly off-track in thick scrub with very steep, rocky slopes to negotiate in places. Minimum Distance: 8 km with approx. 450 metres of ascent. The walk may be postponed if it is wet as the rocks will be slippery. Maps: Corin Dam, Williamsdale. Leader: Ian W. Limit: 8. Transport: Approx. 80 km return.

8 of us drove from Canberra to the Booroomba Rocks car park.

Track Map

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Track

Video

Google Earth

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Track Notes

This short, sharp trip had something of everything. A light dusting of snow in places in the morning; a nice sunny and warm-ish day; track walking; light scrub; tight scrub; cross-grain walking; ascents and descents; wonderful views; and, of course, some fine granite.

I was last on Deadmans Hill on 8 Dec 04. Amazing what I've forgotten - reviewing the track and pics from 2004, we followed the same route to Deadmans Hill and stood at the radio tower bases (which today I thought I'd never seen before!). What is even more amazing is, of course, how the vegetation has changed since just after the 2003 fires - then so open and black, now so thick and green.

A dusting of snow in places on the old track up to Deadmans Hill. 1.7km and 40mins to get to the top of the Hill via the old track alignment. We had a good poke about the 3 radio tower (marked on the 1st edn Williamsdale map) bases and the boulder with the little cairn marking the high point.

Then E to a small cliff, morning tea, a bluff and views steeply down to Apollo Rd. Some tight going in places, alternating with more open forest and granite slabs. Back over to the N side of the E-W spur where the going on the N facing flank was more open. Through some slabs and to the top of a large cliff. After admiring the views down to Bushfold Flats and the perfect saddle to the NW, we followed the top of the cliff to the SW, then U-turned down to its base and along that for a while to the NE. Very slow and tight going - 15mins for 150m.

We continued the giddy plunge down across the grain to Booroomba Creek (no sign of the pre-2003 alignment of the AAWT), then up to meet the new AAWT track. 10m E along that, then generally NW across the crest of the spur to find a lunch spot on open slabs.

We returned to the AAWT, with nice views across to the morning's cliff. Back along the AAWT to the cars.

Short and sweet, but plenty of variety. Very different country from 9 years ago!

Summary

Distance: 7.2km Climb: 450m. Time: 8.15am - 1.45pm (5hrs 30 mins), with 40mins of breaks.

Grading: S/R; M(10)

Walk Participants

8 walkers - Roger E, Chris F, Eric G, Nathan H, Alison M, Richard M, Ian W (leader), me.