We started out up Pabral Road at 9.20am, a little morning Canberra fog clearing into a beautiful Spring day, just the right temperature for walking.  55 minutes saw us covering the 3.1km to the northern most point of the road, where we turned off into the scrub.  The spot is (barely) marked as the site of an old sawmill, some fencing and possible mill piers still in the ground.  The first edition map has a track heading north west to join Two Stick Road, but the track's not on the second edition map.

We headed north east, crossing Coree Creek with a good flow of water in it, then consistently up towards the clearer knoll south east of Devils Peak.  Morning tea always calls at around 11am and we enjoyed a 20 minute break at 10.50am, with views opening up back to Mt Coree, Tidbinbilla Ridge (my favourite, of course) and the southward marching Brindabellas.  It was pleasant in the sun and out of the wind.

We pressed on up for another 35 minutes and reached the more open knoll.  Excellent views; the tall, white buildings of Civic and Woden were recognisable and there were unimpeded views to Mt Coree and Tidbinbilla Ridge.  (Coree's northern rock face was closer than it was last Saturday.)  Nearer the edge we could see down into the Coree Creek gorge.  We enjoyed the vista for 10 minutes.

15 minutes and 250m later we were on Devils Peak, 1329m.  I wonder who named it that and why?

We then headed east of north down to the Two Sticks Road, the downward journey a little less steep than coming up.  We hit the road at 12.20pm and walked east to the junction with the Blue Range fire trail.  It being 12.45pm and the forest view quite pleasant, lunch was consumed.

At 1.15pm we set out along the Blue Range fire trail towards the ACT.  The trail took us past two water tanks at GR680942 (GDA94), then to a well bulldozed intersection with Genges Trail.  With a noisy trailbike safely past us, we headed south along Blue Range fire trail to reach the fairly featureless (well, we were walking the ridge) Mt Blundell (1232m) at 2pm.

A substantial (and steep and rocky) fire trail followed the obvious spur line our leader had chosen for descent and we made a unanimous decision to use it.  Discussion followed as to why such a trail, clearly visible from the air, was not on first or second edition maps.  2.35pm saw us regrouping at the T-intersection with another track and we headed WSW down the track to cross Coree Creek.  Again, a lovely flow, if only the clayey, scarred (but no doubt necessary) fire trail could be ignored.

A heart-stopping climb up from the creek, sharp left turn and a few metres and we were back at the cars at 3.10pm.

A great Spring walk, with bush a little softer and moister than crackling Summer dry, which extended my experience of the Coree area.  An excellent leader with an understated style I appreciate.

Time:  9.20am - 3.10pm, with 55 minutes of stops.