Walking by 6.45am up the Orroral Valley through the roos.  It was a bit frosty.  Others were up early too - at least 7 jets flew over and we knew the sun was up there somewhere as the vapour trails shone in the cloudless sky.  The sun didn't reach us until 8.05am.  For the second week in a row, a wild dog howled in the northern part of the valley, this time from the west.  We reached the bridge over Sawpit Creek at 8.15am (6.9km and 1hr 30mins to here).

Onto Smokers Trail and reached the T-intersection with the Cotter Hut Road by 8.45am (8.8km and 2hrs).

I was looking for the second gate from this intersection along the Cotter Hut Road, so drifted along with mind in neutral and map in pack - until we reached Eighty Acres!  Overshot the turn off point by 1.25km (11.1km and 2hr 30mins).

So we headed bush, climbing N to the start of the spur up to our objective.  The route up the spur threw everything at us - climbs around, under, over, up, through massive granite features; bands of frosty or sopping wet regrowth; frosty and slippery bark and fallen trees.  We passed just to the E of SH1386, sometimes drifting to the W side of the spur.  It was wetter on that side, but at least gave us views to the snow dusted Brindabellas (which we wouldn't have seen if we'd gone the planned route).  We reached the S face of Dutchies Peak at 11.45am (14.3km and 5hrs).  The 3.1km climb up from Cotter Hut Road had taken 2hrs and 20mins.

We had a try to the SW of the Dutchies Peak granite, but found no way.  So we pushed on round the E of the cap.  The granite was frosty and slippery in places (pic 1).  Persisting to the N, we found a way up to just below the top rocks.  Not liking B(lood) - there was plenty on my bare legs between shorts and gaiters - or H(eights), I clung on with one hand to admire the view (pic 2).  Excellent panorama over the northern Orroral Valley, with Booroomba Rocks over the back; down the Ridge of Stone; SH1339 (which I'd visited on 4 Mar 06); Mt Orroral; de Sallis Knobs; and Cotter Rocks and Split Rock.  I asked that we retreat a little to a more comfortable lunch spot, which we found in the sun.  The GPS said we were at 1601m and were looking up to the rabbit ear blocks (pic 3).  40 minutes to restock energy levels.

We set off on the return leg at 12.40pm.  My navigation was a little better, as we first headed S (to the E of our inward leg) for about 1km, then swung E along the ridge roughly paralleling the Cotter Hut Road and Smokers Trail.  Not so much granite, but plenty of horizontal trees to step over.  With glimpses to the top of the grasslands, we swung SSE and down to the road (18.6km and 8hr 15mins).

A slog back down the valley, made bearable by magnificent views up the the Ridge of Stone.  An eagle soared above Mt Orroral.  With the balls of my feet getting sorer and Max nearly running ahead, we reached the car at 4.40pm.

A long walk at about our limits, but worth the objective.  And what are limits for, but to be pushed.  Thanks Max - I would not have done this one alone.

Distance: 26.0km  Climb: 800m.  Time: 6.45am - 4.40pm (call it 10 hours), with 45mins of breaks.