This walk was organised and led by me as an irregular CBC Tuesday walk:

(Tuesday 13 March - SE Namadgi Huts - M/M With two cars we can walk from Shanahans Mountain down to Shanahans Falls Creek, across the ridge to Naas Creek, then onto the Naas Valley Fire Trail to visit Demandering Hut. A kilometre or so further N along the fire trail, we’ll find Horse Gully Hut. Return will be back S along the fire trail, noting the points of interest on the Namadgi National Park Naas Valley to Horse Gully Hut brochure (available at http://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/13831/naasvalleytohorsegullywalkbrochure.pdf). If time and energy allow, a 2km round trip detour to Potters Chimney up Back or Grassy Creek (yes, that’s its correct name), then to the second car at the Mt Clear camping ground. Around 16km and 350m total climb, with 3.5km of bush. If only one car is available, it’ll be as per the brochure and a little longer and a little flatter. Map: Colinton 1:25000. Limit of 8. Leader: John Evans – jevans@pcug.org.au, (h) 6288 7235; contact me by 6pm the previous Sunday to discuss options. Transport: ~$12. Further details at www.pcug.org.au/~jevans.).

You can get an idea of a bit of the area from previous walks in part of the area on 23 Nov 05 and 14 Sep 05.

6 of us left town in 2 4WD and drove via Point Hut Crossing, Tharwa and down the Boboyan Road. The gravel surface is a little hard at the moment, but they are regrading in a couple of places. Placed a car at Mt Clear car park, then returned to Shanahans Mountain.

There was still a little cloud to burn off as we set out. Cool enough for a light extra layer. Along and gently up the track to Shanahans Mountain, keeping left at the junction with the return circuit track. We could soon see down onto the creek flats of Shanahans Falls Creek, vivid green. In fact, Namadgi on the E side of the Boboyan Road looks beautiful at the moment, so green after the recent rain. The last of the cloud burned off as we descended down the loose scree slope from the top and a beautiful blue sky day opened up.

Once down, we crossed the flats and headed down the creek on the right bank. No water in the creek. Stopped for a couple of photos, then continued on to the junction with Naas Creek. Plenty of boulders still there, but a little less water than last time. My warning to bring water wings to cross the creek was totally unnecessary. This was a bit of a change from my planned route, but gave us a little more time away from the fire trail. Morning tea was taken to prevent a mutiny.

Up from the creek junction we headed to SH1074, along the ridge to the NE, then dropped down to Horse Gully Hut, quite a grand structure (see pic 1). We poked about, read its history from the brochure and circumnavigated the quince thicket at the nearby site of the original hut.

Away again S down the Naas Valley fire trail, stopping at each point of interest and reading from the brochure. Past the cattle yards (which, till 10.30pm last night, I thought was Demanding Hut) and so to the well signposted turnoff to said hut at post 15. Lunch was taken at Demandering Hut (see pic 2).

We hit the fire trail again at 1pm and continued S on our brochure tour. A beautiful afternoon. Kangaroos and wallabies on roster at post 10 dutifully appeared, although not a sign of eagles or kestrels at post 11.

At the junction with the Long Flat fire trail, 4 of us headed down and across Back or Grassy Creek and along the W bank for 600m to Potters Chimney (see pic 3) as, obviously, I am now into bagging huts.

Back to the car around 3pm via the signposted Webb's Dam. A pump down at the creek (not operating today) and a generator powering an electric pump in a bore (operating) to keep the dam topped up, no doubt for bushfire water bombing. A bit of a squash as the 6 of us drove slowly back to the second car. A (ginger, for some) beer at Tharwa.

An excellent little ramble on a lovely day with new and old friends. Thanks Alan, Dick, Janet, Len and Max for humouring me.

Distance: 16km  Climb: 350m.  Time: - haven't got any data, as my GPS refuses to talk to the PC.
Grading: M/M; M(10)