This walk was organised and led by me as a private walk (as only 2 of us turned up):

(Tuesday 24 April — 4 Peaks SE of Corin Dam Road from Woods Reserve — L/R,X Suggested by a Tuesday walking companion, this walk will cover the rocky ridge line of hills which march along the SE side of the Corin Dam Road, from the turn off from Tidbinbilla Road to Woods Reserve. Starting from the Reserve, we’ll climb nearly 400m up to the first peak SE of Gibraltar Falls, then down and up and down and up and down and up and down. Return by following Gibraltar Creek back up to the car. Around 12km and 900m total climb. Strenuous walking for a fit and experienced party.  Map: Tidbinbilla 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: ~$7. Further details at www.pcug.org.au/~jevans.).

Madeleine H gets the bouquets (or brickbats) for suggesting this walk. She did it in poor visibility - let's hope we can see a view to make the slog worthwhile.

I picked up 'Mad Max' (so called by his wife, as he walked with stitched thumb, useless left arm and other sundry gashes and grazes as a result of a ground inspection from bike on Mt Taylor) and the two of us drove to Woods Reserve, up the Corin Dam Road.

Walk

Walking by 7.30am, across a little weir on Gibraltar Creek and up at 164°M. Hit the old dog proof fence at 1040m contour. A mixture of bare granite soils with sparse vegetation and bands of regrowth. Reached the top, Peak 1, at 8.55am, having climbed 460m over 1.7km. Nice views across to Blue Gum Hill.

Next 55°M for around 700m to the top of a steep spur. A bit scrubby up along the top. Views down to the 'Booroomba' property and its cleared land to the E. Headed down the spur on 9°M.  Views to Peak 2 (see pic 1) and across to Gibraltar Peak. Reached the saddle and drifted a little to the N so as to climb Peak 2 from the W and so avoid some bits and pieces of granite. Morning tea was enjoyed near Peak 2 at 10.45am. First walk of the season deserving a thermos of hot water for tea, with Canberra forecast of 19°C.

Did fairly poorly between Peaks 2 and 3, trending too far to the N and missed the saddle on the Namadgi National Park boundary. A steepish descent, but from this point on the going became more rocky and open. Reached Peak 3 by 12.05pm. Max was a feeling a bit poorly but I took no pity and convinced him to go on to the final objective. The way ahead up to Peak 4 did look a little easier, with a fire trail heading up.

But first we had to get down off Peak 3. A new fence marked the park/private property boundary and, I cannot tell a lie, with the descent falling away a little to the W, we crossed into the private property for a while. Back into NNP, but a gate at the saddle had us back again, as the fire trail was in the private property. Reached Peak 4 at 12.45pm. A bald hill giving great views all round, including to the dishes of the Tidbinbilla Tracking Station (see pic 2) and back along our route to this point (see pic 3 - a little deceptive, as Peak 3 was a double header and by that stage I'd nearly forgotten that Peak 1 was a significant hill). Extensive views over to Civic, Woden and Tuggeranong, to Mt Tennent and to features along the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve S boundary (Mt Eliza, Gibraltar Peak, The Pyramid). We retreated back to NNP for lunch 12.55-1.15pm.

We then headed NW towards the Corin Dam Road. I chose a lousy route twixt heaven and hell - neither on the spur or down the drainage line - but in between. Skipped across Gibraltar Creek and picked up an old forestry track which paralleled the CD Road and the creek. It finally petered out around 1km from Woods Reserve and the blacktop took us that final bit. Our return to Woods Reserve was signaled by a dingo howling on the ridge across Gibraltar Creek.

A reasonable little wander - now we know what's up on those hills as we drive by. I'm most appreciative of Max paying the price for friendship.

Distance: 12.4km  Climb: 800m.  Time: 7.30am - 2.55pm (call it 7.5hrs), with 35mins of stops.
Grading: L/R,X; H(12)