This walk was organised and led by Max S as a last minute private walk. With me just back from Sydney and both our home responsibilities clear till 3pm, I thought Max was offering a little Christmas stocking filler of a walk. It turned out to be a little more substantial.

2 of us drove to Blundells Flat, then on up Pabral Road as far as I thought my pretend 4WD would cope, about 0.5km across the border into NSW.

Walk

We parked on the side of the road and I strapped on my new Sea to Summit gaiters to give them a go - very comfortable. Down the road to the corner where the old track takes of and Max led me on the only bit of bush-bashing for the day. It was made very clear on the final road bash that this shortcut was a very sensible option, heading W-ish through delightfully grassed forest to meet Two Sticks Road around 0.8km S of where the Powerline Trail heads off. This leg 2.9km in 1hr.

It was a cool day, excellent for walking, and that we knew we'd have to do. Max announced a further 16km round trip to get back to this point and we had a 3pm deadline to be back in town. Over the ridge line and through the trees the Powerline Trail opened up before us (see pic 1) - a substantial descent and an equally substantial ascent along the track which wiggled around and about and under the laser-straight powerline. 2 utes with spraying gear passed us. Spectacular view up the Mt Croee (see pic 2). A ford of Flea Creek towards the bottom and another of another arm of said creek. A steep climb up through the scrub to cut off a large S loop in the track. We gained Webbs Ridge at 10.15am and enjoyed a quick morning tea. This leg 5.6km in 1hr 20mins.

Webbs Ridge Trail took us N and up to the junction with Dingi Ridge Trail. Four AFP vehicles came down the trail towards us. My right knee made a disconcerting clicking noise on nearly every uphill step. Easy walking along the fire trail, but at a good pace. We passed Waterfall Trail which goes down to (the site of) the infamous McIntyres Hut on the Goodradigbee River.  This leg 4.1km in 1hr.

The next leg was generally E-ish along the Dingi (Dingi) Ridge Trail, at an ever increasingly rapid pace (as that deadline had been set by our wives). We found a quick lunch at the intersection with the Baldy Range Trail. This leg 5.5km in 1hr 15mins.

A further 400m saw us at Two Sticks Road, a veritable highway compared with the fire trails. 1.7km from lunch we reached a cleared area beside the road where a fire place had been built from Canberra bricks taken from a nearby foundation. The 1st edition Cotter Dam map tells us that this was Coree Hut (see pic 3). A further 1.1km and we were back at the top of Powerline Trail. This leg 2.8km in 40mins.

Finally, a ball-of-the-feet testing 4.5km in 55mins (our wives really had us motoring) back along Two Sticks Road, left into Pabral Road and back to the car.

Back to Duffy by 3.10pm!

Never been in this part of the land before, so a great 3/4 of a day walk. Much of the ridge lines is unburnt and was very pleasant on an overcast and cool (Canberra 21°C) day. Excellent.

Distance: 25.5km  Climb: 1150m.  Time: 7.50am - 14.20pm (6.5hrs), with 25mins of breaks.
Grading: L/E; H(13)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Brindabella Fire Trails