15 May 2010 Mt Tennent

Map: Williamsdale 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by Mike B as a CBC walk:

15-16 May: Mt Tennent Pack walk - S/M. Starting Saturday early-afternoon we do the short, steep (800m) walk up the Alpine Walking Track from Namadgi Visitor Centre, set up camp at the saddle about 1 km NW of the summit, view the sunset and Canberra lights and the sunrise the next morning from a rocky outcrop near the campsite. Return home by midday Sunday. Tank water is available at the summit. The walk will only proceed if the weather is reasonable. Map: Williamsdale 1:25,000 Leader: Contact after 1 May, Mike B Transport: ~$25 per car, ~$6 - $10 per person. Limit:8.

2 of us left Weston Creek at 12.15pm and drove to the Namadgi Visitors Centre to meet the main party.

Further Information

I thought it might be nice to wander up Mt Tennent. I'm just going for the arvo, returning before sunset.

Photographs

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Guest Photographer

New feature - guest photographer! This walk - Mike B

See all of Mike's pics here

Walk

Track

We parked around 12.35pm at had a quick look at the NPAACT photographic exhibition - the photos are fabulous and prompted me to never show another photo of mine in public. I wish I could compose and snap like these photographers do.

Setting off down the main steps from the building as though we were heading for Walhalla (Kaz has done the entire AAWT from there twice!), we wandered up through the woodlands, over the Naas Road and caught the main party at Cypress Pine Lookout. (A better thought on my original 'Old Cypress Pine Lookout' and 'New Cypress Pine Lookout' - seeing the marker post is burnt, the location on the Williamsdale 8726-4N 1:25000 map is probably incorrect.) It was really excellent to catch up with Rupert B (one of two of my original mentors and still a walking living legend), Mike B, Stephen M and Jia-Umn L (a cool young lady doing her first CBC walk, joined the club at the camp site and hopefully will contribute greatly to the new wave of younger walkers joining CBC).

But there is something to be said for experience - as Kaz, Stephen and I were going up and back before sunset, Mike kindly allowed us to walk through ... and asked us to fill the campers' overnight water containers at the tank at Mt Tennent, then meet them below at the camp site. Very cunning!

Lots of people using the track - excellent to see folk getting out and enjoying the bush. We made good time up to the T-intersection, stopping briefly to admire the view down.

1 View NE from the AAWT	2 View NE from the AAWT towards the Tinderries

We turned left and wandered up past the camp site (just uphill from Tongs sheep yard site), met the Mt Tennent fire trail and so up to the top. I'll document this track on my Namadgi Footpads, as the AAWT and the Mt Tennent track have been substantially realigned and the location of Cypress Pine Look out changed. Reached the fire tower at 2.40pm, covering the 7.2km and 800m climb in 2hrs (including a 15min break at Cypress Pine Lookout). An excellent panoramic view from half way up the fire tower.

Filling the water jars, we returned down the hill and met the camping party again. Mike made Kaz and Stephen a cuppa.

Said bye-bye and set of at 3.30pm. A lovely afternoon descent, not too cool in the shadow on the E facing side of the hill (as long as one was walking), no breeze. Lovely slanting light.

3 Afternoon view from Cypress Pine Lookout

Back at the cars at 4.45pm.

Thanks for letting us join you for the arvo, Mike. Excellent to meet up with Rupert, to meet Jia-Umn and to walk with Kaz and Stephen.

Distance: 14.5km Climb: 800m. Time: 12.35 - 4.45pm (4hrs 10mins), including 45mins of breaks.
Grading: L/E; M(9)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Mt Tennent

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This page last updated 16Aug22