22 May 2010 Split Rock
Map: Corin Dam and Rendezvous Creek 1:25000
Getting There
This walk was organised and led by Mike B as a CBC walk:
Saturday 22 May: Split Rock – L/E, R. From the Orroral Valley we walk along Cotter Hut Rd and AAWT to Cotter Gap. We then climb through thick regrowth to amazing Split Rock (in Cotter Rocks). About 20 km mostly on tracks with a 650m climb. Maps: Corin Dam, Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000 Leader: Contact after 1 May, Mike B. Transport: $40 per car, $10 to $13.50 per person. Limit:8
10 of us gathered at Tharwa and drove to the Orroral Valley Tracking Station car park.
Photographs
Access all primary pics here. All thumbnails in the walk report are active - click for a larger picture.
Walk
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| Track overview | Track a | Track b | Track c |
Scant respect was paid to the oldest member of the party (maybe because I wasn't carrying my seniors card). The young ones set off at a pace that was going to have us in Victoria by afternoon tea, but it was good. Morning mist was clearing in the Orroral Valley and we had great weather. An uneventful wander along the Cotter Hut Road, cutting the corner where pink tapes indicate (I'll document this short cut on Namadgi Footpads). Onto the softer AAWT footpad and so to morning tea at Sawpit Creek. Up to Cotter Gap, over the other side and down to the cleared area at the top of Pond Creek. We rubber-necked our objective, then set off on the climb just after 10am.
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| Morning mist clearing as we head for the Cotter Hut Road | 1 Split Rock from the cleared area below it on Pond Creek | Split Rock | The start of the climb to Split Rock |
The joys of leadership as Mike led us up the spur. Open vegetation at first, but soon turning into regrowth. A quite intense belt around the top and wet to boot, which Mike forced a path through. I was quite happy to be at the end of the line with 9 others ahead, making the way for me. We arrived at the back door of Split Rock just before 11am. A marvellous structure - a giant's cleft. The pics and video clip say it all. We had a good look through.
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| 2 In Split Rock | The floor of Split Rock |
Back out from the split, we moved NW to the usual luncheon rock. Excellent views from both front and back. I had a little ziz and woke up to gummy bears (must try that again).
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| 3 View down to the top of Pond Creek from beside Split Rock |
It was eventually time to go. Once again Mike took the lead.
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| Tiny fungi on the descent from Split Rock |
We wandered back along the AAWT to an early arvo tea half a k before Cotter Hut Road (the site was that of NPA track work - see page 9 of NPA Bulletin Vol 43 No 1, March 2006 at http://www.npaact.org.au/category.php?id=72). Here, a very fair secret ballot was conducted as to whether to extend the walk (if just one had voted nay, we'd have come straight home). So, at the road, we headed left, doing a loop NW to Smokers Trail, NE down Smokers Trail to cross Sawpit Creek and head E onto the top of the Orroral Valley. A very pleasant amble down the valley, admiring the features on the Orroral Ridge.
A great walk, thanks Mike B. Jolly company from Andrew P, Brendan K, Edwina Y, Ian T, Jean-Michel P, Karen C, Kerrie T and Stephen M.
Distance: 27.1km Climb: 800m. Time: 7.55am - 4.10pm (8hrs 15mins), with 60mins of stops and a good look through Split Rock.
Grading: L/E-M; H(13)
KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Split Rock
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This page last updated 19Aug22