13 November 2010 Broom Clearing (18th year) at Cotter Hut and Walk Out

Maps: Rendezvous Creek and Corin Dam 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by John T as a CBC exercise:

Saturday 13 November - Broom Clearing (18th year) at Cotter Hut The club’s long-term environmental project aimed at removal of this invasive species from the Upper Cotter area will take place again this year. Each year club members go to the area around the Cotter Hut and locate and clear any new broom plants that can be found. The seeds of this species can stay in the soil for well over 20 years and each plant can produce thousands of seeds. Our contribution has involved searching the area to locate infestations, removal by lopping or digging and detailed mapping. You will have the opportunity to travel to the Upper Cotter by vehicle and spend the day in a remote part of Namadgi. No special skills needed. Map: Rendezvous Creek 1:25,000. Leader: John T. Transport: ~$12.

15 of us met and John T got us organised. A spot in another vehicle was reserved for me and we drove, via the Namadgi depot to pick up some spray bottles, to Orroral. I left my car at the tracking station car park and got into Alan V's proper 4WD. Very pleasant to be driven in the Cotter Hut Road.

Further Information

A great opportunity to drive in to Cotter Hut. I've proposed to John T that I get a lift in, clear broom and walk back out to my car at Orroral. Anyone else interested? Around 14km and 4hrs. OK by John and perhaps he'll advertise the opportunity closer to the date.

Take GPS loaded with broom coords supplied by Keith through John.

Photographs

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Walk

Track overview	Track 1	Track 2	Track 3

John T organised us with military precision and a couple of teams formed up. We went down the Cotter River on the left bank, then a circuit around the W side of the Hut at around the 1100m contour. Luckily, we had Chris R and Mike M with us to point out the broom. With memories from the other side of the river last year, I was picturing shoulder-high, yellow flowered monsters. We found smaller, animal-eaten models. But many, so hopefully our work was worthwhile.

Back to Cotter Hut for lunch at 12noon, by which time I'd conned Dale L to walk out with me. He had an evening engagement, so we sweet-talked John into letting us go early (he was happy, as the project was ahead of schedule). The next con - graciously fulfilled - was to get a ride, again in Alan V's proper 4WD - across the Cotter River. A couple of dogs loped away down Cotter Flats.

An uneventful walk out, covering the 14.4km in 2hrs 45mins. Marvellous what one can do with a fit 18 year old pressing at your heels. Wonderful to see other walkers, riders and lookers out enjoying Orroral Valley. Stopped in for a brief chat with the mayor of Tharwa on our return.

Many thanks, John, for organising us all. And huge thanks to Dale for wandering back with me.

Distance: 18.4km - Broom Clearing 4km, Walk Out 14.4km Climb: 400m. Time: Broom Clearing 10am - 12noon, Walk Out 12.45 - 3.30pm
Grading: L/E-M; M(9)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Broom Clearing and Walk Out

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This page last updated 23Aug22