26 July 2011 Endrick River and Round Mountain

Map: Endrick 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by Philip G as a Tuesday walk:

Tuesday 26 July - Endrick River and Round Mountain - L/M-R,partX. A partly exploratory walk in the Budawangs, starting from the Nerriga entrance to Morton National Park. We値l walk on track to the Endrick River, which we値l wade, then follow the Redgrounds Track for a couple of kilometres before heading south in search of another river crossing. Once across the river we値l head for Round Mountain, climbing it from the east. From the summit we値l look for an exit through the mountain痴 western cliff line and return to the cars via Running Creek. A couple of short, steep climbs, patches of scrub and rock scrambling will be involved. Also, early start and expect wet feet. Contact leader by 6 pm Sunday 24 July so transport can be organised. Map: Endrick. Leader: Philip G. Transport: ‾$36. Limit: 12.

12 of us drove to the Meangora Rd (Nerriga) entrance to Morton National Park. About 2hrs 20mins drive from Canberra each way.

Photographs

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Walk

Track maps: thumbnails are active - click for a larger picture
Track overview	Track 1	Track 2

With the area having received more rain than Canberra, the direction of the walk was reversed, as it was unlikely that we'd get across the Endrick River. So we set off S along the Alum Creek fire trail for around 250m before turning E into the bush. We immediately came across an abandoned water race, which has an interesting story (thanks to Philip for supplying it):

In 1889, work commenced on the Burrill and Davis dam (and its associated raceline and quarry) some 3 kilometres upstream of Michael Dowling's hut on the Endrick River. The raceline was to serve alluvial gold leases at Peggy's Hill and Sandy Point on the Shoalhaven River, some 22 kilometres away by raceline. The dam's dimensions were 13 metres high, and over 40 metres in width - construction being timber and earth. The raceline was almost completed, apart from a few flumes, when the great flood of 1890 swept away most of the dam and severely damaged the raceline. The effects of the depression of the 1890's were already restricting the supply of money for mining ventures, so the project lapsed. (Source: Pigeon House and Beyond - A Guide to the Budawang Range and Environs, published by the Budawang Committee, 1982.)

We came across it again in a little drainage line, running W-E and E-W as it contoured along. The gap at the apex of the race would have been filled by a viaduct (flume). 1.9km to the E through relatively open forest making for delightful walking, brought us to a precipitous drop down to a raging Running Creek. Unperturbed, Philip led as around 300m N to a more gentle (!) slope down to the creek, where the sound of the rushing water over rocks might indicate a crossing point. It did, we did, with nary a damp toe. Our crossing point was a couple of hundred metres S of the inverted syphon site where the water race had crossed the creek. A clamber up the other side.

Artful navigation took us NE, SE, S and SE again to strike the towering cliffs of Round Mountain just a little S of its jutting NW. This leg 3.2km and included morning tea. Not long after climbing up from Running Creek, we again met signs of the water race - this time a mound some 200m long across a saddle area between two small knolls, to provide a base for the water race.

From the 700m contour as we approached Round Mountain, sandstone blocks hinted at what was to come. We continued S along the W edge of the mountain and tracked closer to the base of the cliffs. First through the trees and then in their glory, the cliffs towered above us. Overhangs, caves, seepages and drips kept our interest. A huge sandstone block had fallen in one place, the edges quite fresh. Amazing cliffs, yielding no possible passage to the top as we continued round SE to the southern most point of the mountain.

Here we gave it away and headed down to the vehicle track which runs up the E side of Round Mountain. This provided us a quick leg to the NE corner of the mountain and its only ascent route.

A small cairn on the side of the track indicated where we were to head into the bush again, up the N side of the gully, across its top, through a bit of scrubby going and finally out onto clear sandstone shelves. Another cairn indicated that our leader had not failed us and its position with great views W through E was ideal for a lunch break.

Here, a small, pink heath amused us. Peter W and Philip provided the following post-walk:

The attached photo shows that the flower we saw on the very low 'bush', is in the Epacridaceae, and as it has spines on the leaves and antlers well beyond the petals it is in the genius Styphelia [Five corners]. The red sepal tube and green corolla [petals] do not match any of the five species found in the Sydney basin north of the Shoalhaven, and as some species are local, it is likely to be a species or subspecies restricted to the Budawangs.

A great photo [one extracted by Peter W from some learned tome].  Budawangs and Beyond has two Styphelia in their plant list.  S.tubiflora, which is said to be widespread, and S. sp, which is found in Bulea Brook (north of the Endrick).  No pictures of either, unfortunately.

Heading towards the top of Round Mountain across the open sandstone with patches of heath between, we came across an 'indigenous stone arrangement'. Again, thanks to Philip's sleuthing, we have the good oil:

... then heading up and to the west towards the northeastern cliffs of Round mountain. We are actually climbing with a gully that intrudes up into the northern section of the mountain. Once the cliff line has been reached, we follow it to near the top of the gully, where we cross to the southern side, probably with some small difficulty. The southern side of the gully provides access via thick scrub and many rocky outsrops to the top of the mountain, which is quite breathtaking with its views. Some humourist, it should be noted, has created a "pseudo" stone arrangement near the top of the mountain. Despite its realistic appearance, it was not there several years ago. We can see, I think, the kind of problem this kind of practical joke creates; i.e. when is a stone arrangement the real thing? (Source: Bushwalking in the Budawangs by Ron Doughton, 1989, p101.)

A top of Round Mountain was declared at its flatish apex and we returned down the NE access route. 500m or so N along the vehicle track we headed bush, W for around 2km, then N for around 2km to afternoon tea! A lovely touch.

Finally, a leg to the NW to pick up the vehicle track again where it forded Running Creek, then around 3km on track back to the cars.

An excellent trip, thanks Philip. And thanks to Chris, Jan, Ken, Max, Mike, Paul, Peter, Phillip, Roger and Steve.

Distance: 18.3km Climb: 450m. Time: 8.30am - 4.15pm (7hrs 45mins), with 45mins of stops, including a very civilised arvo tea break.
Grading: L/MR; H(12)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Round Mountain

PS from Jeff B:

There is in fact a second route onto the tops, near the NW corner.  It is quite straightforward, and doesn't involve any hard rock scrambling.  If you intend to go down the same way you need to memorise the point where you get on top; it is a little more difficult to locate the descent route from above. It's also well worthwhile to scrub bash along the top to the southern end of the mountain; you get good views across to Quiltys and Fosters Mountains. 

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This page last updated 28Aug22