19 May 2012 Mt Tennent scar from the top
|
| Mt Tennent scar 11.52am |
Map: Williamsdale 1:25000
Getting There
This walk was organised and led by me as a CBC walk:
Saturday 19 May - Mt Tennent scar from the top - L/E-R,ptX. Wander up the AAWT and Mt Tennent fire trail to near the top, dropping down to visit the start of the scar on the mountain flank. Visit the Tennent Homestead site on the return to the NVC. Around 12km and 1400m climb. Map: Williamsdale. Leader: John Evans - jevans@pcug.org.au, 0417 436 877. Transport: ~$5 per person.
4 of us met and drove to the Namadgi Visitors Centre.
Further Information
Similar to 1 May 12, but easier access.
But as the party is all CBC, we'll walk up the AAWT and scramble down the entire length of the scar.
Caution: There are several cracks in the earth above the top of the slide, up to 80m distance from it. The whole area could be unstable.
Photographs
You can access all photographs here.
Walk
| Track map: thumbnail is active - click for a larger picture |
||
 |
||
| Track | ||
<
| The photos below are large thumbnails - click to see a larger image | ||||
 |
|
 |
 |
|
| 11.46am | 11.52am | 11.57am | 11.58am | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| 12.23pm | 12.27pm | 12.29pm | 12.30pm | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| 12.35pm | 12.35pm | 12.38pm | 12.39pm | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| 12.48pm | 1.32pm | 1.47pm | 2.49pm | |
 |
||||
| 2.50pm | ||||
A reasonably paced trip up to the Mt Tennent fire tower, covering the 7.1km in 2hrs 12mins. It does rise ~800m. I'd done an interview with Tim the Yowie Man on ABC 666 earlier in the day, so rang him at 10.50am from the Mt Tennent fire trail just below the fire tower and told his listeners where we were at. Morning tea. 7 or 8 other walkers on the track.
We wandered down to the tree I'd marked on 1 May 12, then down to the top of the scar. Down the scar for a while, then headed for the left (going down) side. An intense battle with the scrub as we had to go bush round a severe drop, at last getting back onto the earth and rock of the landslip. The little detour took 35mins to cover 340m across the ground, dropping from the 1230m contour to the 1080m contour (that's 150 vertical metres). I have a new respect for the scrub on Mt Tennent and a new love for the AAWT climbing it!
From this point we were able to descend the scar, drops which looked severe from above turning out to be negotiable. A couple of footprints, so others have been this way. Glad we were going down rather than climbing up, although it was hard on the knees.
Lunch at the 900m contour within inches of the babbling trickle of water. Quite clean and drinkable.
The last significant drop was at the 780m contour. We continued to wander down the creek, crossed a fence back into NNP, headed to the breached dam and were back on the AAWT. The irony is that this huge scar ends in the drainage line that comes out exactly where the walk register on the AAWT is - and goes under the Naas Rd via a couple of concrete pipes.
Headed back up it a fraction, then along the fence line towards the Tennent Homestead site. Tried to do the right thing by staying on the NNP side of the fence and were rewarded with scrub, prickles and blackberries. The transmission line cleared easement provided some relief.
Another fence or two needed to be negotiated to get to the Tennent Homestead site. Looking quite sad, except for apples on the tree in the orchard. Returned, I'm afraid walking more private property than not.
Called in at NVC for a chat, then at Val's store for a beer.
BTW - there's something wrong here. The 2nd edn Williamsdale 1:25000 topographic map shows the Tennent Homestead site in NNP - see the track map segment. New fences on the ground indicate otherwise. Michelle is going to check with the Rangers and let me know.
Answer - There is asbestos at the Tennant Homestead site. Insufficient funds are available to mitigate the situation, the site is managed as a ruin and visits are discouraged. The site is in NNP; fencing allows the adjoining leaseholder to graze to assist with fuel load management (from Brett McN 30May12).
Thanks for your company Quentin M, Phillip S and Trevor L.
Distance: 14.5km Climb: 800m. Time: 8.55am - 3.25pm (6hrs 30mins), with 45mins of stops.
Grading: L/E-R,ptX; H(13)
KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Mt Tennent scar from the top
Back to Walks Index
This page last updated 30Aug22