Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Wednesday 19 October 2022: Combined clubs’ M-H Wednesday Walk. Pryors Hut/Little Ginini Mountain from Corin Dam. The walk starts at Corin Dam via a steep track (climbs 500m in 2 km) up Stockyard Spur through a delightful forested area to the helipad and then on an undulating track through alpine area to the Mt Franklin road. It’s then another 1 km to Little Ginini Mountain (2km off-trail – through open bush – gaiters and gloves for this section). Returning via Pryors Hut.

Summary

From Garmin Connect – Distance: 17.14km | Climb: 1100m | Time: 4:50 moving + 2:38 of stops = 7:28 | Grading: L/E-M; H(12).

Photographs Photographs are available here.

gpx File The gpx file is available here.

Relive the trip

 

Track Notes

I was last in this area on 26 Mar 22.

As in a couple of other Wednesday Walks, I asked for the leader’s nod to begin early by myself. Granted. I left home around 7.30am, so about an hour ahead of the rest of the party leaving Kambah at 8.30am. Thankfully, Point Hut Crossing open.

A few wallabies on Corin Road, so a slow drive. Another car at the car park and I met the occupants coming back from Pryors Hut and Mt Gingera as I walked in. Started walking at 8.05am.

I was at the opening of the staired Stockyard Spur track, when it was explained that the stone steps at the start represent the ‘risers and treads’ of the walk up to the helipad.

Discounting the top ‘tread’, I see 3 other ‘treads’. I reckon these correspond to the short ‘treads’ between the tall ‘risers’ (ie. the significant climbs that make me huff and puff and gasp). Except the second ‘tread’ has two less significant short flats on the climb.

Anyway, that’s my story. At last the helipad appeared. This leg 2.3km in 1hr 22mins, climbing 525vm. More than a few pauses, so I was glad I didn’t embarrass myself in the main party. 

Delightful walking on the next bound to the lookout spots. First, off the track to the right, where there are views to the NW and Mt Ginini.

Then across the other side, which Graeme Barrow (the author of many books on walking near Canberra before he died) named ‘Stockyard Spur Grandstand’.

The next point of interest is the brumby yard site, 200m further on. Not much left except a bit of wire.

From here, 750m down the spur to the intersection with the Mt Franklin Road. I arrived at 10.50am.

I had a bit of a poke about where there used to be a weather station nearby. Not there any more. Returning, I ran into Sal and Jenny, enjoying a trip to Pryors Hut. I had morning tea, wandered around a bit more, listened to some music. Popped some extra layers on in the dappled shade.

Phillip and six others arrived spot on 12noon. They had a swig of water, we all gaitered up, then headed directly west up to Little Ginini Mountain. Easy going through open woodland, starting at a vague footpad near the track junction signage. Whether you were a two ‘l’ Phillip or a one ‘l’ Philip, they and the others took off like startled rabbits up the hill. I was so glad I didn’t walk up Stockyard Spur with them!

All seven were at the top when I arrived, although I had stopped to regain my breath at the nearby border marker M7. It’s a delightful marker, a 1″ GIP (one inch galvanised iron pipe) buried at ground level in a small stone box at the centre of the lockspit.

Absolutely delightful walking south from the top. Snow gum woodland with snow grasses underfoot. My companions humored me by visiting border markers O57 (described by Harry Mouat in his field notebook as “3” Downpipe Concrete Core and Cairn – Station on knob Shist [sic] outcrop”) and P57.

Nice views from P57.

Arrived at Pryors Hut and sat down to lunch.

I’d sometimes heard of parties camping down behind the hut and Lorraine kindly gave me some relevant information. So I took a wander down past the toilet to join the vehicle track that circumnavigates the Scotts Pine Arboretum/Alpine Botanical Annexe site. A bit damp off the track, but could camp on the track in NSW if the front of Pryors Hut was occupied (or you didn’t have a camping permit for ACT’s NNP). Of course, as at Mt Franklin, the toilet at Pryors is in NSW!

Walking at 1.23pm, the 7.4km return in a brisk 1hr 50mins.

The dam overflowing.

Lots of surveyors and gear about. Thank goodness no government mobile phone camera as I drove out. I guess checking that Corin Dam is not going to collapse!

Track Maps

Here’s where we went.

Party

8 walkers. Phillip (leader), Jan and Philip, Jo, Leigh, Lorraine, Stephen, me.

Information Bit(e)s

I’ve had a lot of assistance from walking friends recently. By way of paying a bit back, I’ll publish a few bites of information that may help someone. Today’s is ‘4 The best free guide to Map Reading‘.