Tinderry Peak, NSW, Australia

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2014 October: One day climb of Tinderry Peak, highest mountain in the Monaro region of NSW, Australia

Prolog

If you intend to climb Tinderry Peak, I suggest you do a car shuffle instead:
  - Park one car at the trailhead of Round Flat Firetrail.
  - Park the other car at the trailhead of Mt Allen FireTrail.
  - Walk from Mt Allen Firetrail to Round Flat Firetrail, climbing Tinderry Twin and Tinderry Peak in between.

I'll do it a year later ... photos and a write up of that trip are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/tinderry-twin-tinderry-peak-nsw.html

Today, Adam and I take only one car. We climb Tinderry Peak only ... from Round Flat Firetail.

Tinderry Peak

At 1619 meters, Tinderry Peak is the highest point in the Tinderry Mountains - near a small town called Michelago in the Monaro region of NSW.

It is mostly bushbashing. Along the way, we detour to an interesting rocky outcrop with a great view towards the valley below.

The final climb near the top involves some interesting rock scrambling and boulder hopping ... you think that a boulder in front is the highest point, but when you climb to its top, it turns out to be a false summit as there is another boulder further away that is higher. And when you climb this higher boulder, it also turns out to be a false summit as there is another boulder further away that is higher ... etc. It is fun!!! (It does depend on how you approach the summit. If you approach it from a slightly different direction, you may not encounter as much false summits as we do.)

Needless to say, when we eventually reach the top, the 360 degree panoramic view there is superb. Definitely well worth the long drive from Sydney.

Maps

- 1:100,000 scaled 8726 Michelago
- 1:25,000 scaled 8726-4S Michelago
- 1:25,000 scaled 8726-1S Tinderry

The below map is 1:25,000 scaled
- Tinderry Peak is near top left hand corner.
- The thicker orange coloured road near bottom right hand corner is Tinderry Road.

Starting point

The starting point of the walk is the junction of Round Flat Firetrail and Tinderry Road.

To get there:
- From Canberra, travel south on the Monaro Highway.
- At Michelago, turn east into Ryrie Street.
- Then go under a railway bridge to Burra Road.
- 2.6 km from the Monaro Highway turnoff, turn east into the unsealed Tinderry Road.
- Travel 14 km on Tinderry Road and you'll reach the Round Flat Firetrail.

GPS tracklog file & Route

Our GPS tracklog file can be download from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B877-h5SCJaSNVZIRXNWbWJvZkU/view?usp=sharing

In the below map:
- Our tracklog is in brown colour.
- Tinderry Peak is near top left hand corner.
- The thicker orange coloured road near bottom right hand corner is Tinderry Road.
- The red arrow points to an interesting rocky outcrop that we pass through on the way to Tinderry Peak.

The rocky outcrop is labelled as "2nd rocky outcrop" in my 2015-10 climb to Tinderry Twin & Tinderry Peak. Photos and an account of that trip are in:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/tinderry-twin-tinderry-peak-nsw.html

In summary:
- Walk on the Round Flat Firetrail.
- 1.7 km later, at where the trail turns east, we leave the trail and bushbash northward for a short while.
- Then bushbash northwest towards a rocky outcrop which has a great view towards the south-east at the valley below.
- Then made a bee line for Tinderry Peak.
- Return in roughly the same direction, but bypassing the rocky outcrop.

But if I am going to climb Tinderry Peak again, I would do a car shuffle. Park one car at the trailhead of Round Flat Firetrail as we do today. Drive the other car to the base of Tinderry Twin, at Mt Allen Firetrail trailhead. Climb Tinderry Twin. Then climb Tinderry Peak. Then descend to where the first car is parked.  ( PS: I will do it a year later. Click on the link: http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/tinderry-twin-tinderry-peak-nsw.html )

Timeline & Distance
10:27   0.0 km  Start at junction of Round Flat Firetrail and Tinderry Road
10:48   1.7 km  go off track
12:10   3.8 km  at rocky outcrop

Explore around

12:40   4.1 km  Leave rocky outcrop
14:11   5.8 km  at Tinderry Peak summit

lunch

15:07   6.0 km  Leave summit
17:21   9.8 km  at Round Flat Firetrail
17:49  11.6 km  Finish at junction Round Flat Firetrail and Tinderry Road

==============================================

Total:  7 hrs 22 mins  at leisurely pace
           11.6 km  Distance is from Google Earth
           13.6 km  Distance is from Garmin GPS

Pictures

1)  At the centre of this pic is Tinderry Peak. Photo is taken on Monaro Highway near Michelago.

2)  Round Flat Firetrail - this is the start of our walk. But we won't stay on the trail for long ...

3)  ... 2 km later, the trail turns east.  But we leave the trail and bushbash northward instead.

4)  Plenty of granite boulders along the way

Detour to rocky outcrop

5)  A detour to a rocky outcrop - here is Adam struggling up.

6)  ... the rocky outcrop has a great view towards the southeast at the valley below. (Well, maybe not this photo ... but if you go forward to where the rocks are, you'll get a good view.)

7)  Interesting rock formation at the rocky outcrop. The mountain on the left is Tinderry Peak.

8)  Tinderry Peak from the rocky outcrop ... we are heading there next.

To Tinderry Peak

9)  After leaving the rocky outcrop and on our way to Tinderry Peak, we notice much of the ground is dug up like this; and the trees are dead and fallen over. Sad to see the environment mucked up like this. What caused it? Wild pigs?

10)  We are close to the summit now and thought the top of the distant boulder is the summit ...

11)  ... after climbing over the boulder in the previous photo, we realize there is a bit more distance to go to the summit. Well, shouldn't be far now.

12)  Adam climbing up a narrow crack between 2 boulders, after which we should be at the top ...

13)  ... After climbing up the crack of the previous photo, we are still not at the top. I ask Adam to take a photo here, thinking that the top of the boulder behind me must be the summit ...

14)  ... No! After scrambling and hopping over to the top of the boulder of the previous photo, we are still not there  :-(   Perhaps the pile of rocks in this photo is the summit ?

Tinderry Peak summit

15)  Yes!!! Finally, the rock in front is the top!!!  1619 meters.

16)  Adam at the top

17)  Me

18)  Judging by the big metal bolts on the rock, at some point in the past, there must have been a large trig planted right here.

19)  Looking back at all the boulders we have scaled over to reach the top ... the rock scrambling and the number of false summits make this mountain top rather unique.

20)  Being the highest peak in the Monaro region, naturally the view of the countryside from the summit is superb.

21)  The triangle-shaped mountain towards the north (centre of the photo) is Tinderry Twin. One day, I intend to climb it.

PS: I climb Tinderry Twin & Tinderry Peak a year later in 2015-10; via a car shuffle. That is actually a better way to climb the Tinderries. Photos and an account of that trip is in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/tinderry-twin-tinderry-peak-nsw.html

22)  Towards the west is the Scabby, Bimberi and Brindabella Ranges. The left arrow points to Bimberi, the highest mountain in ACT. The right arrow points to Gingera, 2nd highest in ACT. Glad to see these old friends as I've climbed them both.

23)  We have lunch near the summit, by the side of these 3 interesting rock formation.

Then it is time to come down the mountain and return to the car.

Animals & Plants

24)  An echidna we found on the way up.

25)  Wombat shit

26)  Close up view of wombat shit. You'll notice their shape is squarish.

No, to create square shit is not a useless talent of the wombats; nor is evolution evincing a sense of potty humour.

Wombats are solitary nocturnal animals living underground in burrows. They possess awful eyesight, but have an execelelnt sense of smell for which they use to navigate around their surroundings. So natural selection did its job to give wombat's shit a squarish shape so it can stay better on top of rocks and logs to remind the wombat how to get home after a night out grass-eating ... there is nothing more frustrating than having your poop roll away when you want it to stay   :-)

27)  An unusual sight of a termite mound engulfing a dead tree.

28)  This shrub doesn't look particularly remarkable ...

29)  ... but close up, its small flowers are quite pretty. It is Oxylobium ellipticum (Common Shaggy Pea), native to Australia ... Reference:
https://plus.google.com/photos/115965599477996056898/albums/5669944270915631841/5669944477547391618?pid=5669944477547391618&oid=115965599477996056898

30)  On the same shrub - are these flower buds not yet opened up?

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Mt Feathertop, Vic, Australia

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2014 October: One day climb of Mt Feathertop, 2nd highest mountain in Vic

Prolog

Having recently climbed the highest peak in every State/Territory in Australia, it is time to consider the 2nd highest peak.   :-)

At 1922 meters, Mt Feathertop is Victoria's 2nd highest mountain. Though Mt Bogong claims the title to be the highest, but Mt Feathertop is far more majestic and the (South) Razorback Trail to Feathertop is one of the prettiest in Victoria.

The other 2nd highest peaks I have climbed are:
• WA - Mt Bruce in 2012 - photos and an account of the climb are in:
   http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/mt-bruce-wa-australia.html

• ACT - Mt Gingera in 2013 -  photos and an account of the climb are in:
   http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/gingera-ginini-act-australia.html

• NSW - Mt Townsend in 2014 -  photos and an account of the climb are in:
   http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/kosciuszko-townsend-twynam-carruthers.html

• Tas - Legges Tor in 2014 -  photos and an account of the climb are in:
   http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/legges-tor-tas-australia.html

Now (ie early October) is probably the best time to climb Feathertop. There is still plenty of snow on the ground to jazz up the scenery. Yet, the trail to the summit is mostly clear of snow.


Map

Survey and Mapping Victoria issued a series of maps called "Outdoor leisure Map". They are very useful for hikers, full of interesting information. The one for this area is the 1:50,000 scaled map called "Bogong Alpine Area".


GPS tracklog file & route

Our GPX file can be download from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B877-h5SCJaSQXV1UWUybGkyNGc/view?usp=sharing

In the 1:50,000 scaled map below, I've drawn our route as red dots.
- Mt Feathertop summit is the red arrow near top right hand corner.
- Harrietville is at the top left hand corner.

In summary, our route is:
- Start at Diamantina Hut (bottom edge of the map). Diamantina Hut is on the Great Alpine Road, 3 km by road west of Mt Hotham ski resort.
- Then head north on Razorback Trail along Razorback Ridge to Mt Feathertop summit, the red arrow.
- After summitting, descend by Bungalow Spur Trail to Harrietville ... specifically, to a small carpark by the side of a road named as "Feathertop Track" at Harrietville.
- In all it is 22 km. As the starting and end points are different, a car shuffle is required.

Elevations

1708m - Diamantina Hut
1922m - Mt Feathertop
 570m  - Bungalow Spur trailhead at Harrietville

Hence from elevation point of view, it is easier to start from Diamantina Hut, unless you are a masochist, then you can start at Harrietville.

From scenery point of view, it is also better to start from Diamantina Hut.  The Razorback trail that starts there is quite high and mostly above the tree line. Hence Mt Feathertop is constantly in view, not blocked by trees. Whereas if you start from the Bungalow Spur Trail, you won't see Mt Feathertop until you are near the end of the trail.


Timeline & Distance

07:44   0.0 km  Start walking
10:49  11.2 km  at Mt Feathertop summit

11:01  11.2 km  Leave summit
11:43  13.1 km  at Federation Hut

lunch

12:32  13.1 km  Leave Federation Hut
14:55  22.0 km  at Bungalow Spur trailhead, Harrietville
-------------
Total  22 km in 7 hrs 11 mins at leisurely pace


Pictures: Diamantina Hut - Start of Razorback Trail to Mt Feathertop

1)  We park one of our cars here - on the map, this spot is called Diamantina Hut on the Great Alpine Road (3 km by road west of Mt Hotham ski resort). And this is where the Razorback Trail starts. After climbing Mt Feathertop, we will descend by the Bungalow Spur Trail to Harrietville ... in all 22 km. As the starting and end points are different, a car shuffle is required.

Razorback Trail along Razoback Ridge

2)  This photo is taken from the trailhead at Diamantina Hut. Mt Feathertop is the far away snow-capped mountain at the centre of the photo - 11 km to walk there. You can just make out the trail on top of the Razorback Ridge which runs from left towards the centre of the photo.

3)  The Razorback Trail is along the top of the Razorback Ridge - appropriately named as you feel like walking on the edge of a razor blade.

4)  Still plenty of snow around (I had expected them to be all melted by now.)

5)  The snow-capped mountain at the centre of the photo is Mt Feathertop.

6)  You can see the Razorback Ridge running from right to centre of the photo, all the way to the summit. The Razorback Trail is along the ridge top.

7)  Walking on top of the Razorback Ridge towards Mt Feathertop.

8)  Scenery of Victorian Alps from the Razorback Trail.

9)  Scenery of Victorian Alps from the Razorback Trail.

10)  David is in front. Mt Feathertop is on the left.

11)  In 2013 January, just less than 2 year ago, a huge bush fire swept through this area, hence these dead trees along the way.

12)  Looking backwards ... we had been walking along the Razorback Ridge (the main ridge) in this photo ...

13)  ... And we'll be walking along the ridge (from right to centre of the photo) towards Mt Feathertop.

14)  Snow scenery along the trail

15)  Some snow on the trail

16)  David and I with Mt Feathertop in the background

17)  Zooming in on Mt Feathertop

18)  We are getting close to the junction of Razorback Trail and Bungalow Spur Trail. In fact you can just make out 2 tiny huts near the centre of the photo (click on the photo to enlarge it). They are located on the Bungalow Spur Trail and named "Federation Hut".

19)  Zooming onto the Federation Hut on the Bungalow Spur Trail.

Junction of Razorback Trail & Bungalow Spur Trail

20)  This big gnarled gum tree marks the junction of Razorback Trail and Bungalow Spur Trail. The Bungalow Spur Trail veers towards the left. The Razorback Trail to Mt Feathertop veers towards the right.

Climbing towards Feathertop summmit

21)  We are getting closer to Mt Feathertop.

22)  Mt Feathertop summit is in sight.

23)  Me, walking on snow

24)  David

25)  The summit of Mt Feathertop is the far one on the right.

Feathertop summmit

26)  Almost at the summit now ... just a few more steps.

27)  We are at the summit !
It is unusual there is not a large cairn or post to mark the top of this mountain. The little pile of stones behind us is all there is to indicate the summit.

Panorama from Feathertop summmit

28)  Needless to say, from the summit, the 360 degree panoramic view of the Victorian high country is superb.

29)  Victorian high country

30)  From the summit, towards the north east, is the green Kiewa Valley.

We linger around at the summit for 10 minutes, then it is time to leave.


To Federation Hut

31)  On Bungalow Spur Trail now, heading towards Federation Hut.

32)  Me - walking towards Federation Hut - which is an emergency shelter.

On Bungalow Spur Trail to Harrietville

33)  Going down the Bungalow Spur Trail. This trail is not as scenic as the Razorback Trail, but it is an easy downhill walk all the way.

34)  The trees are dead ... as mentioned earlier, there was a huge bushfire that swept through this area in 2013 January.

35)  More of the dead trees ... quite an eerie scene.

36)  This area is not burnt. Phew! Glad to see some green scenes.

37)  We reach the end of the trail at Harrietville.

Then it is back to Diamantina Hut (driving of course !) to pick up the other car which we had left there early this morning. All up, it is a pleasant rewarding day !

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