Evening view from slabs near Tongs sheep yard site - note Mike's relaxed knees

Map: Williamsdale 1:25000

Walk Description

This walk was organised and led by me as a CBC walk:

Sunday evening/night 3 March: Mt Tennent sunset – L/E. Mt Tennent gets a flogging, but is always a nice trip to cause huffing and puffing. Let’s add a twist by watching the sun go down and walking back by torch-light. Sunset at 7.39pm, twilight ends 8.05pm. Start walking about 4pm. Bring your tea and perhaps something to share. Around 14km and 800m climb. Map: Williamsdale. Leader: John Evans - john@johnevans.id.au, 0417 436 877. Transport: ~$6 per person.

3 of us drove from Canberra to the Namadgi Visitors Centre outside car park.

Photographs

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Track Map

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Track

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Track Notes

This walk was planned in the heat of January's Summer. I wasn't too sure how it would implement in March's Autumn, particularly after the previous week of wind, rain and cool temperatures. Maybe prospective participants shared the same doubts as there were only 3 of us. As it turned out, a unique experience. But it must have been a good walking day - ran into Mike and Annette S and Brian S returning from an NPA trip at Kambah and Barrie R at NVC.

Walking at 4.20pm (called in at the Gudgenby in a Box building), reaching the T-intersection on the N Tennent spur by 6.15pm. We looked at time and options and chose to stop at the lookout that Mike has used previously just up and ENE from Tongs sheep yard site.

An excellent choice. I haven't been here before and it provides a huge view over the Murrumbidgee River valley and nearby rolling green hills below. The evening light and shade picked out the landform in wonderful fashion. I'd brought my MSR Whisperlite Shellite stove just for the fun of it, so we had a hot soup and coffee bag. Gay had made a very nice banana cake yesterday, our companion offered goodies and Mike shared quality chocolate balls. Anyway, the sunset over our shoulders in the west wasn't that spectacular.

Leaving at 7.35pm in warm clothes (the breeze was a bit cool), we stopped at the T-intersection to strip off again in the lee of the hill. Switched on our headlights at around 8pm. Apart from a gentle reminder from me to pick up our feet as the dark descended, we found the descent by torch light easier than expected. No moon seen on this side of the hill at this time, but the stars were out and we could see the good old southern cross blazing. The absolute delight for me was the number of diamonds in the light of our torches beside the footpad - small spider eyes! I'm enamoured of night walking!!

I thought this was a truly sick (as the young say) little walk!

Summary

Distance: 12.2km Climb: 620m. Time: 4.20 - 9.25pm (5hrs 5 mins), with 45mins of breaks.

Grading: M/E; M(9)

Walk Participants

Mike B, one other, me.