Bullen Range and Tidbinbilla Range from the Cooleman Ridge

Saturday 31 January 2015 – CBR100 Challenge training – Weston Creek Circuit – L/E pt X. I’m training for the 50km version of the CBR100 to be held in March. A walk that will circumnavigate Weston Creek, visiting each of the trigs around Weston Creek (Stromlo, Narrabundah, Cooleman, Arawang, Taylor and Oakey). Around 25km all up with starting time depending on the weather forecast. Bookings: By 2pm Thursday 29 January please. Map: Canberra. Leader: Nathan H. Transport: drive yourself but let me know if you need a lift.

14 of us met in the park opposite my home, so an extra 15mins in bed for me.

Summary

Distance: 30.1km | Climb: 1110m | Time: 8.10am-4.00pm (7hrs 50mins), with 30 mins of breaks | Grading: L/E,ptX; H(12)

Track Maps

Track overview

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Profile

Photographs

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Track Notes

Nathan is ‘da man’ at the moment and attracted a crowd of 16. The park opposite our house looked like a car yard and Gay spent a lot of the day fielding buyers’ calls.

We wandered up Warragamba Ave, down Eucumbene Dr, along Cotter Rd and into the old Stromlo Pine Forest area. Followed the trails up to join Mt Stromlo Rd and so to the Stromlo trig. On the way down I snapped the refurbished Director’s Residence which was opened yesterday and was hosting guided tours today. The first of many views west to the Bullen and Tidbinbilla Ranges. Down and back to the top of Warragamba Ave.

Our next hill was the short up to Narrabundah Hill, nowhere near the same-named suburb. Left it to the south, down across the top of Hindmarsh Dr and along Kathner St to enter the Cooleman Ridge Nature Reserve. Just above the dam we stopped for morning tea.

We then walked the Cooleman Ridge up the back of Chapman. A visit to the trig on Cooleman Hill, then a couple of kilometres along to the Mt Arawang trig.

A cloudless morning and, although the maximum temperature for Canberra on the day was 24°C, it was a bit warmer than the cloudy morning forecast. So we went down to join Sulwood Dr and called in at Eternity church buildings for a couth toilet stop and water resupply.

Across the Tuggeranong Parkway, we walked up the side of Sulwood Dr and called in at the refurbished Kambah fire tree. Around the south-west flanks of Mt Taylor and slowly up the steep track. At last some cloud cover and breeze at the top whilst we had lunch.

Off Mt Taylor to the north, we walked down the side of Waldock St, under Hindmarsh Dr and up the final hill to the Oakey trig. 6 hills done.

I said I knew a green-way down through Weston, but I was talking to an a party member (no name, hey Alison) and we headed down towards Lyons. So another half hill as we climbed back up to the saddle between Reef and Oakey Hills. Down and then flat back to the start. A couple of spots of rain.

A great day. 6 hills and, at last, we cracked the 30km in our Cbr100Challenge training. Excellent company.

Party

14 walkers – Berlinda B, Gerald D, Chris F, Nathan H (leader), Jaime L, Lyndall M-B, Susan M, Alison N, Richele R, Chris R, Michael S, Lorraine T, Edwina Y, me.