Dry's Bluff

[GPR02]

Hi,

I'm seeking some information on Dry's Bluff and hoping some of you might be able to assist.

I made an attempt on the northern summit (the track departing from Brown's former residence) the weekend before last. However, once I reached the scree I was defeated by heavy cloud and spent a brief time lost in the bush until I could find the track again. I may be confused owing to the poor conditions on the day, but it seemed to me that once the track reaches the scree it basically ends and that there's no clearly defined route over the scree to the remainder of the path to the summit. I've read various threads on here and elsewhere but remain confused. Therefore, what is the best approach to the summit once the scree has been reached, and importantly a clear route for the return journey so that I find the track again? I'm only interested in the northern peak and trig at this stage, not the true highest point to the south.

Also, I read a comment that confused me regarding the time it takes to reach the dolerite formations (approximately half way up), and the subsequent time from there to the northern peak. I reached the dolerite formations after 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the scree not long after. Is it about the same time again (based on that pace) to the summit, or more?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Geoff

[Crum]

From what I remember once we got to the scree we pretty much headed straight up across it (there may have been a tree line all the way up too). There is a well defined gap in the columns with a small creek running down it which you climb up though. I don't think I'd be too keen on being up there in cloud though. One thing I do remember my knees absolutely hated me for the next few days.

Heres a few pics from our trip. Not sure if you can make out any of the land marks from them
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4141

[Azza]

There are cairns the whole way, it just gets a bit messy in the section just before you reach the scree.

I think some extra cairns have been added by some confused individuals and now two paths have formed.
There is one spot where there is a definite split with cairns marking two different routes one heading off towards the left hand scree slope, the other heading to the right hand side.

I remember ascending one route and then descending the other... I got to the bottom following a line of cairns and it wasn't matching my memory of the way up.

The cairns do get a little spaced on the scree, but if head up and keep your eyes open you should spot one sooner or later.

[clarence]

I have done it three times, the last time about two years ago.

The agree with both of the above posts. When you reach the scree there are two cairned routes at some points. They are generally on the west side (right hand side) of the scree, heading up fairly close to the trees. It is a case of heading more or less straight up once you come out on the scree.

At the peak of the scree the trail heads onto the E flank of a small gully onto a fairly well defined pad. It sidles the bank then crosses the creek and heads up via the fixed ropes along some mildly exposed ledges to reach the re-entrant creek from the plateau. I think there is only one way up once you are at the top of the scree, as the cliffs are pretty sheer either side of the gully/creek which leads to the summit.

Coming down you need to be observant to pick the point where the trail heads from the scree back in to the forest.

I did do it once at night in a blizzard (with snow on the scree as well) and survived, but I had done it twice beforehand, so was able to follow my nose a bit.

There are some formations about half way up, but I think they are sandstone (one has a cave facing down the hill). When I have walked the track it has taken about 3 hours up and 2 hours back at a steady pace. I think we the rock formations are very approximately half way (roughy 1 1/2 hours) between the Liffey River and the logbook at the NE bluff (not the true high point). I would think the bottom of the scree is 2/3 of the way up.

Clarence

[GPR02]

Thanks all for the advice. That's made things clearer. I reckon that if I'd had clear conditions up there, all of this would've been fairly evident. Looking forward to trying again.

[GPR02]

Climbed it successfully today. In the absence of cloud over the scree it was very easy to figure out where to go. The last part of the climb gets a bit crazy with all the ropes and water etc! Lucky I took your responses with me in my phone because when I crossed the creek (at about 1200+m elevation) I nearly didn't see the rope and thought I'd somehow lost the track. Probably would've seen it eventually.

It was very icy up there but initially completely clear. I was circled by an eagle for a while. By the time I made the surprisingly lengthy walk across the plateau to the NE peak the cloud had come in so unfortunately I saw nothing of the NE view, but initially had great views to the south right across the Highlands. I buggered up the route on the way back and had to scrub bash quite a lot and got the boots and legs a bit wet. Made the descent without event.

I noted with interest in the log book that a bloke claims to have made it from Brown's old house to the NE peak in two hours. He must be a total weapon because I only had two 5 minute breaks and faffed about a bit for another 5-10 minutes and I made it to the top after 2h:55m. If I'd really pushed it I could've probably done it in 2h:30m but it wouldn't have been much fun.

Will probably go back when the weather is a bit warmer and hope for better views.