Birthday shenanigans!

[pazzar]

I set of from the Big Bend car park about noon today, hoping to climb Mt Connection and Collins Bonnet, but how wrong was I. Visibility was pretty poor, with a light snow covering. I managed to be on the top of Mt Connection in about an hour, then headed back to the track I was on and kept on following it. I came across a more defined track and thought that it must lead back to the fire trail, so I continued to follow it. By the time I had descended a few hundred metres I was confused as to where the fire trail was, but being too lazy to walk back up the hill, I continued. I got to a peak where I could see Montague Thumbs and was getting worried because I wasn't sure how to get out of where I was, as I couldn't see a great deal. Thanks to Rohjoe for calling up and giving me directions, and as it turns out, I must have been close to the top of Mt Montague when you called me, so 2 points went begging. The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful, I bagged Cathedral Rock on the way out, and arrived safely on the road by 5:30, it was getting pretty dark. So what have I learnt from this? 1. Snow is fun. 2. Snow gets you lost. 3. Getting lost can be fun, kind of. So I still havent bagged Collins Bonnet, looks like I'll be taking another trip up there soon, maybe not while its snowing, and maybe not solo next time!

[Nick S]

heh i did see your post on a particular facebook page but saw that some help had been received. but don't iphones have gps? glad you made it ok. I remember walking the same route a few years back. (was part of the plan though ) Left from big bend and finished at the start of cathedral track. Mt Montague was a quick side trip off the fire trail though. Great trip if you can leave a car at the other end!

[ILUVSWTAS]

All's well that ends well huh!!
Get yrself a GPS if your going to be doing solo walking mate!!
Hope you had a good day and a nice B'day though!!

[stepbystep]

Glad it worked out in the end mate, I think you hung a left when you should have gone right! Don't underestimate Wellington Park any time, can get pretty nasty up there!
Best to tackle the Bonnet from Myrtle Forest and you can get Trestle and maybe the Cap on the same day. Best left for a day when you can enjoy the views though.
BTW - Happy Birthday, best to graduate the next b'day than your next peakbagging ambition me thinks

[PeterJ]

..... I bagged Cathedral Rock on the way out, and arrived safely on the road by 5:30... !

OK how did you get from the the road (I presume Betts Rd or the Pipeline Track) back to Big Bend, or did you walk back and go over Thark Ridge?

.....I must have been close to the top of Mt Montague....

If you came from Connection did you have to walk through some scrub to get to Montagu?

Your answers will help me picture your route.

[pazzar]

I got a ride at Betts Rd. I came down a steep marked track, marked by yellow markers. I know I didn't go down Thark Ridge, I would have seen the hut. It was a track further to the west. The track then split, and I took the left track, which took me to Montague Thumbs. I haven't got a detailed map of that area, so I'm not sure where the track was. I presume that if I had taken the right hand track I would have ended up on a road near Mountain River.

[PeterJ]

I came down a steep marked track, marked by yellow markers..

There are green poles with yellow plastic markers defining the track along Thark and down to the old Montagu FT junction. There also some from the junction past Montagu to Montagu Thumbs, but is fairly flat there.

I presume that if I had taken the right hand track I would have ended up on a road near Mountain River

If you were just past Montagu then yes the right hand track heads down to Mountain River (Misty Mt Rd in fact but goes through private property at the end.

[pazzar]

I'm going to have to go back in decent weather one day and see where I went wrong - I was supposed to join back on the East-West trail. I think that I must have only just missed Montagu.

[PeterJ]

When you first left Big bend car park did you walk down a fire trail for about 20 minutes then turn left onto a track that is a disused fire trail?

[pazzar]

I walked down the trail until I got to the Mt Connection trail, then followed that til the summit, well where it goes close to the summit. I assume that I followed the trail south from there

[Molly-]

colling bonnet is a great walk! we donw collins cap, collins bonnet, and i want remember the last one. hmm. But we have the adults to show us where to go!

[pazzar]

I have since climbed bonnet and cap, as well as trestle. They are great short walks

[Molly-]

yes, they are, and good views too,