Denison Range featuring the New Years Eve Stroll

[mjdalessa]

Starting December 27th forum member paulpeakbagger and I traversed the Dension Range. On the drive in we were cut 3km short by a fallen tree and had to walk to the start of the Richea Creek track. We headed down and crossed the Gordon on the very welcome log to meet the usual route to Rhona, which we soon left to head up Wright. This was a tiring slog up the ridge to meet the arch, a truly amazing work of nature. From there it was not far to attain the ridge line where we dropped packs and climbed the north summit. We carried about 600m further before we again dropped packs to climb the higher southern point. It's a very impressive cap from the northern peak, but once on top is nowhere near as spectacular. After enjoying the views we retraced our steps, this time finding the tarn and great campsite which we somehow missed on the way up. It is surpsingly well hidden; on the way up we did not spot the tarn despite examining the small arch merely metres away. It was too early to stop at about 4pm so we dropped off the back through light scratchy vegetation for a few hundred metres to meet the plains. Camp was established on a small knoll 800m odd from reaching the plains by a small creek. A sunset out my tent door topped off the day.

The next morning we awoke and climbed Dome Hill, which Paul wanted to climb for its place on Martin Doran's list. It was well worth the effort with sweeping views into the shaded depths of the Gordon Gorge and across to The Thumbs. We then returned to collect the packs and took an indirect, not so steep way up Stepped Hills which spat us out 600m or so from the northern lower summit. The lower summit was quite exciting to climb with a sloping ledge and slightly awkward summit tower. Just before the actual summit you pass through the huge gates of the hills in the main line of cliffs, a magnificent place with a great campsite. The views from the summit itself are great, showing off its complex battlements. I'd have to say it's my favourite mountain to date. Again it was too early to stop at the high camp by the tarn so we continued to a plain at the northern end of the hills. We ended up pitching in a sheltered copse of trees underneath a rocky outcrop, a 20m walk to a great sunset vantage point.

The ridge from Stepped Hills to the edge of the main range went very quickly despite its slightly furry appearance. The slowest part on this day was the steep knolls and unpleasent sidling from here onto the range. All very open, just steep and lumpy. Once the range was surmounted the going was very pleasent, over low heath and grasses. We took our time along this bit, with a side trip to the Bob Brown and Diamond Lake. Not long after this we sidled the lower flanks of Great Dome to meet the ridge to Rhona. This was my first glance of the lake and I couldn't help but smile.

I awoke early the next morning and only had to open the tent door to see first light on the rocks across the lake. This was to be a nice relaxed day climbing Great Dome, Reeds Peak and Bonds Craig. After lounging around on the beach fro a few hours we left at 8:30, daudling along the whole way taking photos. This would otherwise be a very short day, but at that pace with much enjoying of the views took about 6.5hrs. From Great Dome we had a good look at the route for the next day and thought 12hrs would make it feasible, how wrong we would be. Reeds Peak was a nice peak, with a couple of large boulders and a very compact little summit. After taking in the view we followed the pad out towards Bonds Craig, Paul pointing out the ridge down to the plains which we had perhaps wisely decided not to carry packs down. It wouldn't have been to nice to carry packs up it in 30 degree heat after tackling Battlement Hills the day before. Oh well, it will have to wait for another time. Before long we arrived just below the summit tower of Bonds Craig, a charming piece of rock. Paul brought some thin rope along which was anchored on a boulder behind, but did not really help. I got my feet up into the crack and touched the summit rock, but would not want to go any further. There are no decent holds past the crack and even stradling the edge of the block would not provide a sound decent. A fall may not be fatal, but a helicopter would certainly be necessary. After the climb we wandered back down to Rhona via the opposite side of the lake.

The next morning we were away up the usual route out of Rhona to Great Dome at 6am, the views back east stunning with a thin mist cover creating very atmospheric views. The plan was to attempt Centre Star via Trial Ridge. Paul knew someone that had been as far as the highpoint and said the scrub was not too bad, and from above the rifge looked fairly clear. Once we started climbing we found some nice aged scoparia and other nasties which rated a 8 or 9 out of ten on the Geeves scale. This lasted about 400m before we suddenly hit an open plain. It was a dodle to the Bob Brown on Trial Ridge from here. Then the fun started. There were a few open bits at first, then complete crud, then some open forest, then some more crud. 2hrs got us 1.5km and to the next high point on Trial Ridge. As we started to decend the head high 'mini scoparia' closed in. We got about 50m down and called it quits. The valley between us and Centre Star was about 600m deep, the sides covered in the previously mentioned botanical nasties and the floor covered in Horizontal. The sides of the Star itself looked steep and furry. 12hrs was nowhere near enough time; the Star would have to wait. On another note, neither of us had heard of anyone tackling the Star this way, all though Paul suspected it may have been done as a through trip before. We found evidence of a bash; it has defiantly been tried and probably been failed before. Centre Star is defiantly a tough number, when I go back it will be via the regular route which apparantely still takes 12hrs from Pokana river because of the Horizontal around the base of the cliffs. We were back at 4:30, I felt pretty defeated.

The next day was just a walk out via the Rasselas track, in 29 degree heat. At the Gordon we met a man going for an overnight up Wright who we gave a little beta on camping, but otherwise the only people we saw for the whole six days were two uni students on one night at Rhona. Surprising really, I expected the place top be much more popular. All up, six days well spent in sunny weather the whole time except for two brief misty mornings. I will be back to again stay on the Rhona beach and for the Stepped Hills high camp.

Enough talk, now for some photos;

Wright Arch

Hewardia

From North Wright

Smaller Arch

First night's camp

Last edited by mjdalessa on Mon 02 Jan, 2012 12:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mjdalessa]

Sunset over Clear Hill

On Stepped Hills

Sunset over Lake Gordon, above second night's camp

Climbing the range

Diamond Lake

[mjdalessa]

Back along the range

Open walking leads to Rhona

Light, first morning

Near Bond's

Pandani, looking south

[mjdalessa]

On the range

Rhona from above

Morning Rhona

Rhona from ridge

Morning mist to the east

[mjdalessa]

1.2km as the crow flies yet so far

Recently deceased yabbie

Misty morning, Rhona

Last view of Rhona

[taswegian]

Interesting and thanks MJD. A great set of photos (probably subset by sound of it).
Those Sundews(?) always fascinate with their display of abundance of moisture. I love that shot.

A Canon forum I subscribe to has a 'Landscape' section and I read the 'oohs and ahs' people make of images of wilderness shots but I must say they just don't match up to our great state and its 'wild' places.
Not saying there aren't beautiful places elsewhere, just that one deosn't see such a rich abundance as we have here, all in one small area.
Keep them coming thanks.

[Swifty]

Nice report Marcus, thanks for posting!
If you get the chance to camp by Lake Wugata and Malana below Bonds Craig there, it is also an awesome place to stay.

[mjdalessa]

Thanks for your kind words Swifty and taswegian. Now that I look back instead of trying Centre Star we should have stayed a night near Bonds Craig and tried Battlement Hills, as was the original plan. I did think of trying to do a full traverse, out via Denison Gap and Battlement Hills to the Vale of Rasselas, but we opted for 3 nights at Rhona instead.

[stepbystep]

Nice report Marcus, rather nice country isn't it!!!
Pity about the trees across the road, we had the same problem last time I was there. It's worth notifying PAWS, they might get the road cleared for future groups.

Love the yabby pic.