Without a clear view to the peak from the nearest logging road, I guessed the best spot and headed into the bush. Managed to follow forest sections with clear understory most of the way to what looked like the top. A little bit of dry scrub intermixed with eucalypts covered the top, but I found a cairned high point. It was only an hour from the car at this point, but unfortunately it wasn't the top as there was an obvious higher spot to the west. I made my way across the top passing through more tedious scrub and taking another 45 minutes.
The summit proper also had a cairned high point and some magnificent views. To the north was lake St Clair and all the mountains beyond. To the west was the King William Range and Frenchmans Cap. To the immediate south was Wentworth Hills and a nice looking little tarn. Even the walls of Jerusalem were visible a long way in the distance to the north.
- Lake St Clair from D'Arcys Bluff
- Wentworth Hills from D'Arcys Bluff
I enjoyed a long lunch on top in the spectacular weather. It was a bit surprising that someone else had done the same thing recently (I doubt there'd be many people climbing this peak), although they had not enjoyed the tomato in their sandwich and had left it on top. It had been quite a slog through the scrub on top, and I wasn't keen to go the same way a second time. I headed straight back down from the top, finding some interesting routes in scrubby gullies between the cliffs that bounded the summit.
- Laughing Jack Lagoon from the descent
I picked up the same clear forest after heading east a little from the base of the cliffs and had an easy run from there back to the car. Total time including lunch 4 hours.
Wello
