Corin Dam / Stockyard Spur Trail

yeah you’re right… I’ll just stick to the track and not wander off, and let everyone know where I’m going..

Thinking Sunday, leaving 8am from the dam (not Saturday)…

Demosthenes said :

Anyone else interested in going up? Let me know… meeting Corin Dam car park around 8am.

Coincidence is sometimes weird…

Yes, was contemplating going up this weekend, although not sure as to which days.
According to BOM neither days is better or worse: http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/mountginini.shtml

As you say, probably Saturday would be best.

I’ll be travelling light. Can’t really imagine needing much on a well known track. Grabbing this EPRB could cost a fair bit of time (Namadgi Visitor Center, past Tharwa).

Anyone going up this weekend? I’m going up but will probably be on my own past the top of the hill… should be safe enough? I’ll take an emergency blanket and emergency light.. can you hire EPRBs easily?

Anyone else interested in going up? Let me know… meeting Corin Dam car park around 8am..

Weather report is pretty warm until Saturday so probably just mud and rain until then but should go back to snowy weather by Saturday morning.

Has anyone been up in mid-July and can remember what it tends to be like? Canned the trip today, I’m brave but not stupid, when it comes to even a chance of storms around that type of terrain (I know one guy went missing a few years back on this very track).

So will organise a group in two weeks. Might even go up again next weekend. Just a damn good way to get fit I reckon. I’m determined to go all the way to the ‘end’ and back.

My edit extension of the track on OSM is now visible, but only on the plain and not the terrain (cycle) map for some reason.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=-35.5444&lon=148.8112&zoom=14&layers=M

Yeah I guess it’s not a good idea to get stuck up there in a storm is it.. One could get wet, and that with cold… not a good mix is it?

I have extended the track a little on Open Street Map btw, I’m pretty keen to map the rest of it out. Not sure how long the edits take to show up though.

Demosthenes said :

going up again on Sunday but would probably now just be all muddy and yucky, do you think?

From Mt Ginini forecast.
Sunday 1 July:
Scattered showers developing during the morning, becoming less likely by early evening. Showers falling as snow at times above 900 metres. Isolated thunderstorms about the ranges during the afternoon.

Yeah, I’d stay the hell away. Sounds very unpleasant.

well it’s been well above zero at Ginini + rain so I guess that means no snow this weekend. I was thinking of going up again on Sunday but would probably now just be all muddy and yucky, do you think?

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

poetix said :

How do you find out the elevation of your own house, that is, how many metres above sea level it is?

Google Maps: choose Map view and then select Terrain to see contour lines.

#35- Just look up the location in Google Earth. It gives accurate lat/long, and height to the nearest metre.

I think there might be something wrong with that AWS station at Ginini it doesn’t seem right to me and its not making any humidity readings and when it does its always up near 100%. To me it looks like it might covered in rime ice and hence the temp not changing much as its insulated by the ice and also why the humidity could be kept high. But I could quite possibly be wrong.

Another interesting point is Ginini seeming to hover around 0 degrees, I think that means snow?

Some weird stuff about phase change of water releasing heat or something?

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

What’s wrong with just a simple smartphone GPS? I did have trouble getting a GPS lock on the way down on my phone though. My Motorola Xoom does have a barometer though, sensitive enough to detect travelling up a single floor in a building (no kidding). I think it’s future intention is for indoor positioning.

I have uploaded my track trace to Open Street Map. I’ll get around to adding a few way points soon, once I can work out how to view my trace.

I intend to map the whole track and upload a few more pictures to Google Earth too.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=-35.5344&lon=148.835&zoom=14&layers=C
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=-35.5344&lon=148.835&zoom=14&layers=M

Sandman said :

poetix said :

How do you find out the elevation of your own house, that is, how many metres above sea level it is?

Just so as to know if there’s likely to be snow.

Gps, topographical map, park a small aircraft on your lawn. I think Mitsubishi Pajero’s have an altimeter in the dash too.

Topo map would be the best and easiest. The aircraft option requires knowing the current air pressure at sea level. The Pajero I used to have did have the altimeter in the dash display but the readout was based on difference to the average air pressure at sea level compared to measured air pressure. Anything that doesnt give you the option of entering air pressure at sea level will be based on an average. I remember sitting in the Pajero right at sea level and the readout indicating +150m (air pressure was low) and likewise sitting atop the Illawara escarpment and it indicating I was at sea level – so a good toy but not real accurate.

yeah an EPIRB is probably not a bad idea, as is a UHF radio. My main concern is getting stuck there after dusk. Walking down in the dark could be quite dangerous.

It’s so easy to just say yeah what’s up beyond that turn there, and just keep going, and before you know it you have a 4 hour walk back to the car.

A work mate is interested in going up again this weekend, I think I’ll do it.

Not sure if there will be snow again though, as in how fickle it is.

Demosthenes said :

OMG that’s the funniest thing ever. Coincidentally I ran in to someone who didn’t realise how smart layered clothing and a backpack is 😉 Man I had an emergency blanked, glow sticks, the works.. I’ll get a UHF radio soon too I think.

What, no EPIRB?

Demosthenes said :

Coincidentally I ran in to someone who didn’t realise how smart layered clothing and a backpack is 😉

*shy cough* Ehem…. I’ll give you that.
Seriously, I didn’t expect severe snow country in Canberra, albeit in the highlands, which is SO close to civilisation.

I guess one can’t underestimate the severity of nature, and my lack of equipment could have been detrimental to my life should I have had an accident (e.g. something as simple as a sprained ankle).

The irony, I guess, is that I told you (during our walk) that summer on the trail is pleasant in that it is much cooler up in the mountains. Which means in winter, due to the colder climate, it’s definitely much riskier, especially with the snow right now.

Having said that, it was a really good walk. The snow country was mesmerising… Great moment out of a page in my life given that I’ve had very little experience with snow country. Damn freezing though!

On my way down (already no snow) I met a father and a young son who was walking up the trail. Son wanted to see snow, but he was definitely poorly equipped for the experience. Feel sorry that it would be very hard for them to get there… (600 metre steep climb isn’t ordinary dude. You seriously need to understand that.)

Jivrashia said :

Demosthenes said :

they haven’t had any snow around the park really

Coincidentally on the way back I met OP, who was responsible for jinxing the weather. ;P

OMG that’s the funniest thing ever. Coincidentally I ran in to someone who didn’t realise how smart layered clothing and a backpack is 😉 Man I had an emergency blanked, glow sticks, the works.. I’ll get a UHF radio soon too I think.

Pictures coming. Seems the snow hit around 1600 – 1650 metres. The helipad / first summit is 1550 metres, then it seems to gradually rise to around 1650 metres or so… REALLY keen to walk as far as Jivrashia over there.

As for the stairs, I didn’t mind them going up, and I can see why they would (erosion management?), but going down was hard.

REALLY good walk overall.. Can’t recommend it highly enough.. I’m as motivated as ever to see what lays further down the trail now.

I also recorded my track for Open Street Map so I’ll update that with a few more waypoints like the helipad when I get a chance.

Pictures OTW too.

OMG it’s so beautiful up there. I’ll do it again in two weeks with my wife I think.

Had a go at it today… Packed light as I didn’t expect snow until the very last trail up Mt. Gingera or Ginnia.

Bummer that, because it was FULL-BLOW SNOW COUNTRY. And we’re not talking about “patches” of snow. Snow was everywhere, even in the trees as they threatened to dump their load on unwary travellers.

Fresh snow covered the landscape at a depth of approximately 2~4cm, making trekking somewhat more laborious than when there were no snow.

Stopped over at Pryors Hut (pic here) and decided to change plans as the temperature was definitely below freezing, especially with the wind chill, and I was starting to suffer a very mild hypothermia.

Demosthenes said :

they haven’t had any snow around the park really

Coincidentally on the way back I met OP, who was responsible for jinxing the weather. ;P

Called the visitors centre, they haven’t had any snow around the park really, but should still be a nice walk I suppose…

Why would Ginini generally hover around 0 – 1 degrees? Looks like we’ll do Stockyard Spur tomorrow, can’t wait. I’ll report back on this ‘stairs’ thing. I’ll call the Namadgi Visitors Centre now too to get the low down on the high tracks.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/snow/

poetix said :

How do you find out the elevation of your own house, that is, how many metres above sea level it is?

Just so as to know if there’s likely to be snow.

Canberra City is at 600 metres, so no, plus Canberra’s a city and generates quite a bit of heat. You can work it out kind-of from google maps, there’s a contour map option somewhere, and you count the rings. I think the good version of google earth will do it, too. And there’s no doubt some APP for people with i-rubbish. GPS’ are good at such things I believe.

poetix said :

How do you find out the elevation of your own house, that is, how many metres above sea level it is?

Just so as to know if there’s likely to be snow.

Gps, topographical map, park a small aircraft on your lawn. I think Mitsubishi Pajero’s have an altimeter in the dash too.

How do you find out the elevation of your own house, that is, how many metres above sea level it is? Just so as to know if there’s likely to be snow.

andym said :

Good points about roads but still, I just wish they had spent more money on this than some of that ‘art’ that looks like building rubble or fibre-glass owls ($480k on that one alone).

So Honeysuckle Creek / Booroomba Rocks off Apollo road – is that a good hard hike? Reasonably high? I’ll see if I can find it.

Mount Ginini observations looks good all day
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

Its going to be cold and probably changeable weather up around Gingera so If you go up there take warm gear and wet weather gear.

andym said :

Demosthenes said :

Yeah I know.. Every year it’s the same, because apparently Australian snow is just deadly compared to anywhere else in the world. Watch out, there’s a snowflake, its coming right for us!! lol.

Well the problem is its a dirt road and every weekend it snows the rural police and rangers spend hours dragging numpties out of the mud, plus there is the environmental impact. Its easier to lock a gate. Not saying I agree with them, but can appreciate their point.

I believe they are predicting snow down to the 800m level, so Smokers Gap carpark off the Corin road is usually good (walk up if you dont have a 4wd) or possibly Honeysuckle Creek / Booroomba Rocks off Apollo Road.

Yeah, and the simple cost impacts of the damage to the road. Environmental cost aside, sending a grader up there twice as often simply so people can cruise out for a look must irritate the people paying the bills.

On the other hand, I am in favour of NPs being funded sufficiently that they can provide recreational amenity to the public.

Demosthenes said :

Yeah I know.. Every year it’s the same, because apparently Australian snow is just deadly compared to anywhere else in the world. Watch out, there’s a snowflake, its coming right for us!! lol.

Well the problem is its a dirt road and every weekend it snows the rural police and rangers spend hours dragging numpties out of the mud, plus there is the environmental impact. Its easier to lock a gate. Not saying I agree with them, but can appreciate their point.

I believe they are predicting snow down to the 800m level, so Smokers Gap carpark off the Corin road is usually good (walk up if you dont have a 4wd) or possibly Honeysuckle Creek / Booroomba Rocks off Apollo Road.

EvanJames said :

Nice of them to close off easy car access. Pity they can’t just leave it alone.

Yeah I know.. Every year it’s the same, because apparently Australian snow is just deadly compared to anywhere else in the world. Watch out, there’s a snowflake, its coming right for us!! lol.

So what’s the consensus this weekend or any tips – Stockyard Spur up from Corin Dam still looking like a winner? I assume Corin Road will be the only accessible road with any access to any reasonably high point.

I look forward to posting some pics up here next week 🙂

I’ve had some good walks up there in the past with the Canberra Bushwalking Club. Had a real cracker of a summer walk to Corree Creek Falls, through wet ferny forest, clear mountain creeks, and then we swarmed up the big waterfall and swam in the rock pool at the top! Great walk. The Gingera walk was always a nice easy one with an epic view. Nice of them to close off easy car access. Pity they can’t just leave it alone.

Demosthenes said :

Why would they do that???

Because primarily this is a fire trail, not a walking trail. The track is provides an anchor point from which to attack a fire. The helipad not only serves as a helipad for dropping people and supplies, but a refuge area for firefighters when it turns to s**t.

Temperature dropping at Mount Ginini… shaping up to be a good weekend (even though that’s 200 metres higher than the Stockyard Spur trail)

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

shauno said :

they have shut the gate further back now near Mt Franklin so you cant drive to the Ginini car park any more

Pretty typical.. First sign of any fun and the fun police are out shutting the whole park down. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if no one went up there at all.

So in a standard car then, I take it the best / highest hikes are from Corin Dam road? I’m not liking this idea of ‘stairs’ (thanks ACT Government for borking up a great hike) but I’m not sure what other options there are.

I really need a good work out, I want to get home exhausted and collapse in front of some quality Doctor Who and a hot chocolate. When it snows it’s just beautiful too, it so quiet, just the hush of the wind through the trees. Just gorgeous.

I’m quite excited now, should be me and a few fellas having a fellas day out getting a good work out in the cold.

Square Rock looks good, but slightly lower and quite a bit easier? Stockyard Spur was good because it was HARD when I went up last year. I slept really well that night 🙂

EvanJames said :

Being a fat lazy bugger, I always preferred to go up Gingera from the Ginini carpark. No stairs! Haven’t been there since the fires though.

Yea that’s easier but ive heard they have shut the gate further back now near Mt Franklin so you cant drive to the Ginini car park any more might be wrong as I havnt been up there for ages.

Being a fat lazy bugger, I always preferred to go up Gingera from the Ginini carpark. No stairs! Haven’t been there since the fires though.

That’s a good point actually. Bit worried about this ‘stairs’ thing though – that can’t possibly be stairs all the way up?? Why would they do that??? It just makes it hard to lean forward and push on..

Well it still seems like a slightly higher altitude than Square Rock, possibly the highest altitude that can be reached in standard cars? I.e. on a paved road and then walk.

The Heli pad could be a good thing because when I used to do that walk up to Gingerra coming back some times at dusk or at night it was very easy to miss the turn off down stockyard spur and we use to put pink ribbon on a tree there to mark the spot. Otherwise it was bush bashing down to the cotter river below the dam. At least with the Heli pad you cant miss it.

I just remember from last year that we only really got snow toward the top so not sure if Square Rock is high enough.. Is it just as hard? It’s rated as ‘moderate’..

Square Rock is a mild walk with about 250m of vertical over approx 4.5km one way on a sensibly built and maintained track. There was snow there last year, but you’ll have to time the trip well. The views from Square Rock are excellent, and I reckon you’d have to go to Ginini or Gingerra to top them. It’s much more enjoyable than Stockyard Spur, and the rewards are greater.

The heli pad at the top of Stockyard Spur was recommended by a report into the bushfires. Still, it’s sad to see thriving native bush cleared in a wilderness area.

Found it… It’s about a 100m lower than Stockyard Spur it seems, but along the same road so should also be accessible.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=-35.5483&lon=148.8646&zoom=13&layers=C

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/229542/Square_Rockwebversion.pdf

I just remember from last year that we only really got snow toward the top so not sure if Square Rock is high enough.. Is it just as hard? It’s rated as ‘moderate’..

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

Since the work has been done on Stockyard Spur it’s a far more taxing walk then it was previously. The stairs are hell on knees and when you get to the top there’s a ‘pristine wilderness’ heli pad in a cleared area about 50mX30m to greet you. Far better day walks elsewhere, like Square Rock or Nursery Swamp. Square Rock often gets snow in winter.

Oh that’s a shame.. Anything higher altitude and accessible than Stockyard Spur? Sounds like they borked a really good track??

What’s the deal with the heli pad??

I’ll look up square rock.. I’ve given up on trying to find info about walking tracks from any official source, this forum is much better.

Since the work has been done on Stockyard Spur it’s a far more taxing walk then it was previously. The stairs are hell on knees and when you get to the top there’s a ‘pristine wilderness’ heli pad in a cleared area about 50mX30m to greet you. Far better day walks elsewhere, like Square Rock or Nursery Swamp. Square Rock often gets snow in winter.

Demosthenes said :

Fantastic.. So the track is walkable then… Reports of a cold front coming through this week too.. Curious though, how can night time temperatures be higher than down in Canberra, like last night?

If it’s windy for one thing, but also cold air flows down hill, like water. So it flows down and pools in the valleys.

Demosthenes said :

Fantastic.. So the track is walkable then… Reports of a cold front coming through this week too.. Curious though, how can night time temperatures be higher than down in Canberra, like last night?

Its often like that in the Mountains the valleys are colder than the peaks due to cold air inversion where the dense cold air sinks to the valleys. Same on the Main Range in Kosciuszko. Ive been ski touring and snow camping up there a lot and have had -20c in some areas up there at night but at the same time only -5 to -7 or so on the ridge tops above 2000m.

Curious though, how can night time temperatures be higher than down in Canberra, like last night?

Temperature inversion. Google it.

It was foggy in Canberra, so I would expect an inversion layer was the culprit. A layer of warmer air sitting above the colder air. And if the layer was level with Mt Ginini then the AWS there would have recorded it.
Plus cold air sinks, which is why you get frost hollows in the mountains, areas of open grassland in the valleys with wooded hills.

Fantastic.. So the track is walkable then… Reports of a cold front coming through this week too.. Curious though, how can night time temperatures be higher than down in Canberra, like last night?

Interesting cold front/s incoming, might see something friday morning, or later in the weekend. The resorts are talking it up (of course) but there’s potential.

Walked part of the way up a few weeks ago. They are renovating the track and have put a lot of work into new steps on the first section.