Den Hill

Thursday 21 May 2015

We had a couple of waypoints taken off the map but did not have any knowledge of the majority of the vehicle tracks within the area, so a likely looking track was picked that headed roughly in the direction of the closest waypoint. This point was at the junction of two tracks that were marked on the 1:25k map but the track we had been following did a turn away when about 250 metres from the waypoint. I went off to check but could not find this track although must have walked over it. All this took 20 minutes and was compounded by going in the wrong direction until the GPS was consulted. While this was going on the others had morning tea and we didn't lose much time and headed up through the bush towards den Hill. After a short distanced we came upon the old track which was fairly indistinct but certainly followable. A more pronounced track was met some 600 metres on and that eventually joined an even bigger one that took us to within 280 metres of the top. The top of Den Hill, however was surrounded by bush and there were no distant views.
The cool air did not encourage a long lunch and > minutes later we were on the return walk, but this time we kept to the clear tracks and found ourselves back at the cars one hour later. We did make one dogleg that could have been avoided had we been aware that a track going in the wrong direction had a branch turning directly to the where we needed to go.
It was 5k up and took 1:50, whereas the return was 1 hour and 3k.
Time inward
2.66 + 2.37 = 5.03 10:01- 11:51 = 1:50
Outward
3.08 k 12:28 - 13:30 = 1hoiur

 
10:50