Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Mt Domain (3)

General Information

Grading: medium

Distance:  12.5 kilometers 

Total climb:  698 meters 

Time taken:  5 hours 45 minutes 

Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  50 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 72311 71964 

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 69661 72739 

End point:  same as start

Route

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Description

This was my third climb of Mt Domain, but it was slightly different to those completed back in August of 2016 and 2017. First, the track from Fishing Gap to the summit of Mt Domain is now much clearer on the ground after three years of hiker traffic. Second, it had snowed recently and there was a fair bit still around on south facing slopes above 1200 meters elevation. Third, I lost the track down from the summit and headed off in the wrong direction for while, providing an opportunity to tramp through thick snow, explore some tough terrain south of the summit and use our navigation skills (severely compromised by going the wrong way in the first place) to get back to the track.

From the Fishing Gap carpark we managed to climb up the fire trail to Fishing Gap in a very quick 45 minutes and took a break for morning tea. We then started the climb up the walking track towards the summit of Mt Domain, which was much clearer than it was the last time I climbed in 2017. One thing I did notice was that the pink marker ribbons had disappeared from the trees, making it more difficult to reacquire the track. As we climbed the snow on the ground became thicker.

After reaching the open saddle just below the final climb to the summit we paused to take in the view of the main Brindabella Range and the looming Mt Domain a short distance away.

We also paused about halfway up the final track to the summit to take in the views over the Tidbinbilla Valley.

Finally reaching the summit we paused for lunch before heading back down. Unfortunately I almost immediately lost the track due to lack of concentration and we realised after a while that we were heading down a ridge well west of where we wanted to be. Since we encountered thick bush, fairly heavy snow and a steep slope, we decided to traverse the slope almost directly east back to the open saddle, aiming to stay at the same altitude as the saddle (about 1380 meters). This was very hard going, but the area was very spectacular. We eventually came to the saddle right on target, although by that time we had lost maybe as much as 45 minutes on our return journey. The rest of the walk was straightforward, however, and we made very good time going back the way we came up.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Mount Domain (2)

General Information

Distance:  12.5 kilometers
Total climb:  735 meters
Time taken:  4 hours 8 minutes
Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S, 1:25 000
Guide:  none available
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  50 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 72311 71964
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 69661 72739
End point:  same as start

Route

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Description

This was the same as the hike completed on 13 August 2016.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Mount Domain (1)

General Information

Distance:  13 kilometers
Total climb:  759 meters
Time taken:  4 hours 7 minutes
Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S, 1:25 000
Guide:  none available
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  50 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 72311 71964
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 69661 72739
End point:  same as start

Route

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Description

This hike starts at the Fishing Gap Carpark off the Tidbinbilla Loop Road. I commenced the hike at 9:30am, signing into the Hikers Register near the gate on Fishing Gap Road. The first section of the hike follows the Fishing Gap Road for 4 kilometers until its end at Fishing Gap itself. This is a pleasant and easy walk along a wide fire trail through thick forest, gaining about 300 meters of elevation from start to end. At Fishing Gap there is a track cut through the new growth to the north which is the start of the track to Mount Domain. At first the track is relatively easy to follow by looking for saplings that have been cut down to clear the way, but eventually this gets to a clearing where the cut trail ends.

From here it is necessary to follow a trail through the scrub marked by pink ribbon tied to trees. Finding these requires paying attention and sometimes pausing to look for the next ribbon. The scrub is very dense in places, and I came out of it with numerous rips in the woollen jumper I was wearing. Some more patience on my part would probably have avoided most if not all of them.

It was about 2.5 kilometers from Fishing Gap to the summit of Mount Domain, but with difficult terrain and a 380 meter climb it took well over an hour to complete this short section. There are excellent views from the top of Mount Domain in all directions.

At just over 1500 meters elevation, and with a strong wing blowing from the west, it was very cold indeed on the summit. I returned the same way that I had come. The downhill section from Mount Domain to Fishing Gap proved to be equally difficult to navigate through, and footing in some areas was quite treacherous. I only fell flat on my butt the once, but it gave me a few bruises to remember it all. It was with some relief that I got back on to the Fishing Gap Road for an easy descent back to the carpark.

Regrowth of trees following the 2003 bushfires presents some challenges for hiking in the Tidbinbilla Range once you get off the fire trails and manicured walking trails. In many ways this hike took me back to an ascent of nearby Tidbinbilla Peak in 2015 where I had to fight through 1.5 kilometers of thick tangles of saplings as soon as I stepped off the Tidbinbilla Range Road. While this can be satisfying at the end, it takes a lot of time and energy. Nevertheless, Mount Domain was a very enjoyable hike. The more people that follow the trail up to the top, the more defined and easy it will be in the future.