Gardens of Stone - Hughes Defile

[bumblefoot]

Hi,

Is it possible to descend to the south from Hughes Defile down into the Wolgan Valley, ie no impenetrable obstacles? We will have some tape for pack hauling but no ropes or abseiling gear, etc.

Thanks, Annette

[DaveNoble]

I have not done this but would think it would be quite easy. I have heard of parties climbing into Hughes Defile from the north side. The south side does look a bit steeper though - and you may need to leave the gully and traverse a bit on the side (true right looks better?). Note however - that once down - you do have a lot of private land - farmland, with fences etc to cross to get back to the Wolgan Road. You may want to traverse the Wolgan/Capertee divide instead - which offers very good bushwalking on either the west or the east side of Hughes Defile.

Dave

[bumblefoot]

Thanks Dave. It was more a matter of not repeating certain sections. Our current plan is something like this: leave car at Donkey Mtn stile, walk down road a bit, up onto escarpment by one of several routes to Mt Dawson, then along to Hughes Defile and down. Next, an overnighter to Donkey Mtn. Then drive to near Baal Bone Gap, go to Pantoneys, then back via either Pt Cameron (which we did last time) or Mt Stewart, then to McLean Pass, Cape Horn and back to car along road.

That way we wouldn't be doubling up along the escarpment.

I've done most of this before except Mt Stewart and the descent from Hughes . Any other suggestions would be appreciated - thanks. We have 8 days.