Namadgi Wilderness: Gudgenby and Sentry Box

[sandym]

Few pictures from a three day walk in Namadgi. From Yankee Hat up to Gudgenby saddle and to the top of Mount Gudgenby. Bush not too bad, views very good. We did not find any sign of the foot pad to Gudgenby saddle. Another party up on Gudgenby too, was that anyone on here?

Camped at Gudgenby saddle where there was good water but also too many mosquitoes. Next morning down to Naas Creek. The upper end of Sams Creek fire trail is vague. We followed it to the junction with Maurice Luton FT but lost it about three times. I don't think it will be there too much longer. At the junction with Maurice Luton, if you were coming from the south, there is really no sign of it. But, a good camp site there. Up Maurice Luton to the saddle and a lovely campsite by a good creek.

Then walked up Sentry Box Mountain. Much less bushy than Gudgenby. Lots of slabs to weave past to the big flat summit area. Judging by other trip reports, the top of Sentry Box is a lot clearer of scrub than it used to be.

Back to our lovely camp and then walk out via Sams Creek and Old Boboyan fire trails.

Compared to other bushwalks post fires closer to the coast (Budawangs, Deua, forests around south coast) the regrowth is currently much less virulent. Could be it is just a bit behind other areas and will soon be equally voracious.

[Zapruda]

Great trip report of one of my favourite areas. Thanks for sharing.

Sentry box has such a great summit flat. Lots to explore up there. A very subtle rock arrangement can be found up there if you have a discerning eye.

There was a time when the hardest part of climbing Gudgenby was between the saddle and the slabs. Now with the footpad gone its the other way round.

[sandym]

Namadgi seems to be the only place open and where it is not continuously raining on the east coast, so we went back this week for an overnighter up to Mounts Kelly and Burbridge. We took the usual route but when trying to traverse into the creek basin and head up to Bogong Gap we must have chosen a bad location as the bush was shocking, so we decided to carry overnight packs up and over Burbridge. Ended up leaving our packs just below the top of Burbridge and doing a long scramble involving sidling through chimneys and under chockstones to get to the top with no time to spare.

Mount Burbridge

Dropped down to camp about a 100 metres/1 km below Bogong Gap. Camped in the clear area in the valley.

Frost on the ground overnight but we have recently got new One Planet sleeping bags so were very cosy. Next morning walked up to the top of Mount Kelly and happy to have some time to enjoy the views instead of having to dash off the summit. This picture looking over at Burbridge from Kelly. The ridge to Scabby looked relatively clear but I am not sure how clear it would feel walking it. Can be deceiving from a distance.

Then, bushwacking back out again. We followed the valley down until we were about 40 metres below the ridge of Burbridge and walked up to gain the ridge which was mostly a lot better but walking down Burbridge ridge seemed a lot harder to find clear leads to follow and the bush seemed much thicker than the way up. On the steep bits walking felt more like controlled falling downhill than actually walking. A beautiful area but the bushwacking requires patience.