Denison Range - Stepped Hills - Mt Wright (Part II)

[MJD]

1/4: Another 12 pictures from our recent walk to Lake Rhona, Reeds Peak, Bonds Craig, Stepped Hills and Mt Wright. The walking on the Denisons is nice and open but it got harder once we dropped off the southern end of the range towards Stepped Hills. It's not too bad, but it was hot on those button grass plains and it's a long way up the ridge towards Stepped Hills. I think that we were all quite happy to find water and some spots to pitch our tents only 800m from the summit. A fourth hot and sunny day saw us meandering slowly across the valley to camp near the summit of Mt Wright next to the tarn and the small arch. Some dark clouds rolled in and the wind made playing cards quite difficult. It even rained - bit hard to believe being in the sunny south west but there you go.

[MJD]

2/4:

[MJD]

3/4:

[MJD]

4/4.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Awesome MJD. Just awesome!! I love that one of the threatening clouds, really pretty.
I really also like the shot of our camp on Mt Wright, but I think thats only cause it was such a nice place to camp on such a nice day with some pretty cool guys as company!!


Love the second shot of us to, we look like we are in unison... LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT.....

[stepbystep]

Great pics from a great trip MJD.....

[north-north-west]

If that rock Martin's on is the highest point of Bonds, it looks like a fairly straightforward scramble. Or is there a nastier and higher bit up there?

[stepbystep]

If that rock Martin's on is the highest point of Bonds, it looks like a fairly straightforward scramble. Or is there a nastier and higher bit up there?

It's straight forward enough. Slip and you're dead though.

I look forward to your report

[north-north-west]

Don't hold your breath. It may not happen until next summer.

[Geevesy]

Just wanted to re-hash this thread as I am thinking of attempting this circuit soon.

Sounds like it is a longish day from the Denison Range to Stepped Hills, this is the part I am most wary of - I don't think this area was burnt in 2019 or not?

I was thinking of doing something like:
1. Rhona via normal route
2. Return trip to Bonds Craig, head south along the range and camp near the saddle leading onto Stepped Hills
3. Out to Stepped Hills then over to Mt Wright
4. Out

I'm a bit worried about water for nights 2 and 3 - looks like there are some creeks in that saddle, and a decent tarn on Wright, not sure how permanent that would be?

Also I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts about Bonds Craig and getting south in a day, or whether this is better of done as a day walk from Rhona.

[north-north-west]

Depends how fast you are.
There were small pools and soaks along the ridge that were easy enough to find. Water wasn't an issue (except the rain that hit after Stepped Hills summit). I did this route but took a bit longer:
1: Late start after driving in. Richea Creek over river to junction with old Rasselas Track.
2. Rhona with afternoon trip up Reeds and an insane descent down the gully.
3. Great Dome, sidetrip to Bonds, south along the ridge.
4. Continue sth, sidetrip to Stepped Hills, find water, camp on ridge connecting to Wright when weather went off. Would probably have made it to Wright otherwise.
5. Over Wright and out.

You'll be fine. The ridge is mostly open, some patches of light scrub. Regrowth maybe a little awkward sometimes but not seriously so.

[Geevesy]

Depends how fast you are.

That would have a fair bit to do with it yeah!

Thanks for the advice re water and your camping locations - we'll see how the go!

[stepbystep]

I reckon your best bet is Day 1 into Rhona, day 2 take full pack up to the ridge - side trip to Bonds - camp on ridge/Great Dome. Day 3 out to Stepped Hills summit area (incident feed fire maps show much of the ridge was affected- not sure in reality). Day 4 over to Wright summit. Day 5 you'll be at the Possum Shed for lunch!

[onthetrails_jt]

How did you go with this circuit? Thinking of doing it soon and am particularly keen to hear how long it took from Great Dome across the range to Stepped Hills and whether water was an issue. It seems more direct than having to backtrack along Rasselas then head up to Wright and Stepped Hills then back out the same way. Thinking:
Day 1: walk to Rhona and arvo side trip to Reeds Peak. Camp at Rhona.
Day 2: walk up to Great Dome, set up camp. Day pack to Bonds Craig. Come back to camp.
Day 3: walk south to stepped hills, camp near summit.
Day 4: walk to Mt Wright, camp near summit.
Day 5: walk out

[north-north-west]

The summer I did it was drier than things have been lately and water wasn't a problem. Great Dome to Stepped is a longish day for me under a full pack, but I'm oldish and creaky and slow.
Unless you have a packraft, I'd wait until the weather has settled a bit, because the Gordon River is a major barrier and rises quickly.

[onthetrails_jt]

That’s great to know about water sources along the ridgeline! Thanks for your reply. Yes at the moment the water levels are looking pretty low but I can see how things can change rapidly! I’ll most likely wait a little later this year before I go.

[headwerkn]

Pics of the creek coming off the south side of Great Dome for reference.

IMG_6516.jpg (213.96 KiB) Viewed 124535 times

This was last month (early October) with some old snow still present, which would have been helping the creek flow as well as it was. We also got a decent dusting the morning after

On the off chance an extended rain-free (southwest Tas? lol!) dries it out, it's not much of a detour to drop down to one of the lakes. Sadly they're *very* bare now.