Hollow Mountain - Mt Stapylton

Circuit Walk, August 1998 (Part 2)

And so after a brief stop to check out the view it was back up the mountain to some more scrambling over rocks before reaching the second last broad expanse of rock. From here you can see the peak to the south west but heading directly for it from here is a mistake as there is a narrow ravine which runs around the back of the peak. A more southerly route will bring you the south east shoulder of the mountain where the options narrow down once more so that you find yourself on a well worn trail.

Drop down into the ravine at the first opportunity and then follow it along to a narrow strip of rock which slopes down into the middle of the ravine. Turn around and follow this strip of rock up to the back of the peak and the last broad rock face. Once here it's just a matter of walking uphill.

Our reward for reaching the top was a passing rainbow to the south, time for another "Mont Star". The view from the top of Mt Stapylton is quite good (I'm working on a panorama, give me time) with the rest of the Grampians spread out to the south and the flat, sweeping plains of the Wimmera to the west, north and east. Once again we were back on the official "track" which on this part of the mountain consists of a series of orange arrows painted on the rock.

From the peak the track goes west to the edge of the cliff and then south before zig zagging down towards the top of the Taipan Walls. There is still some scrambling/ climbing to do on these sections with some nasty drops should you slip (remember the profile in the background of this pic). I still wonder about this route as the eastern approach seems much safer but is a little harder to find on the return journey (only because there are no arrows). Either way for one reason or another at least one family group a year gets "lost" up here and spends a cold night on the mountain practically within sight of their car.

Once you reach the southern side of the mountain the "adventurous" stuff is all behind you and a well marked track brings you back along the base of the Taipan Walls, past Bird Rock and back to the Mt Zero Picnic Ground. Show the people back home where we went Julie....

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"At least unsuspecting walkers will now have a more realistic idea of just how petrifying the walk is unless you have nerves of steel and a blatant disregard for your own life "

Julie

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