2023-06E Mt Giles to Bowmans Gap via N-S Range - Luke's trip (Chewings Range)

There are various accounts on the web from parties who took much longer than expected to get from Mt Giles summit to Bowmans Gap, or who found it physically more difficult than expected - and we found the same.

We got an early start, but the route starts with a descent down the rocky bumps of Grumble, Groar, Grack and Grip (the Giles versions of Kanangra's Rip, Rack, Roar and Rumble). Next comes a series of substantial and tiring ups-and-downs as you work your way across the landscape.

Finally, we got onto the fairly level northern section of the North-South Range, but already the party was getting tired and there was a long way yet to go.

We rounded the corner onto Red Walls and headed eastwards. From previous trips I knew that Thirteen Pools Creek was faster and easier than staying on the ridgetop all the way to the west, so as soon as we were far enough along we dropped down into the creek. It's always a bit hard to know exactly where to drop down, but we eventually found a spot and followed a good ramp into the creek.

It was getting late in the afternoon, and we were slowish on account of tiredness. We stopped briefly at the top of Thirteen Pools Waterfall to appreciate this scenic spectacle and to top up our water at a remnant pool above the waterfall.

In the fading light, we headed west along the north ridge of the Red Walls. From the end of this ridge, a curving spur provides a relatively straightforward descent directly to the magnificent campsite at Bowmans Gap. It was now completely dark as we picked our way down by torchlight.

When we reached camp, several people declared that it had been the hardest day of bushwalking they had ever done, and one lady was heard to murmur that it could be "grounds for divorce".

Exhausted, some skipped dinner and went straight to bed. The next morning we woke refreshed but decided to skip our planned side-trip to the Canyon of the Thirteen Pools, and we headed straight back to Ormiston Gorge.