On Sunday 31st July 2011 Gary Williams and I joined the Shoalhaven Bushwalkers for a day walk in the Mittagong area of the Southern Highlands as part of a weekend of day walks in the area. Today we planned to walk to Mount Jellore, a walk we seldom get to visit and one that often is never found in guidebooks. The walk today is again led by Karen Davis and joining us again were Brett Davis, John & Gillian Souter, Ian & Linda Parker and Kynie Evison. Also joining us today was Sandra Kelley who had driven up from the Shoalhaven this morning. John & Gillian, as yesterday, would be taking notes as they are writing another track notes book - this one on Southern Highlands walks and Mt Jellore will be featured. It was an overcast and cold day as we drove out from Mittagong onto the Wombeyan Caves Road.

After driving a couple of kilometres we turned north (right) onto Soapy Flat Road we now followed this unsealed road for some distance, the conical shape of Mt Jellore showing itself in the distance through the roadside trees on more than one occasion. Just after the road bends in a wide left arc we take a right turn onto a fire trail (not marked on the topographic map) and about 200 metres down this trail we pulled in to an open clearing where we could park the cars. It was just after 9.30am as we put on our day packs and headed out northwards. We had gone about 200 metres when Ian doubled back, having forgotten his trekking poles. At the very same time I realised I had done the same, but instead I was content to utilise some of the fallen timber on the road and found a very stout stick that would do the job admirably.

We followed the road for about 800 metres until we came to a lone rocky outcrop and moved to the other side to try to get some tree interrupted views of Mt Jellore. The mountain still looked a fair distance away and some of us were wondering whether Karen had got her 3 hour return walk estimate correct. Even more so as we commenced a steep descent along a track to a feeder creek for Jellore Creek in a deep narrow gully. After  yesterday's exertions on what was probably the steepest ascent I'd ever taken, I found myself looking at more tough ascents today and with a queasy stomach after last night's meal I almost turned around there and then. However I battled on.

The track descended in two very steep sections, but for a walk that you never hear about or read about in the guidebooks, the track is reasonably well defined. Apart from a small number of stone cairns placed at required bends and on small rock platforms, someone has taken the trouble to place red ribbons on the trees to aid navigation. You couldn't get lost here. The track levelled out briefly, though still descending before the final steep drop to the creek. The last section was aided by a length of stout rope that walkers could use to ease themselves down the slippery dirt embankment. Once across the creek we were faced with another steep climb, again aided by a long length of rope which we used to pull ourselves up the slippery gully. The rest of the climb to the top was relatively easy again following cairns and red ribbons and it wasn't long before we were standing on level ground on the plateau.

We followed a negotiable route until the track met up with a fire trail on the edge of some private property and we started following this trail north then north east as it took us across the plateau towards Mt Jellore, ascending and descending gradually along its length. I worked out that we could have followed the fire trail from the cars right to this point without crossing the gully, but that walk would have not only been a little longer, more more boring. The gully diversion provided a bit of a challenge but also the risk of aggravating old injuries and after yesterday's climb I was not keen to push my knees further. I had decided to take things slowly.

Eventually we came to a saddle that crossed to the climb up Mount Jellore. We stood there looking over a valley, a deep drop below us. Above us loomed the massive bulk of the mountain. The track looked steep and even Linda started having second thoughts about taking the last climb due to her leg problems. Karen however assured everyone that the track to the top was not too bad and it zig zagged its way up in a series of switch backs. We crossed to the base of the ascent and started to climb.

We were convinced that Karen had been having us on as the track went straight up steeply for a some distance, but then the track veered off to the right and the incline levelled out considerably and we knew we had reached Karen's zig zagging track. It was still a tough climb but with the mountainside covered with thick bushes and trees we were able to steady ourselves at difficult points. There wasn't much between the track and a long drop, but enough vegetation to ease the nerves of those uncomfortable with heights. My calves, knees, thighs and lungs were screaming by the time the track levelled out further as it neared the top and soon we had reached the trig point on top. Just past the trig someone had placed two Australian flags on bushes, along with a T-shirt depicting a Wombat. Closer inspection revealed the shirt belonged to the Wingecarribee Bush Runners and honoured their first run in April 2003. Some of us had a battle walking to the top of Mount Jellore and we wondered why in the hell would someone want to run up here. Are they still alive?

We now walked less than 100 metres to a viewing platform on top of the mountain for great, though dull coloured views on an overcast day north across the Nattai Wilderness. In the far distance, with the aid of binoculars you could pick out the tall buildings of Sydney over 100km away, though still shrouded in mist. On a clear day the views are so well defined you don't need binoculars.  A short stroll to the west gives a great view down Jocks Creek Valley and over to the Wanganderry Tableland. We stopped here for morning tea, though it was really closer to lunchtime, it had been suggested we leave our lunches in our cars so we could enjoy lunchtime after we returned from our walk.

We now made our way back to Jellore Trig for the obligatory photographs, and for me, another trig station bagged. Jellore Trig is 834 metres above sea level. It was then time to descend the mountain and return to the cars. Like Linda, I took the descent very slowly. Brett stayed at the back with Linda to make sure she was okay on the descent and would have no difficulties. I just took my time and surprisingly I found the descent much easier than I expected, or was that just because I was careful and didn't hurry? Once at the bottom we crossed the saddle and made our way along the fire trail back to the track across the gully. We used the ropes to aid the descent and ascent, then did as best we could climbing back to the fire trail. Gary and I started the track in front and watched as everyone passed us during the climb back out. I often wondered why Gary, a smoker, asthma sufferer and someone who had not been on a bushwalk in 3 years never huffed or puffed during a steep climb, yet I sound like a steam locomotive and mentioned this. Gary could not explain.

We finally joined the others at the top and we made our way along the fire trail back to the cars arriving at 1.50pm. The entire return walk had taken just under 4.5 hours including an approximate 30 minute break at the top of Mount Jellore. Only one change was made to our original plans. Instead of having lunch at the cars, we decided to drive back to Mittagong and enjoy lunch by the side of Lake Alexandra.