A quick google search of best poker players gave me Greg Mueller, so maybe somewhere near Mt Mueller, with the surgical procedure referring to The Needles nearby?
An inventive interpretation, but not at all what I was getting at. There's nothing like this on the way up Mueller. What I was climbing isn't an Abel, it isn't even called a mountain.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
No idea about the poker player. Otherwise I'd guess at Little Billopp, as it fits the first 2 clues, and there's probably lots of old hydro stuff up there. Edit: Wikipedia tells me Jonathan Little is a professional poker player, so my confidence has increased.
bushwalker zane wrote:I say! One of those delightful open spots on the ridge walking up to Lake Sydney/Mt Bobs/The Boomerang?
Indeedy do, Zano. My photos don't do it justice - the dramatic mountains rising from the oceans of cloud were just..umm...well, words fail me too. What a privilege we have to visit these magnificent places!!