Mt Hay and Kolong Ridge circuit

[shankspony]

Just read a post from Phil S from a few years ago planning a trip from Mt Hay- Boorong Crags - Mt Hay Range - Moogan Gulley - Kolong Ridge - Hurley Heights spur-back along fire trail. It sounds good to me, maybe with a camp on Kolong Ridge, but don't know area and it seems Phil's not been on this site for a few years. Has anyone done this? If so, what's it like to cross Mt Hay Creek from south end of Kolong Ridge to Hurley Heights? Do-able or too cliffy? How about the rest of the circuit - any tips/tricks/difficulties?

[rcaffin]

In principle it is quite doable. You may run into some cliffs here and there.
But the scrub in some sections is likely to be boggling.

Cheers
Roger

[Grabeach]

Not sure why you would want to get down into Moogan Gully, then back up onto Kolonga Ridge, then down again to the Mt Hay / Wentworth creeks junction. This would miss the interesting 'step' in the Mt Hay Range. Why not stay on the tops? There is a break in the cliff after you cross the saddle. Follow the range around to where Kolonga branches off to the right. The end of Kolonga runs down to the junction, but you will need to go a couple of hundred metres up Mt Hay Ck (easily crossed) to get round the cliff on the Hurley side. Did this in reverse. It was actually a relatively easy walk (7.5 hours walk time plus breaks) HOWEVER it was predominately over ground burnt out by the January ‘94 fire. It could be a lot slower now.

[shankspony]

Thanks Roger and Grabeach. Point taken re staying on the tops - that sounds a much better idea. Yep will do that. This walk is planned for another 3 weeks time, so plenty of time for tweaks and improvements
Maybe 7.5hr is a bit short too, (although could be longer as you say, if regrowth has been enthusiastic). I was looking for an easy two-day circuit really, so any other thoughts welcome.