Thanks to the helpful advice from Tortoise, I tried her suggested route up Wild Dog Tier yesterday. I haven't tried the book's route to compare, but it sounded unenticing, with many kms of dull brown-green scenery. This route had a few contours to trip over, some semi-dry myrtle forest - but at least there was forest - and it was wayyyyy faster - I was home for a late lunch (out before lunchtime, but then I had the drive to do). A shorter drive is another bonus. There WAS the hole, and it was scary, but I survive to tell the story. Map of my route, story, pics, and the hole waypointed for those who want to know when trouble is coming, are all in my blog
[url]natureloverswalks.blogspot.com[/url]
I also climbed Rats Castle in the last week, this one with a friend. That story is there with pics too.