Back in the day, I'm talking late 90's, the local gang of ACT orienteers would sometimes do a long run based from Cotter dam known as the Killer. I'm not sure why but I never actually did it. However with the slight easing of covid restrictions, and the desire to run somewhere new Cath and I took our weekend run to the Cotter.
Using a rogaine map from a few years ago, we plotted a route after discussing with Andy where the Killer went. The main constraint of the Killer is crossing Paddy's river at the only 2 possible crossing points.
The morning was perfect for a longish run. We ran from the Cotter carpark, unable to cross the river as the walkways were both under water, up to the road and over the vehicle bridge. Once on the other side, we negotiated the single track adjacent to the river, clambering along some rocks where the track was once again under water, careful not to get our shoes wet.
Within a kilometre though we reached out first 'real' river crossing. It looked deep and fairly fast flowing. A quick debate saw me enter the water keeping my shoes on and wade slowly across checking the depth and strength of the water. It was all ok. The river level was mid thigh at the deepest point but not too strong. Cath followed on after.
From the river crossing, we ambled and then walked the steep incline up to the 'top' well what we thought was the top of the the Bullen Range. We were treated to great views of the water cascading over the Cotter Dam wall. For the next few kilometres, the ridge line kept rising in little steep increments and was not what we expected! Finally the track off the ridge arrived and we were plunged into the cool climate of a pine forest.
Grateful for the downhill relief we wove our way to the next river crossing. Here the crossing point was shorter, shallower but a bit faster. we had a few picnickers curiously watching our progress. The floor on this crossing was better too - a concrete floodway with ridges of sand.
At this stage our watches had ticked over the hour. We were hoping that the return loop home was somewhat shorter and hopefully flatter. Those running the Killer at this point would have crossed over the road to complete a longer loop that took them back to the dam. We were never up for this challenge and so we picked our way through the fire trails.
Within the final kilometres we made a decision which saw us descend a steep rocky trail before it disappeared and we were required to bush bash through 10 meters or so of thick scrub to arrive back on the trail before the first river crossing.
It was a short run retracing our steps back to Cath's mum who was waiting in the sunshine near the car. We were both tired but happy to be out exploring in the sunshine again!
