GRAMPIANS (VIC)
Hollow Mountain

Return distance : 2.2 km; Time : 1.5 hours

Many years ago I did the hike up Hollow Mountain.  This is close to Mount Zero, in the Horsham corner of the Grampians. From Roses Gap you follow west around the foot of the range. There is a well-signed car park at the start.

Back then I enjoyed the stiff climb, but never felt I had reached the goal.  Just what was this ‘hollow mountain’?  So it had been a dream for me to make this climb again.  I did find things I hadn’t seen before!

Hollow Mountain is also called Mt Wudjub-Guyan. This is the beginning of the track ...

There are lovely flowers along the way (at least in spring):

... and the walk starts off as an easy stroll.  In fact, you can just see our destination here.  

The Hollow Mountain summit is behind the clump of leaves above the green tree, two thirds the way across from the left.  Just below the summit is an orange cliff, and at the left of the cliff is a solid vertical slab.  More later!

After a little way, the path starts to get steeper.

Taken from the path, this is looking ominous!

Right, now I see the arrow.  This is ridiculous!  But in fact not impossible ...

Now just a bit squeezy up here ...

And then the slope eases a bit with the orange cliff and the vertical slab at left.
Now, where does the track go?  Perhaps up behind the slab?

No, I think this is a dead end – or would be if we continued!

But just on the left is a very interesting wind-worn cave.  This must be part of the ‘hollow mountain’.

Coming down around the left hand side of the slab, there is a cavern underneath.

Standing inside and looking out you see this ...

Now, is there more?  Perhaps if we trek around to the right of this great cliff ...

Yes, there is another cave for the adventurous!

And then we come, almost to the summit.  Interesting hollows filled with water.

And on the return trip, superb views looking out over the precipice.

A dream fulfilled, and real boys’ stuff!  

It took me an hour to climb up and half an hour to get back down again – around what the guide book says.