The day's last light often reveals its greatest reward
“The day's last light often reveals its greatest reward”
Navigation Point 7. East Pinnacle Gully (route choice)
Navigation Point 7 is located at the base of East Pinnacle Gully and is shown on the map and in the accompanying photographs. The map shows Navigation Point 7 sitting between East Pinnacle, the Central Gully and the 3rd Arrow Cave area. It also shows the relationship between the higher main route and the lower Small Cave route. On the map, the main route is shown as the thicker yellow track, while the alternative lower route is shown as an orange line.
This is the point you reach after descending through the steep, narrow gully between East Pinnacle and the Eastern Buttress. It is an important decision point in the 3rd Arrow section because from here you need to choose whether you are continuing on the higher main route through the Central Gully or dropping down towards the 3rd Arrow Cave at the base of North Buttress.
East Pinnacle Gully itself is a steep, enclosed rock gap, with rock walls close on both sides. The descent is confined and loose underfoot in places, so it is a section for careful foot placement rather than speed. The photograph looking west to Central Gully shows the base of the gully from inside the cleft, with East Pinnacle on one side and the route opening towards Central Gully ahead.
At the base of the gully, the Central Gully is straight ahead in a westerly direction. East Buttress is on your right, Central Buttress is on your left, and North Buttress sits ahead in a north west direction. The ground opens into a sweeping, sloping area that is almost horseshoe shaped, partly enclosed by these three rock features. The photograph looking east from Central Gully is useful because it shows the relationship between East Pinnacle, East Buttress, the Small Cave route and the 3rd Arrow Cave route from the opposite direction.
From Navigation Point 7, there are two main options. The higher route continues generally west, staying high and keeping Central Buttress on your left. This line carries you towards the high point between Central Buttress and North Buttress and is the main continuation through the 3rd Arrow terrain. If you are staying on the main route, do not be drawn downhill towards the 3rd Arrow Cave. Keep your height, continue west, and use Central Buttress on your left as the controlling feature.
The second option is to descend towards the 3rd Arrow Cave. If heading to the 3rd Arrow camping cave, the route changes at the foot of the gully between East Pinnacle and the Eastern Buttress. Instead of continuing straight ahead towards Central Gully, look north west and descend diagonally down the slope, not straight down. The aim is to work across towards the base of North Buttress, with the larger horseshoe shaped slope opening below you and the surrounding rock faces helping frame the direction of travel.
The photograph looking south-east to Navigation Point 7 is taken from the base of the 3rd Arrow Cave and helps explain why the junction can be confusing when viewed from below. From this lower position, the routes towards the Small Cave, Central Gully and the main line back to Little Arrow appear close together, with numerous tracks through the area.
Navigation Point 7 should therefore be treated as a deliberate decision point. The higher line is the main continuation through the 3rd Arrow terrain, shown on the map as the thicker yellow track. The lower line, shown in orange, is the alternative route to the 3rd Arrow Cave and should be chosen consciously rather than reached by inadvertently drifting downhill.
Used together, the map, video and photographs make the junction easier to interpret. They show the terrain from different perspectives, including the descent through the gully, the view back from Central Gully and the junction from below at the base of the 3rd Arrow Cave. These views help walkers recognise East Pinnacle Gully, identify the surrounding buttresses and choose between remaining on the higher main route or descending towards the 3rd Arrow Cave.
Looking west towards Central Gully
This photograph is taken from the top of East Pinnacle Gully, looking west towards Central Gully, which separates the Central Buttress from the North Buttress. From this vantage point you can clearly see how the major landforms relate to one another, including East Pinnacle, the Central Buttress, the North Buttress and the two gullies that separate them.
It show the two route options from Navigation Point 7. The orange route on the left ascends towards Central Gully between the Central Buttress and the North Buttress. If your intention is not to camp at Third Arrow Cave, continue straight through in a westerly direction towards Central Gully and Second Arrow. The red route on the right is the main route shown in yellow on your map and descends diagonally across the slope towards Third Arrow Cave at the base of the North Buttress.
Navigation Point 7: Looking WNW towards Central Gully from East Pinnacle
This photograph is taken intentionally from the top of East Pinnacle, providing a clearer view towards Third Arrow Cave and the terrain beyond Navigation Point 7. It is not a view you would ordinarily see while remaining on the main track. However, a brief climb to the top of East Pinnacle reveals much of the terrain you are about to negotiate.
From this vantage point you can clearly see the East Buttress, Central Buttress and North Buttress, with Central Gully separating the Central Buttress from the North Buttress. The red route in photo shows the track descending through East Pinnacle Gully after the ascent from Little Arrow to Navigation Point 7.
From Navigation Point 7, you must then choose between descending towards Third Arrow Cave or continuing straight ahead in a westerly direction towards Central Gully.
Looking northwest towards Third Arrow Cave
This photograph is taken on the descent from Navigation Point 7 towards Third Arrow Cave. At this point, Third Arrow Cave has not yet come into view, although it is only a short distance further along the main route shown in yellow on your map.
The orange route shown in the photograph branches left and ascends towards Central Gully. This is a faint track and is not shown on the map. If your destination is Third Arrow Cave, this route is not relevant, and you should remain on the main route towards the cave.
However, parties leaving Third Arrow Cave after camping overnight often use this faint track to ascend to Central Gully. The top of Central Gully is one of the most stunning photographic locations along the entire Stirling Ridge Walk, providing an outstanding view through the gully towards Second Arrow.
Looking southeast towards Navigation Point 7: East Pinnacle Gully
This photograph is taken at the start of the ascent to Third Arrow Cave, looking southeast towards Navigation Point 7: Base of East Pinnacle Gully. This is the view you would have if you were leaving Third Arrow Cave and continuing towards Little Arrow and eventually Ellen Peak.
The red route, in photograph, shows the main track ascending to Navigation Point 7 before continuing east towards Little Arrow. The route to the Small Cave is not relevant if you are continuing up East Pinnacle Gully.
The orange route shown on the map begins at Navigation Point 7 and heads west towards Central Gully.
If your intention is to reach the top of Central Gully directly from Third Arrow Cave, you would not continue all the way to Navigation Point 7. Instead, you would remain closer to the North Buttress, keeping it on your right-hand side as you climb in a steeper south-westerly direction. This route eventually leads to the top of Central Gully.
The top of Central Gully is one of the most stunning photographic locations along the entire Stirling Ridge Walk, with spectacular views through the gully towards Second Arrow.
From the top of Central Gully, you can either continue west towards Second Arrow or head east towards Navigation Point 7, keeping the Central Buttress on your right-hand side as you descend.
Looking southeast towards Navigation Point 7: East Pinnacle Gully
This photograph is taken during the ascent from Third Arrow Cave to Navigation Point 7. It provides a clearer view of East Pinnacle and shows that it is a detached rock tower separated from the East Buttress by East Pinnacle Gully.
From this perspective, Navigation Point 7 can be seen at the base of East Pinnacle Gully, where the main track continues east towards Baker's Knob and Little Arrow. The orange variation shown on the map heads west towards Central Gully, while the track to the Small Cave continues around the western side of East Pinnacle.
This photograph helps identify the distinctive shape of East Pinnacle, making it one of the easiest landmarks to recognise as you approach Navigation Point 7 from Third Arrow Cave.
Looking north east from Central Gully to East Pinnacle Gully
This photograph is taken from the top of Central Gully, looking northeast towards East Pinnacle and Navigation Point 7 at the base of East Pinnacle Gully.
The red route shows the main track ascending from Third Arrow Cave to Navigation Point 7 before continuing east towards Baker's Knob and eventually Ellen Peak.
The orange variation shown on the map leaves Navigation Point 7 and heads west to the top of Central Gully, where this photograph was taken.
From this elevated viewpoint, the detached rock tower of East Pinnacle and the narrow East Pinnacle Gully separating it from the East Buttress can be clearly seen, providing a better understanding of the surrounding terrain and helping to visualise the route between Third Arrow Cave, Navigation Point 7, Baker's Knob and Central Gully.
Video: 360° panorama from the summit of East Pinnacle
This video is taken from the summit of East Pinnacle and provides a unique perspective of the surrounding terrain that cannot be appreciated from the main track.
The panorama begins by looking west towards Pyungoorup Peak, before panning to reveal Baker's Knob. It continues around to reveal the imposing rock faces of the East Buttress and Central Buttress, before reaching the top of Central Gully and the North Buttress.
As the panorama continues, it looks down towards the base of the North Buttress, where Third Arrow Cave is located, before sweeping out across the plains below. From this elevated viewpoint, the North Mirlpunda Track and the North Boundary Fence Track can both be seen as they traverse the landscape beyond the Stirling Range.
This panoramic view provides an excellent overview of the terrain surrounding Navigation Point 7, helping to place the major landforms and route options into perspective while illustrating the scale and rugged nature of this section of the Stirling Ridge Walk.
Taken from atop East Pinnacle with views to Central Gully, North Buttress
Video: 360° panorama from Navigation Point 7
This video is taken from Navigation Point 7 at the base of East Pinnacle Gully and provides an excellent appreciation of the surrounding terrain and route options.
The panorama begins by looking east up the steep East Pinnacle Gully before panning around to reveal the impressive rock face of East Pinnacle. It then continues down the main track towards Third Arrow Cave, with the North Buttress dominating the skyline beyond.
The video finishes by looking up towards the top of Central Gully, where the distinct gap between the North Buttress on the right and the Central Buttress on the left can be clearly seen.
This panoramic view helps put the surrounding landforms into perspective, making it easier to understand the relationship between Navigation Point 7, East Pinnacle, Third Arrow Cave and the top of Central Gully before continuing towards Baker's Knob and Ellen Peak.
Taken from Navigation Point 7: Base of East Pinnacle Gully
Navigation Point 7 and Small Cave at 3rd Arrow
Navigation Points 6 and 7 are shown on the map and in the accompanying photographs. This section is mainly about the lower route through the Third Arrow area, the Small Cave, the Third Arrow Cave and the Central Gully. It explains how the lower route relates to the main higher route and why these features are useful for both navigation and camp planning.
The map shows the main yellow route staying higher through the Third Arrow complex, while the dotted orange alternative track drops lower towards the Small Cave and then continues towards the Third Arrow Cave area. This lower route is not the primary line through Third Arrow, but it is important because walkers can end up on it intentionally or unintentionally after leaving the higher route near Navigation Point 6.
The primary route through Third Arrow still follows the higher line from Navigation Point 6 through East Pinnacle Gully, between East Pinnacle and the Eastern Buttress, before continuing towards the Central Gully. That is the route most walkers should be aiming to follow. The lower route should be understood as an alternative or recovery line, not as the default route.
It is important to understand why the Small Cave and the lower route are included on the map. Their inclusion is not intended to encourage walkers to leave the main route. They are included because they are useful reference points for walkers who have already drifted off the higher line. If you only understand the main route, and then find yourself below East Pinnacle, you may have no clear way to identify where you are or how to recover.
This terrain makes it surprisingly easy to leave the ridge unintentionally, especially around Little Arrow and the Rock Turret where the track becomes less obvious. Once below the ridge, the natural tendency is to continue onto the easier open slopes beneath the Eastern Buttress. The Small Cave therefore becomes a useful relocation point. If you arrive there unexpectedly, you can identify your position on the map and make a deliberate decision about whether to regain the higher line or continue on the lower traverse towards the Third Arrow Cave area.
The Third Arrow Cave is one of the most frequently used campsites on the Stirling Ridge Walk. If it is full, suitable alternatives are limited. There is little useful camping between Third Arrow and Second Arrow, there is no practical camping on top of Second Arrow, and reversing direction does not provide many good options. The saddle between Third Arrow and Baker’s Knob is generally poor, while the saddle between Pyungoorup Peak and Baker’s Knob is only a moderate and exposed campsite.
For this reason, the Small Cave is more than just an off route feature. It is a useful fallback location that provides flexibility for navigation and camp planning. Whether you arrive there intentionally or unintentionally, knowing where it sits in relation to East Pinnacle, the Central Gully and the Third Arrow Cave helps simplify decision making in one of the more complex sections of the traverse.
Used together, the map and photographs provide a clearer picture of the lower route. The map shows how the dotted alternative track relates to the higher main route, the Small Cave, the Third Arrow Cave and the Central Gully. The lower traverse photographs show what this alternative line looks like on the ground, first as it approaches the Small Cave and then as it continues towards the Central Gully and larger Third Arrow Cave area.
Looking west on Lower traverse to Small Cave
This photograph was taken on the descent from Navigation Point 6 at the Rock Turret, following the optional variation shown in orange on your map. Compare the photograph with your map and identify the orange route as it leaves the Rock Turret.
From this location, the route descends for approximately 20 metres towards the Small Cave. Beyond this short descent, the route enters more open terrain and traverses with a slight ascent towards the Small Cave, which is located at the base of East Pinnacle. After passing the Small Cave, continue with East Pinnacle on your left before traversing across more open ground. The route then generally contours, with a slight ascent, towards Third Arrow Cave at the base of the North Buttress.
Importantly, after the initial 20 metre descent from Navigation Point 6, you should not be losing any further elevation. Instead, the route maintains its height by contouring across the slope with a slight ascent towards the Small Cave and then onwards to Third Arrow Cave. In poor visibility, the base of East Pinnacle and the North Buttress provide useful terrain handrails, helping to confirm that you are maintaining the correct line of travel.
Compare the photograph with your map and note how the orange route first traverses to the Small Cave before continuing across to Third Arrow Cave.
Video: Lower traverse: Panoramic view from the lower traverse
This video was recorded approximately halfway along the lower traverse between the Small Cave and Third Arrow Cave. Compare the video with your map to gain a broader appreciation of the major landforms that surround this section of the route.
The video begins by looking northeast towards the Small Cave before panning across the base of East Pinnacle. As the camera continues around, you will see the East Pinnacle Gully separating East Pinnacle from the East Buttress. Navigation Point 7 is located at the base of East Pinnacle Gully. The panorama then continues across the Central Buttress before revealing the North Buttress, with the Central Gully clearly visible between the Central Buttress and the North Buttress. The video finishes at the large Third Arrow Cave, located at the base of the North Buttress.
As you watch the video, compare these prominent landforms with your map to develop a better understanding of how they relate to one another. You may also notice numerous informal tracks throughout this area. These have developed for a variety of reasons, including walkers approaching from different directions and others searching for or trying to relocate the large camping cave after losing the intended route. Because walkers may be travelling in different directions, they will not always be following the same track. Always use your map and the surrounding terrain to confirm that you are on your intended route.
East Pinnacle, Central Gully, 3rd Arrow Cave
Looking west on Lower traverse to Small Cave
This photograph was taken further west along the lower traverse after passing the Small Cave. Compare the photograph with your map and identify the orange route as it continues towards Third Arrow Cave at the base of the North Buttress.
You can see on the map the orange route leading to Navigation Point 7 at the base of East Pinnacle Gully. In the photograph, however, there is also a less defined track leading up to the top of the Central Gully. This ascent is not shown on the map, as it is not part of the primary route.
From this location, the orange route continues across the slope towards Third Arrow Cave. Alternatively, you may ascend to the top of the Central Gully, which separates East Pinnacle from the North Buttress, before ascending to Navigation point 8 and continuing along the main route.
Importantly, from the point, where photograph is taken, you should not be descending any further. The lower traverse towards Third Arrow Cave generally contours across the slope with only a slight ascent, while the route to the top of the Central Gully climbs much more steeply, gaining considerably more altitude. In low visibility the safer option to top of central gully is to ascend to Navigation Point 7, keeping the east pinnacle on your left and then head west keeping the base of Central Buttress on your left as you ascend towards Central Gully.
If you find yourself continuing to lose height, it is a good indication that you have drifted off the intended route.
Compare the photograph with your map and identify East Pinnacle on your left, the North Buttress ahead, the top of the Central Gully, and Third Arrow Cave. These prominent landforms provide useful terrain handrails for confirming your location before continuing west.