2 January I reached Watchbed Creek parking area just past Falls Creek at 7 pm and set out on my Bogong loop walk, a lollipop shape. It was a beautiful evening, still and sunny as I walked along the plateau, initially snow gums then low flowering scrub and Mt Nelse ahead. I turned off for the kilometre to Edmondson Hut in a little patch of gnarled snow gums and found a spot for my tent. Small group there. The hut was fairly typical, old and worn. At sunset I could see Mt Mackay with its tower and distant Mt Feathertop outlined in red. Clear starry night. 5.6 kms
3 January I returned to the main trail, contoured around Mt Nelse and had increasingly good views of the mountains northwards. I turned onto a grassy narrow trail through snow gums to Ropers Hut and began the long descent on Duane Spur to Big River. All in gum forest, some steep bits, a few honeyeaters chirping and I startled a large blue tongue lizard. The river became noisy as I approached it but it was completely hidden until I reached the bank. I held the chain to help me across, the water was shin deep and cold but the pebbles were not too slippery. On the other side was a small clearing so I had a break. Then I had the long climb up T Spur; steep at first and unrelenting with lots of fallen trees across the trail, some tricky to clamber over. Hot. From the first saddle I had lovely mountain views 
and then I wound along among snow gums to a creek running through a valley where I had a break. I reached a larger valley and took the detour to Howmans falls: several sets of falls along the creek ending with a thin cascade between basalt cliffs right down the face of the escarpment. It was hard to access a view of the entire falls. I had another break by the creek and went on to Cleve Cole hut, a snake curled up on a step; I had heard there was a crying baby there so I decided to walk on and I ended up camping by the last stand of snow gums before the treeless slopes of Mt Bogong.
It was a great spot with a view of tiers of mountains to the southwest and the wind from earlier had died down.
20 kms
and then I wound along among snow gums to a creek running through a valley where I had a break. I reached a larger valley and took the detour to Howmans falls: several sets of falls along the creek ending with a thin cascade between basalt cliffs right down the face of the escarpment. It was hard to access a view of the entire falls. I had another break by the creek and went on to Cleve Cole hut, a snake curled up on a step; I had heard there was a crying baby there so I decided to walk on and I ended up camping by the last stand of snow gums before the treeless slopes of Mt Bogong.
It was a great spot with a view of tiers of mountains to the southwest and the wind from earlier had died down.
20 kms
4 January The wind came up really strong in the night. I packed up quickly and started walking towards Mt Bogong through a sea of alpine daisies; it wasn't pleasant, the wind buffeting me so much that it was impossible to stay in the groove of the narrow track and I kept stumbling. Clouds were rolling over as I reached the summit and it was sufficiently cold not to linger but I had reasonable views. I contoured along West Summit as the sky cleared and from Quartz Knob I had great views of mountain ranges leading into the distance in all directions. Walking along Quartz Ridge with wide open vistas should have been a highlight but my experience was diminished by the wind. Then I began to descend, going into snow gums and a series of grassy clearings where I was finally able to have my first coffee. The grassy trail went over a few knobs with good views south towards Spion Kopje, sheltered from the wind, then descended to Little Bogong Creek, and descended more to Big River, this crossing was narrower and slightly shallower. I had lunch on the south side. The climb up Timms Spur was long but a good gradient on a grass track with a few obstacles. It was hot work, first in gum forest then snow gums then open tops, from where I could see Mt Nelse once again. At my next break I could see Mt Mackay. It was nice walking, just a bit windy. I reached the junction with Duane Spur meaning I had completed the circular part of my lollipop, and then retraced my steps down to Ropers Hut to camp. Four tents there, the first people I saw all day. A calm evening among the snow gums and I could see Mt Bogong, West and Quartz Knob from my tent. 23 kms
5 January The wind came up in the night again but this time I was sheltered. I set off back towards the car,soon passing a big snake slithering away. Nice open walking with light wind. I turned off for Johnstone Hut on the opposite side of the trail from Edmonson; it was less rustic and situated among predominantly dead snow gums. Then I walked the last bit alongside Watchbed Creek to the parking. When I got among the snow gums it was again hot. 12 kms
Total 60 kms
excellent photos
ReplyDelete