Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Australian Alps Walking Track - 2011
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Day: 013
Date:

Sunday, 27 March 2011

Start:

Ski Lodge at Davenport Village

Finish:

Edmondson Hut

Camp Location Here
Daily Kilometres:

32.3 AAWT, 1.0 to hut

Total Kilometres:

267.4 AAWT

Animal Encounters

Birds, snakes, brumbies

People Encounters

Several groups of hikers, two mountain-bikers

Weather:

Sunny and mild

Pictures: Here
Journal:

I got up at 6 AM with the goal of leaving the Lodge around 8 AM. I was mostly packed but wanted to grab a quick shower and then had to clean my room, etc., before leaving. As I ate breakfast, Ken came out and offered to drive me up to the Mount Loch Car Park where I had left the AAWT to come down to the village. I accepted his kind offer and we left soon after 8 AM. A part of me would have liked just spending another day hanging out at the lodge and bistro, but there was no point in staying and it looked like being superb weather for hiking. For almost the entire day I would be in very familiar territory.

The AAWT across the High Plains is the same route used for much of the Rooftop Run (a.k.a. Bogong to Hotham 64 km) run each January and I have completed it three times. I also used to come up to the High Plains in summer about 30 years ago when a serious athlete to spend a week or two training at altitude with friends. As I started walking it warmed up rapidly as the sun rose in clear skies and I was soon wearing shorts and T-shirt. There was a very light breeze and a great sense of stillness about the mountains and plains.  As I left the ski fields behind me, I descended a rocky foot trail to the Cobungra River and then climbed up the other side to reach the start of the High Plains. The descent and ascent were slow but not particularly difficult.

As I reached the Plains, I caught a school group and chatted for 10 minutes with one of the teachers. It was then about 15 km walking across the tussocky grass snow plains following a narrow track that followed a very long line of numbered snow poles. It was quite wet underfoot compared to January when I ran here. It was a picture perfect day and I had the place to myself as far as the eye could see apart from a couple of small groups of brumbies. On some of the hills and in the distance there were silver forests of dead snow guns, presumably from the bushfires of 2003.

I had lunch at 1 PM sitting on some rocks and then kept moving. (For the interest of my Bogong to Hotham running buddies, they were starting to construct a professional foot trail from the road towards Hotham, which should make the run easier next year.) Around 2:30 PM I crossed a sealed road and after a short descent the trail began following an aqueduct that contoured around the eastern edge of the High Plains and gave extensive views to the east. It was easy walking and I was making good time for the day.

Finally the AAWT climbed away from the aqueduct (I was ready for something else) and climbed to the High Plains again. I reached my goal, Edmondson Hut, an old cattlemans' hut, just before 6 PM and was in bed soon after 8 PM. I could have slept in the Hut, but decided to sleep in my tent.  When the sun went down it got very cold very quickly. I suspect I've been quite sunburnt by the High Plains sun today, but it was memorable and special hiking.

ADVENTURE LIST

 

Round Ireland
(2016)

Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)

Via Alpina
(2012)

Australian Alps Walking Track
(2011)

Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)

Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)

Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)

Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)

Three Peaks Race
(2004)

Appalachian Trail
(1986)

Alpine Track
(1983)

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You can email Dave directly at dave@davebyrnes.com.au or subscribe to his Adventure Blogs here.

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