While I was having breakfast, two 4WDs drove past along Cowombat
Track (which is closed 4 km further along) and then returned about
an hour later with what looked like a load of school students who
had been hiking. They must have been camped a few kilometres up the
road.
It was cold early again and I walked the first hour with warm
gear on. For a change, my whole day's walking was going to be along
fire trails and four-wheel-drive tracks meaning fast walking and no
navigation problems. The first 15 km along Cowombat Track was along
the lower slopes of the Cobberas Mountains. It was quite pleasant
but deeply forested with few views.
Finally the track emerged onto Cowombat Flat, a beautiful large
grassy area on the Murray River, the border between New South Wales
and Victoria. At this point the river is just a stream and can be
jumped across (without a pack!). The eerie beauty of the place is
enhanced by the remains of a plane, an RAAF C-47 Dakota, which
crashed here in 1953, killing one crew member. I had the place to
myself and crossed into New South Wales and spread out my tent and
sleeping bag to dry while I ate lunch in the sun.
After lunch I had a steady climb up to Snowgum Track which then
followed a relatively flat ridge at about 1500m for 5 kilometers.
There were enough trees to limit views, but I did get my first sight
of the Kosciusko Main Range, my route in a few days time, as well as
other ranges near and far. I then rejoined Cowombat Track and
followed that another 8 km to the Tin Mine Huts. Old miners huts,
one has been repaired enough for hikers to use by the National Parks
Service, which I did. It was pretty bare and gloomy, but will save
me putting up my tent. This is a beautiful location on a small
grassy flying over-looking the Ingeegoodbee River flats, backed by
mountains.
It got very cold very quickly when the sun went down. I had some
extra food left and had two main courses. I'm always hungry!
Tomorrow, I get to my next food drop, which I will pick up near Dead
Horse Gap, then hike into the ski village of Thredbo and have a day
off. Looking forward to it.
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