Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Australian Alps Walking Track - 2011
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Day: 019
Date:

Saturday, 2 April 2011

Start:

Cowombat Flat Track

Finish:

Tin Mine Huts

Camp Location Here
Daily Kilometres:

31.3

Total Kilometres:

422.3 AAWT

Animal Encounters

Birds, brumbies

People Encounters

Two 4WDs

Weather:

Cold early then mostly sunny and mild

Pictures: Here
Journal:

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.

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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