|
Day: |
006 |
|
Date: |
Saturday, 13 November 2004 |
|
Start: |
Adaminaby |
|
Finish: |
Khancoban |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
116 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
811 |
|
Weather: |
|
|
Accommodation: |
Motel room |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli
Lunch: Pie
and pastie
Dinner: Lasagne |
|
Aches: |
|
|
Animals Seen: |
Kangaroos (one too close for comfort on a
steep descent) |
|
Pictures: |
Here |
|
GPS Track: |
|
|
Journal: |
I was woken several times during the night
by strong winds and in the morning when I got up at 6:15am it was
raining heavily and horizontally. I packed up hoping it would
stop and trying to get a weather forecast on the radio. The
rain continued and I decided to wait until 10:00am, and if it hadn't
stopped by then, I would stay in Adaminaby for another night.
Around 9:00am it cleared up although the forecast was for showers
all day, strong winds and snow down to 1,400m. The maximum
temperature was to be 3°C and blizzard conditions were expected
on the peaks. I decided to risk it since I had revamped my
schedule and made bookings.
Initially progress was slow as I
gradually climbed through high plains grazing country directly into
the gale-force wind. I couldn't manage more than 15kph and
could barely roll down hills. I entered Kosciusko National
Park and continued climbing through snowgum forests, some of which
had been burnt out. It began to rain, then hail and sleet as I
climbed higher. Going down hills was agonising with hail
stinging my face. I decided to try and get to Kiandra (35km)
for my break, not knowing what was there but hoping for a service
station.
Crossing the plain before Kiandra in abysmal
conditions - blowing snow and sleet - I knew I had to find some
shelter. My hands and feet were frozen, I was saturated, and I
was still just in shorts. When I got to Kiandra, apart from
some boarded up buildings, the only shelter I could see was a Road
Traffic Authority (RTA) snow-plough shed. It said "No
Admittance" but I went in anyway, figuring they wouldn't object.
Later, the RTA guy turned up and was helpful. He discussed my
route and said there was a huge hill and some very exposed terrain
after Cabramurra. He also gave me some old gloves. I put
on my clothes and left for Cabramurra, getting there around 2:00pm
after more hail and snow. I had a quick pie and pastie and hot
chocolate for lunch and set off for Khancoban, 59km away.
There was an enormous hill after Tumut Ponds Dam, and then lots of
snow on the ground up high, but no more really bad weather.
Then there was a fast descent into Khancoban and one last soaking
rainstorm. I arrived at the motel at 7:00pm, checked in, and
had a counter tea. |
|
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|
