Day 219 NSW Day 77 (219) 15.5km

 NSW Day 77 (219) 15.5km

4424.8 / 674.1 km

It was a warmer night no frozen tent fly. I pack up and drop down into the pass. The people in the two tents are still in bed and the path goes between them.

Consett Stephens Pass

I got to cross Ice fields

I end up on top of Mt Tate at 2068m then skirt across Mann Bluff at 2000m.

Mt Tate

View From Mt Tate

I didn't bother going up to the top of Mt Anton at 2010m so I'm not going to be able claim the 10 peaks which seems to be a thing. i.e. getting to the top of the 10 peaks up here over 2000m.

Going to follow that Ridge line. The top of the Great Divide.

I'm sitting in the saddle between Mt Anton and Mt Twynam (2106m) when I talk to a bloke I had spoken to yesterday. He was on a mountain bike yesterday and was riding back towards Charlotte's Pass. Mountain bikes are restricted on some tracks and can't go pass Rawson's Pass at the base of Kosciuszko. He was one of those people that felt the need to bag the 10 over 2000m mountain tops. So he rides back up drops the bike at Rawson's then runs the mountain tops. I speak to him about an hour later on his way back. We are all mad in our way I suppose.

A view to stop for

Mt Anton

I finally climb to the top of Mt Twynam and can see across to Carruthers Peak (2145m) and I catch sight of the crowds.

Mt Twynam

Another View

The top of the peak is moving and there is a line of people coming down a track. Looking at the book I see I'm joining the loop of the Main Range walking track. Having not seen many people this comes as a bit of a shock. It makes me worry about my plan to camp at Wilkinson's Creek below Mueller's Pass. How many people are out and about this weekend?

Carruthers Peak and you can see the Junction of the day trio circuit.

I have lunch at Carruthers Peak then up and over Mt Lee (2105m). I bypass Mt Northcote(2131m) and Mt Townsend (2209m) and at Mueller's Pass drop down to a lovely camp spot just above a little water source.

The path and I think Kosciuszko.

More traffic means boardwalks

I did see where a day walker had done his toiletries right beside the creek. I can understand why some National Park people want to keep all humans out of wilderness areas.

My tent with Kosciuszko rising on the background

As the afternoon progresses a lot of people are setting up down on the flats and up the hill to the pass. I wondered if watching the new year in is a thing on Kosciusko. I go to bed toying with the idea of getting up top for sunrise. I think it's about a 300metre height gain.

Sunset over Wilkinson's Creek