Day 227 Native Cat track

 VIC Day 3 (227) Friday 7th January, 2022 19.3

The morning was clear but more rain predicted. Belinda sent a message to say rivers were flooding down Omeo way. More rain predicted today.

Sun Rise 

Fairly Clear

It started clear and I took off early. The walk continues along Native Cat Track until it meets Nunniong Road.

What A good name

Weather coming in

As I'm walking down the road the weather moves back in. I continue walking in my wet weather gear but it's not working all that well. The Outdoor Research jacket doesn't keep out more than a light shower now. The rain gets heavier and when the thunder and lightning move overhead I find a spot just off the road and set up the tent fly to at least keep the rain off. It continues into the afternoon and I decide to stop and stay right where I am.

The initial setup with just groundsheet and fly to keep me out of the rain.

As the rain set in I added the tent inner and stayed.

Day 225 +226 Cowombat Flat to Native Cat Track

 VIC Days 1 & 2 (225&226) Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th January, 2022 22.7km

4501.1 / 597.8 km

I went to sleep fairly early. When it started raining I went into the tent to set up the bed and promptly went to sleep. I felt a bit bad when I woke up again about nine thirty and all was quiet. I didn't socialise with people that had given me cheese and an apple. But I managed to fall asleep again.

The neighbours

In the morning the ladies were up and I was able to say my thanks and be on my way. It's a fairly simple climb back up the Cowombat Track to Limestone Creek Road. The AAWT turns off before the Junction and my bucket is a couple of hundred metres past the AAWT turn off.

The track Out

Some Water

I get to the carpark and there are six cars here. I know of four couples so wonder who the others belong to. Further on I come to the AAWT turnoff and there are a couple camped here with clothes hanging out. I have a chat and they have been doing the AAWT from Walhalla in mid November. This was there resupply points and they tell me an animal has chewed through and their clothes have been damaged and waterlogged. I panic a bit but it turns out their food that was in a plastic bucket was OK. They wrapped their clothes in separate plastic bags and wrapped that in gaffer tape. Still the animals chewed through and wrecked his socks. I've learnt to wrap all smelly things away including soaps as any different smell the animals look for. I've made a mistake of leaving my chewies in my shirt pocket only to find rodents keenly interested.

The Carpark

My resupply bucket

The area they were camped was the best of a very damp area so I decide to fill with water and go get my bucket. It turned out OK and untouched. I was looking forward to the fruitcake and I thought my other treat was some Daryl Lee chocolate but it turned out to be a pack of Sour Patch Kids. Isabelle put me on to these. I like shoving a handful in my mouth and going through the contortions as the sourness and flavour fight with each other. The pack didn't last long.

A clearing beside the wet track

So the next decision was how far to go. The next camp spot is about 23 kilometres away and a large rain band is moving in. On the end I walk but keeping an eye out for a suitable camp spot that's level and not under trees. Hopefully before the rain hits. When I get to Limestone Creek Road there are another 4 cars parked up. In the end I did about 8 or 9 kilometres before I found a good spot. I set up and climbed in the tent as the rain started.

Set up for a rainy day

And it didn't stop. I ended up cooking in the tent and at 5 am it was still raining so I decided to take the day off. I didn't have a good forecast and signal on the phone wasn't helping but the last forecast had the rains easing Saturday. So I was hoping this was the main band and give it a day I will walk through the last of it on Friday. I had to wait till Belinda got out of bed and she gave me the good news that it was a lot of rain and there are flood warnings for creeks and rivers in my area. I will cross the Tambo River now on Sunday. They expect the peak Thursday night. So hopefully a zero day here will help.

The wet track

Problem though is I've lost all my downloaded books on Kindle. Don't know how or why. I've been reading all trip so unless my nipples have played up again who knows. Although Kindle is Amazon so they might have a thing that makes you go back. I haven't been online or in signal range since Thredbo so I can only put it down to me. Although I wouldn't have thought it would be that easy to inadvertently delete 10 or 15 books from the phone.

Anyway nothing to read. Did get a couple of hours sunshine before a new batch of rain moved in. Very relaxing day. Should be able to do 30k tomorrow. Omeo is 5 days away.

Day 224 Tin Mine Hut to Cowombat Flat

 NSW Day 82 Tuesday 4th January, 2022 16.5km

4478.4 / 620.5km

Rain persisted till about 8.30pm. Looks like a fair bit is due for rest of the week.

Low cloud but fairly warm. Much the same as yesterday. Wandering through forests the track gradually climbs all day. Not much viewing to be had when wandering through these forests.

Misty Mornings

I meet the track junction of Cowombat track and Snow gums track.

The Fire Damaged Trees

I wonder where Cowombat came from. The AAWT heads down SnowGums and as I'm sitting there a young man walks by. We have a chat for a while. He is cleaning up some of the Alpine Areas he missed. It's easy to do as you can follow many different paths and it's hard to pick up everything. I think I could spend the whole 8 months wandering around here. It would change so dramatically over the seasons. The snow/ice patches I walked through is my sole experience with the white stuff. Belinda and I have promised ourselves a snow holiday one year.

The trail

The trail then winds down to the Cowombat flat and the Murray River. I meet some ladies coming up. They are doing a section walk. It's getting warm and the thunderheads are forming.

I get to the Murray River and remove my 3 litres. Hope that doesn't cause the farmers downstream any trouble. Then it's a step across the water and I'm in Victoria.

A Step Across the Murray River

Just a short walk to go.

I climb up the flat buy looking at the sky decide to prop here for the night. About 3 o'clock the thunder starts and we start to have showers. I only just get my tent up and am sitting inside when a group of 3 walk in. We decide to share the patch of ground I'm on. I'm glad I did as Neville had some army ration cheese he offered me and Nadia offered me an apple. Both welcome.

Plane Remains A DC3

They are camping for two nights and visiting the head of the Murray River and visiting the Black/Allan cairn which marks the survey line from the head of the Murray to Cape Howe. The straight bit of the NSW/VICTORIA border.

On my desk at home is the beginnings of a plan to follow the Murray as one of my adventures. The visiting of the cairn is on that plan with a kayak down all the navigable Murray. Might be something Belinda could do with me.

The afternoon Storms moving in.

There's another tent already here and they roll up later. They have been up The Pilot ( a mountain). Another couple walk past about 6pm. They camp down by the Murray. Apparently people park at a car park 10k up the track and walk in.

My resupply bucket will have to wait till tomorrow. It's got my woollies single serve fruitcake. It's surprising I have short days but I feel I could sleep a lot more. Maybe it's for the best considering the terrain coming.

Day 223 Cascade Hut to Tin Mine Hut

 NSW Day 81 (223) 14.4km

Cascade Hut to Tin Mine Hut

4461.9 / 637km

Cascade Hut

It got cold really quickly after the sun went down and I'm a bit lazy getting out of bed as I know it's a short day. But as the sun comes up I can feel the heat building quickly.

I pack up and say some goodbyes to my camp mates then move off.

The Cascade Trail Continues

Not much to report today. I'm following The Cascade trail and it just winds it way through a sad looking Mountain Ash forest.

I think fire has killed the mature trees and now it will take many years to regenerate.

I get to the turn-off to Tin Mine Huts at midday.

I hesitate but the heat is building so in the end I call it a day and find a tree to laze the afternoon away.

Tin Mine Hut

Storms build up and I just get the tent up and pegged down when a thunderstorm comes across and drops a bit of rain. It's due to clear this evening and come again. Tomorrow. I want to get to my supply bucket tomorrow afternoon. This will mean crossing the border into Victoria some time tomorrow.

A longer day hope its cooler.

Day 222 Thredbo To Cascade Hut

 NSW Day 80 (222) Sunday 2nd January, 2022 12.4km

Thredbo To Cascade Hut

4447.5 / 651.4km

I sleep just as well in hotel rooms as I do in the tent. Which is badly. But I got up at sunrise and packed the pack ready. Breakfast opened at 7 and I went down to have a full belly to walk out on. Did the whole buffet.

The walk out of town

An old chair from the chairlift

Looking back across to the ski fields

The people at the information centre tell me I can't do the river walk to Dead Horse Gap so I decide to walk the Alpine Road instead.

I walk up through the various apartment blocks. Lot of people packing up to leave. I'm sure there is a shorter way up but I don't want to try as it may mean backtracking and with the hill I'm not in the mood to do it twice. When I get to the top I do see some stairs that come up by the youth hostel.

The road walk is not as bad as I thought. There are a couple of tight spots but for the most part I have plenty of room.

The Alpine Road

Looking towards Dead Horse Gap

I get to the carpark and meet a gent loading an electric mountain bike. Might be my next gift to myself. A young girl came up to look at the information board. She's on a 10 day mountain bike tour through the mountains. There is a lot of possibilities around here for the adventurous.

The start of the trail

The trail then follows the cascades trail over Bob's Ridge. It's a pleasant walk but the heat is starting to come in. I hope there's a cool change due soon. More possibility down this way I suppose.

I get to the hut about 1 o'clock and get to lie down and rest. There is a young lady here who has dropped her pack and has decided to go off for a run further down the track. I feel a little lazy lying down dozing. Two other gents on a day walk are here. They were hoping to catch sight of some Brumbys.

The trail

Through the snowgums

It's not until late in the afternoon I see a solitary Brumby across the river flats.

Another older gent rolls up to camp the night. He is going on a multi day hike. He hopes to climb a lump the track passes called The Pilot at 1829m.

One of the other campers

We all sit and discuss backpacking and our adventures. I'm rather ignorant as I didn't introduce myself or get their names. But we talk, we laugh and we move on.

Another short day planned tomorrow. Hopefully I'll build up some stamina for the hills to come.

Day 220 +221 Friday 31st December and 1st January 2022

 NSW Days 78 & 79 (219 &22) Thursday 30th and Friday 31st December, 2021

4435.1 / 663.8 km

I did wake early but couldn't be bothered and rolled over and slept in. In the end it was an extra 40 minutes. I pack up then had to climb up to the pass again then continue the climb to the Kosciusko summit.

Back up to Mueller's pass

There are other people up but I'm the first on this side to move. I thought maybe someone would go up for sunrise.

Last sunrise 2021

It's not until I'm on the last climb that I meet 7 people coming down. So thus might have been the Sunrise brigade. It's not until the last turn I realise I'm the only one up there.

Another ice-field to cross

Looking to Mt Townsend

Paved road up

Makes it a bit hard to get a shot of me up top and I spend a while getting the phone balanced on a rock. Running backwards and forwards and remembering to smile for Mushgang.

My selfie

I then sit and boil the billy and have breakfast in solitude up the mountain. I got about 40 minutes. Enough time to dry out my tent fly when the first of six runners gets to the top. Only one lady but loud and one bloke who loved to Woohoo a lot. What is it with Woohooers. I've never been a fan. Especially at concerts and stage shows. Anyway time to pack up and move along before I'm asked to take a picture of woohooing overachievers. Just overachieve without the woohoo.

Looking down to Rawsons Pass and the road to Charlotte's Pass

The path to Thredbo

The walk down I come across about 4 people coming up. They are from the Charlotte's Pass side. I stop for a quick change into shorts at the highest toilet block in Australia. Just as grubby as everywhere else where there is a lot of through traffic. The last time I came up here they had a donga for a toilet block.

The toilet

I then start the walk down the boardwalk to Thredbo. I have this to myself until about 9.15 then I see a line of foot traffic coming over the hill. Of course it strikes me the chairlift starts about 8.30. As I get closer to the terminal its just one long string of foot traffic. I think I did it right.

Looking back to Kosciuszko

The hordes coming over the hill

I get to the chairlift terminal and get out my wallet and mask and make my way to the Eagles Nest Restaurant and order the pancakes. No luck. They don't open the kitchen till 11am. It's 10. I get a long black and get a ride down to Thredbo. The crowd is overwhelming. The mountain bikers have taken the mountain over.

They found the snow

The top chairlift terminal

Last time I was here the mountain bikers had to carry their bikes on their laps on the chairlift. Now they have a rack at the back of the seat. There are hundreds of people up top on bikes and another hundred on the slopes letting gravity make their day. And thousands down the village. As you walk into the hotels the rooms to store skis are racked for bicycles and there are racks all around town to store bikes. A lift pass for a walker is 35. For a biker it's 65 I think. Then $29 a day for your car to be here I got off cheap walking over the range.

Thredbo

Mountain bikers on the way up

The hotel stored my pack whilst I restocked my supplies for the next leg. The shop was denuded and the store manager was a little shocked but its New Years Eve and all the people staying are buying up party snacks.

There's a NYE party at the pub and the band is set-up right under my window. One thing in my favour is the room has a LG brand smart TV which allows me to blue tooth my earbuds to it. The party finishes at 1am. I get to sleep about 3am. Happy new year.

The room also has a bath. That allows me to soak. The guest laundry only cost $1 to wash, $1 to dry and $1 for powder so that was good.

So a relaxing zero new years day eating snacks and fruit. Cleaning up and repacking for the next section. Off again tomorrow.

Setting up for New Years Eve from my window

Therdbo 7am