23.3km +1083m -1014m
It’s a bright clear morning, if a bit frosty. I’m going to do the Bogong loop, and probably finish up at Cleve Cole Hut. Rod is heading north across the Big River crossing and then around to Big River Saddle, so we’re parting ways for now. It’s a bitter parting, as neither of us feel the other pulled their weight collecting firewood yesterday, and Rod chose to spend the night sulking outside in his tent instead of in the warm hut.
Phone reception through these parts has been much better. I even enjoyed a FaceTime call with my lady love from Timms Spur.
Down to Big River. This may be my first boots-off crossing so far.
After a barefoot crossing through frigid water, I sat on a log and dried my feet then enjoyed an early lunch of scroggin and jerky. There’s a significant climb up Quartz Ridge ahead of me.
Cleve Cole Hut is certainly the most impressive I’ve seen so far, though I’m aware that I’ve yet to enter the “tour de hut” stretch of the walk, so it’s early days. It’s built of stone and even has what might euphemistically be called a shower. I seem to have the place to myself, and the stiff breeze blowing across the knoll outside is encouraging me to spend the night inside again.
