27.34km +536m -781m
Just a short walk to Kiandra. We decided to cut across country and shave 3km or so off the distance back to the trail.
Resupply at Kiandra.
Being the last one through has its perks: Thanks Ron and Jimmy for all the uneaten treats!
Also in the hut last night were hikers Cameron and Jane from Dunedin in NZ. Jane is doing the AAWT southbound and her husband Cameron is supporting and doing sections with her. Cameron kindly offered to pack out our empty caches once he gets back to his car in a couple of days, so we left the mostly empty buckets under his Prado. There were still a lot of meals and snacks we lacked either the room or desire to carry. Even so; tonight we eat well of chocolate and treats.
Crossing the Eucumbene
Another day of horrible weather followed by trying to dry out by a fire. Witzes hut is another charmingly rustic old hut. The 1952 structure is built partly using materials from an older hut that stood on the site, itself built in 1882. The walls are made of vertical adzed slabs and over a hundred years old.
Out the windows we were able to see feral pigs and horses going about their business.
Tomorrow we cross the Murrumbidgee, but with the recent rains and the state of every water crossing we’ve done so far, we won’t even bother attempting to wade it, which would likely be a very dangerous undertaking. Instead we’ll take the 5.6km longer diversion that will take us safely over a bridge.
