24.07km +1709m -1045m
I do miss my hobbit hole. Why did I ever get it into my head to go on an adventure?
The Hobbit (poorly paraphrased)
I put my still-damp clean clothes in my hammock’s underquilt before retiring last night. This morning they are perfectly dry.
The sun came out just as I summited Mount Easton. 570 vertical meters over 3.8km in an hour and a half. Now it’s downhill in sunshine to blue jacket and red jacket, and decide what to do from there.
Red Jacket is a former gold town, now little more than a historic marker placards and a cemetery.
While some sites with headstones are still obvious, the careful eye will discern terraces to each side of the roughly stepped walkway as it mounts the hill. Each terrace is roughly six feet by three and bears a shallow depression and a scattering of smooth rocks from the river. Perhaps it’s the weariness from all the walking, but I can’t help imagine the weight of carrying a deceased loved one up this hill.
The river by comparison is shaded and lovely, despite the endless tracts of blackberry.
I have a difficult decision now. It’s 25km to the next sure water at Black River. Too far to reach today, having already come 12.5km and the time being 11:30. I’m tempted to make for Bob’s Hut (11.3km and 866m climb) or Fiddlers Green (12.8km, 920m), both of which are potential, but not guaranteed water sources. I will have to carry extra with me, just in case.
Staying here isn’t really an option. There are hours and hours left in the day and a long way to go.
Plus, the cemetery is totes spooky.
An utter bastard of a slog up the spur from Red Jacked, and that was after I missed the turn off and had to backtrack a hundred meters or so.
Saw another tiger snake. This one pissed off too quickly for me to get a photo, but not before hissing and giving me the stink eye.
I gritted my teeth and pushed on. Near Mount Victor there is a dam behind a fire fighting reservoir. I filled a water bottle hoping not to have to use it. The fat tadpoles scattered.
I met a parks Victoria employee who stopped to chat briefly as he drove past. He pointed out that this is a long weekend and there will be lots of people out four-wheeling. I hope there isn’t too much walking off foot tracks over the next few days.
I made it to Bob’s Hut. The water tank is full. Though it’s the least colourful water I’ve collected in days, I’ll still filter it. No telling what the inside of the tank looks like.
This is getting tough. My feet are tender, though not blistered. All I’m concerned with is making it to the next drop at Rumpff, and then Hotham. I may extend my stay at the ski lodge there. No shame in needing a rest. And I need to dump some extra weight out of my pack if I can. I’ll be leaving a bunch of food in the drop which I will reach either tomorrow or the day after.
I haven’t had mobile reception since the morning of day 3, and I’m worried that my partner is worrying about me. I hope I find reception tomorrow.
