22.31km +630m -833m
4am: A hut rat stole all my toilet paper in the night. I will have to improvise until Kiandra.
5am: It rained through the night again. We have to decide whether to attempt crossing the Valentine and then possibly other swollen creeks further north for 12km of slow, wet walking, or go back 4km to Valentines hut (also slow wet walking) and rejoin the official AAWT as it follows a nice open fire trail north. Though it adds quite a bit of distance, this is the safer option and probably what we’ll decide on after we’ve had breakfast and wandered down to look at the Valentine again.
6am: We’ve decided to retrace our steps to Valentine’s hut. We’re in no hurry to go scrub bashing in the wet and cold, but we don’t have much choice.
At Valentine’s hut we ran across yet another school group, this one looking rather wet and bedraggled, and some cyclists doing the 1000km Melbourne to Canberra Hunt 1000. I wondered what the falls were looking like, but apparently the way down had become treacherous.
One thing we didn’t bank on when deciding to come this way was that we would still have to cross Valentine’s creek and the Geehi river, but further downstream and with more water. The news we were hearing was that both were passable, but only barely. I got a video of Rod crossing Valentine’s creek after me, but not the Geehi (which was at crotch level) because I was too concerned with making sure we both got across safe.
After that there was creek after swollen creek to cross. My waterproof boots filled up and did a decent job of keeping the water from escaping.
Mount Jagungal (in mist). Perhaps another time.
With wet feet in need of a fire and hikers, cyclists and school groups abounding, we decided to check out Derschkos hut, about 1.4km off the AAWT and avoid potential crowds. Some cyclists came through and had lunch about an hour after we got there, but then left it to us.
Tomorrow there are more water crossings, though likely none as intense as the two big ones we did today, and I predict nicer weather and somewhat decreasing levels. After the effort I’ve gone to to dry my boots today, I’m going to take the time to take them off at each crossing and keep my feet fairly dry.
It’s about 15/16km to Mackay’s hut from here, but another 25 to the next hut, so assuming good weather I’ll probably just camp wherever looks good once I’ve put down some decent distance. I’ll probably lose Rod as he powers through the crossings in his trail sneakers.
We haven’t had phone reception since leaving the main range three days ago, and may not again for a day or two. I hope people at home aren’t seeing the weather and worrying.
There was a roll of toilet paper in the hut. Part of it was damp, but like cutting mould off a piece of cheese, I have found a way to make do, and am grateful.
