29.22km +1255m -1877m Passed a very pleasant night in Cleve Cole. Cut some firewood for the hut in the afternoon for lack of anything better to do, then had a merry little fire to warm the old stones. Seems to be shaping up to be a nice day. I’m tempted to detour to Howman’s Falls, but I’m vaguely considering making for the disappeared ghost town of Sunnyside, which would be a longish day on its...
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...
18.45km +325m -307m Rod’s plan for the day was to head for the crossing of Big River, while I would take the side road towards an upstream crossing of the same river and do Mount Bogong tomorrow. Wallace’s Hut Wallace’s first attempt at a hut And then it started pissing down; cold, hard and sideways. We were both pretty wet before long, and getting cold, so we decided to head for Roper’s Hut...
25.1km +793m -830m Are you a horse? Yay or nay? Rod I did some foot maintenance before leaving. The entire soles of my feet are starting to callous up. Called into The General for one last delicious latte. I’m going to miss their food. Mt Feathertop I wonder why they call it that? Farewell Mt Hotham, you were lovely. Thank fuck, I’m back on walking tracks. Derrick Hut And I thought this was...
252.9km +14,317m -13,194m On the insanity that is Hammock Camping: The hammock itself is a single layer gathered-end from Dream Hammock; my second one from the company and I highly recommend them. The infinite customisation they offer can be daunting for the newbie, and they’re not the cheapest, but in my opinion well worth it. Their fit and finish is without equal. To scrimp on weight, mine is...
A day for going over gear, repacking food, and making adjustments. I waxed my boots, patched the hole in my food bag, decided which food to pack and which to leave, and did innumerable little chores for the section ahead. I went through everything and tried to find stuff I could send home. I cut another strap off my backpack that hasn’t been used. I’m heavily tossing up whether to send my...
22km +1155m -826m The road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began Now far ahead the road has gone And I must follow, if I can Pursuing it with weary feet Until it meets some larger way Where many paths and errands meet And whither then, I cannot say Tolkien Back to some nice views and off fire trails for a bit. I’m really not in the mood. Looks like gold diggings I’ve been curious...
25.61km +1684 -1499 Huge storm last night. Just as it was starting a possum came down one of the trees I was hanging from and made angry noises at me. But the hammock weathered both the storm and possum. My first fuel bottle finally ran out. Considering I’d budgeted three to Hotham and I’m nearly there, that’s pretty good. Ron said he nearly used a whole one before Rumpff. I guess a windshield...
25.68km +1780 -2372 The view from the toilet at vmumble gmumble hut. No storm overnight. Hopefully I’ll be as lucky again tonight. Crosscut Viking Rod was dead weight so I left him on the approach to Crosscut and continued on alone. (This is terrible storytelling; you should never have two characters with easily confused names, such as Rod and Ron.) Rod disappearing in my dust Storms forecast for...
25.2km +1611m -1375m Distant thunder rumbles, rumbles hungry like the beast, Tupelo bound. Sage? Rod was walking slower than I needed to be going, so I left him behind and pressed on up Mount Clear. Many of these names will pop up later Spooky! The day has cleared up, but there’s more weather on the way later. King Billy one and two. I’m about to pass over or around the two King Billy mountains...
18.05km +1432m -1013 I’ll have to be more careful with my phone usage. Uploading blog posts with poor reception in particular is a big battery drain, so I’ll ration those out or wait until I get to Hotham. When we awoke there was a third tent in the campsite. Neither of us heard him get in at the late hour of 8pm. He’d left Walhalla at 3pm the same day I started. He’s trying for Chester’s Yards...
20.5km +745m -1144m Had a nice sleep in and reorganised my food from the comfort of my sleeping bag. Onwards! Into the wild… (grey?) yonder! I’m beginning on the section that includes Mount Buggery, Crosscut Saw and The Viking. There should be some amazing views assuming it’s not all cloud. Oh no! Not my vehicle! I told you water wasn’t going to be a problem. A better warning than the sign. Swim...
