31.96km +1058m -1343m
Another cold morning. Eagle eyed readers may notice a pattern emerging. The gear I brought is proving to be just enough to keep me comfortable, but only barely. Lesson: do not underestimate overnight temperatures in the Australian alps, even in summer. Even on a short trip.
It’s warming up quick, and we’ve got a short sharp climb in our future.
Instead of the typical route past Oldfield’s hut and Murray’s gap, we’ve decided to take the Leura track over Leura gap to Cotter Flat for tonight. A sedate 15km or so with a fairly sharp climb along the way.
There’s a rather impressive bluff by this track, which might be nice to come back and explore someday.
I did not record the climb up the spur after Leura gap trail turns east, but it brought back memories of the Victorian section of the AAWT. We were both surprised at how well we managed it.
After that we had a look to see if we could identify the site if Leura hut, there was nothing but a spot marked on a map. We may have been in the wrong spot though.
We startled a tiger snake. It’s surprising we haven’t seen more snakes. Not much further and we crossed the border into the ACT at Leura gap.
From there the track was fairly rough and steeply downwards until we joined with the Mt Franklin road. This had a few refreshing streams crossing it in places, and with the day heating up we stopped to dip our hats into every one we crossed.
We caught glimpses of Corin Dam and Tidbinbilla mountain through the trees, and then Coronet Peak and Cotter Flat.
We crossed the Cotter river and sat in the shade for a light lunch and to rest our feet. Another 15km day. Rod didn’t much like the atmosphere at Cotter Flat. I tried to tell him it was fine, but he insisted that the place was haunted and we should press on. It was going to be a long day.
From Cotter Flat the AAWT stops being a shitty fire trail and becomes a foot track in a cleared swathe through ridiculous regrowth. The track climbs steadily, and sometimes sharply towards Cotter Gap. From this point I started to pace myself more while Rod pulled ahead, sometimes slowing so I could catch up. The day had become hot and fairly humid.
The rest of the day was largely spent ignoring foot pain and just walking. I caught up to Rod at Orroral tracking station.
Wandering around the old site and reading the placards left on the foundations of demolished buildings is an elucidating experience. The site was only in operation for twenty years or so. About half the time that has elapsed since it was decommissioned. At least the big dish was saved and shipped down to Tasmania where it continues to do useful work. The foreign trees and shrubs make for a range departure for the native scrub.
Wild dogs or dingos howl on the ridgeline to the south.
With 22km or so left to go, we’re sure to push through to the end tomorrow.
