{"id":1662,"date":"2022-03-07T08:27:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-06T22:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyergmail.direct.quickconnect.to\/wordpress\/?p=1662"},"modified":"2023-07-07T16:12:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T06:12:33","slug":"australian-alps-walking-track-week-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/australian-alps-walking-track-week-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Alps Walking Track – Week 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

When I left, it was rainin\u2019 so nobody saw me cry.
Big river, why she doin\u2019 me this way?<\/em><\/p>\nJohnny Cash.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Day 15 began with a 7km road bash up to Hotham Heights. I visited the trig at Mt Hotham and the visitors centre for a chat, then continued on the AAWT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took a pleasant side trip to Mt Loch and visited another trig. The mountain landscape was laid out all around me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mount Loch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The AAWT proceeds gently downhill for 2.5km, passing Derrick Hut. This hut was erected by the Wangaratta Ski Club following the tragic death of legendary skiier Charles Derrick in a snowstorm on a solo race from Mt Bogong to Mt Hotham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Derrick Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are numbered poles lining the route from Mt Hotham to Mt Bogong. I followed them down the steep 350m descent to the rustic Dibbins Hut, where I camped for the night. I shared dinner with a lovely brother and sister who left their family farms for an annual bushwalk (something I have started doing with my siblings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dibbins Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Day 16 was a beauty! The track climbs 350m up on to the Bogong High Plains. The mostly barren plateau provides excellent walking. I had lunch with some young Parks Victoria staff at Cope Hut – they even gave me an easter egg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The track continues, for a time following an aqueduct where I chatted to a group of horse riders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I finished the day at Edmonsons Hut. After the weeks of solo walking I craved company. Sharing a campfire with the Traralgan College Year 12 Outdoor Education class and teachers was enormous fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The crew at Edmonsons Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Day 17 was another cracker! Beautiful cloudless sky. Wonderful walking. Wouldn\u2019t be dead for quids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Bogong High Plains with Mt Bogong in the distance <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to include the Mt Bogong summit on my walk so I left the AAWT and took Timms Spur down to Big River. It\u2019s a 600m drop over 6.5km on a very well graded fire trail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Big River crossing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What goes down must come up. In this case, a 850m climb up Quartz Ridge. It\u2019s a well defined walking track with great views. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Climbing Quartz Ridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Top of Quartz Ridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the top of Quartz Ridge you traverse across the Hooker Plateau before the final ascent of Mt Bogong, an elevation of 1986m. Here are spectacular 360\u00b0 views. I put down my pack and rotated\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Mt Bogong summit <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Mt Bogong there is a 4.0km downhill stroll to Cleve Cole Hut. This is a solid stone hut with all mod cons, including running water (although there was mosquito larvae squirming in it). I camped here for the night with no other visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cleve Cole Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Day 18 I returned to the official AAWT route which follows the Long Spur eastwards. The track is reasonably easy to follow before crossing a fire trail at Big River Saddle. Then a climb up to Mt Wills track on a foot pad that is vague at times, and a final climb to Mt Wills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View from Mt Wills<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I camped near Mt Wills hut. Another AAWT jogger, heading south, was sleeping in the hut. He said the weather forecast was bad so he would rest the next day. Perhaps I should have done the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mt Wills South <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leaving Mt Wills on Day 19 I followed the AAWT over Mt Wills South as it descended to the Omeo Highway. The heavens opened and I was soaked to the skin. Worse was to come, and I found myself in the middle of a violent electrical storm as I followed the AAWT along a ridge to the east.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The track descended steeply to a creek crossing, the water high and fast as a result of the storm. I made the crossing but lost the track, and it was some time later that I found it again, having bashed through some thick scrub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rain eased and I was soon back on fire trails. The descent towards Taylors Crossing was hazardous at times as the rain had made the clay based track wickedly slippery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Taylors Crossing I dried out and had dinner with other AAWT hikers who were heading south. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 20 was a short day, following the Mitta Mitta River at a leisurely pace before the track climbs. I found my food drop about 500m from the Benambra-Corryong Road and camped for the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 21 was spent climbing over 900m to Johnnies Top. It\u2019s not a steep climb, and by this stage of the walk I was quite fit. I had been told the next part of the walk, a descent to Buenba Flat, was littered with fallen trees and very slow going. Lucky me, a dozer had gone through the day before and cleared it. I still had a long day and didn\u2019t get to camp until 7.30pm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some progress totals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps: 660,000
Snakes sighted: 18
Leaches sighted: 1
Other AAWT walkers sighted: 3
Flies sighted: Plenty. <\/p>\n\n\nPhoto Gallery<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\tAAWT_Week_3 <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>GPX\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/marker>\n\t\t\t\t<\/defs>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t50<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t100<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t150<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t200<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t\t5<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t\t10<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t\t15<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/rect>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\tDistance (km)<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t (m)<\/text>\n\t\t\t\t<\/path>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/line>\n\t\t\t\t<\/g>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t
No elevation data<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
Name: <\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tNo data<\/em><\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t
Distance: <\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tNo data<\/em><\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t
Minimum elevation: <\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tNo data<\/em><\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t
Maximum elevation: <\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tNo data<\/em><\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t
Elevation gain: <\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tNo data<\/em><\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t
Elevation loss: <\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tNo data<\/em><\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t
Duration: <\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\tNo data<\/em><\/td>\n\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t<\/table>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I left, it was rainin\u2019 so nobody saw me cry. Big river, why she doin\u2019 me this way? Johnny Cash. Day 15 began with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[34,33],"class_list":["post-1662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bushwalking","tag-aawt","tag-australian-alps-walking-track"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/img_3194-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1662"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3122,"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1662\/revisions\/3122"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geoffgoodyer.synology.me\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}