Ants around Feathertop!
Posted: Thu 05 Dec, 2024 3:37 pmAnyone familiar with the Bogong High Plains will naturally also be familiar with the accompanying multitude of ants that magically rise up out of ground to spoil your lunch as you relax on the grass. However, my experience up near Feathertop yesterday was a first. A day walk up Bungalow and then up on to the summit was superb under cloudless blue skies and the action of the helicopter hauling the toilet pods in and out at Fed hut was exciting to see. I then walked down to MUMC and was shocked to find so many ants. As soon as you stood still they engulfed your shoes and then worked their way up your legs. I strode into the hut for some respite but was equally shocked to see ants everywhere - floor, bench seats, window ledges. There was no way you could have camped either in or outside the hut. I'm presuming the weather is the cause (as I have never seen this on m previous 10 or so trips to the hut) with so much rain falling recently. The next 500m down NW Spur was no better - you HAD to keep moving to avoid the ants. Additional notes: the springs at old Fed Hut site and Tom Kneen track below Feathertop were pumping. Fed Hut tank however is only 1/3 full according to Parks as they are replacing roof guttering. Apparently only half the hut was collecting the recent rainfall. Also, the day finished with an inglorious bum slide/shimmy over the log at Stoney Creek such was the force of water!
