Main Range Circuit

[bigkev]

Cup weekend in Melbourne provided me with an opportunity to head up to the Main Range and revisit an old favourite, the Main Range circuit via Thredbo, Mt Townsend, Blue Lake, and Charlottes Pass.

The first night I camped on the ridge between Muellers Peak and Mt Townsend, the second night I camped on the Snowy River near Charlottes Pass, and I was out on the third day in time for lunch at the bakery at Thredbo. My total distance for the walk, including side trips was about 46 kilometres.

There was still lingering snow, particularly going up to Mt Townsend, but it was just a matter of picking my way around the steeper sections. The weather on the walk however was perfect, with not a drop of rain.

I basically followed Chapman's notes, and have written up a more detailed trip report here http://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/Goinferalonthemainrange with about 70 pics.

Lake Albina

Blue Lake

Mt Townsend from near Seamans Hut

Hardcore walkers only on the track.

[Onestepmore]

Nice little circuit Kevin
It looks lovely with the remnants of snow, especially around the lakes

Is that a trolley bag that dude is towing?
Last time we were there we saw all sorts of odd gear. One guy was slogging along in gumboots. Many in jeans and no hats or gloves with sopping wet hair in the sleet. A group of dejected Koreans in matching flapping plastic orange radiation suits that had all torn at the crotch.
And I felt sorry for those who made the trek up to Kosci with heavy tripods only to have everything completely shrouded in cloud.

[bigkev]

Hi OSM,
He's towing an Esky with wheels, I'm not sure if he had his lunch in there or maybe he was planning to ride it down some of the snow drifts!?

The Snowy Mountains Charity motorbike ride was on the weekend that I was there so there was all sorts making the trek out to Kosi, unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the biker on the Crackenback lift with his pet dog, complete with patched leather vest!

By the way, I hope you have a great time down in Patagonia, I'm very jealous.

[Onestepmore]

I was jealous of your Patagonian write up!

[kanangra]

BigKev,

I just read the full report. Really enjoyed it. Magazine style, very good. My favourite time of year up there. Still a bit of snow about and the march flies and crowds not yet out.

K.

[bigkev]

Hi Kanangra,

Thanks for reading my report, I keep it pretty simple as the site that hosts it isn't a hardcore walking site.

I agree that this is the best time of the year in the alpine country, enough snow to make it look interesting, some wild flowers out, and yeah, no flies or crowds!

[Giddy_up]

bigkev thanks for that great trip report and great photos, it sure is beautiful up there and your timing looked spot on. Well done and thanks for the share.

[bigkev]

Hi Giddy_Up,

Thanks for checking out my report, I'm glad you found it interesting.

The timing was a fluke, when ever I get a long weekend I'm off somewhere, but I certainly got lucky this time.

[sanbot]

Beautiful pictures. I checked out your detailed trip report and there were pictures of some rocky parts which looked fun. Is there much of that?

[bigkev]

Hi Sanbot,

The only two spots where I had to actually climb up rocks were North Rams Head and Mt Townsend, when I was there the snow was more of an issue. If you want to do a bit of scrambling there are plenty of places just off the track to play.

[north-north-west]

Beautiful pictures. I checked out your detailed trip report and there were pictures of some rocky parts which looked fun. Is there much of that?

The Ramsheads have some nice scrambling. There are really easy routes up all the peaks and tors, but many of them also have more 'interesting' routes. You can just pick a side and see how far up you get.