jjoz58 wrote:I suppose I should post about the walk I started on 11 Nov 2014, Mt Hotham to Tharwa.
Started on a bad day with high winds and heavy rain on the open ridges. Had a bit of a cold and the people in front of me had left the fire going in Derrick Hut and it was like an oven when I walked in. Meet 5 members of a Sydney club, 2 victorians with huge packs (8 - 10 days rations apparently) and 2 Russians walking from Bright to Mt Hotham at Dibbins Hut on the first day. I never saw another person until the NSW/Vic border but more about that later.
The going in and out of hot huts and into rain and wind worsened my cold so I ended up taking 3 days to get to Ropers hut including one day of 6 kms because I felt like s%$t. After Ropers it was all go and even though I had an extra day up my sleeve, I started to push it to make up some time.
Crossed the Mitta Mitta near Kennedy's Hut and I may have passed the NSW people then as there were some walkers near the bridge in the picnic area. Up to Johnnies Top where there is a new mobile tower and telstra has full bars.
Along Buenba Creek was alive with snakes and I saw 7 over the 5 odd Kms. 2 tigers as thick as my forearm, 4 brown coloured snakes and one snake that struck at my pole. I didn't know what sort it was as it had a black back, cream belly and an orange/red stripe down the side. My wife identified it when I spoke to her as a copperhead.
The area from Buenba creek to Wombat Flat Track, in Chapmans book is supposed to be poorly defined, but I found the track well marked. One of the Rangers in Omeo, Debbie, had said they had done a lot of work in this area and I found that true. I put in some big days across here to make up that day and I was actually got back on schedule. Coming up the steep spur to Cowombat Flat Track which I did early in the morning, I again hit lots of snakes on the rocky ledges. These were all black with cream bellies and are apparently another type of copperhead. Some of them didn't want to move either.
I reached the NSW/Vic border at lunch time on the 19th or about 300 metres short where the track comes up and there is a big rock fire place on the left. Had lunch then went over to take some photo's of the plane wreck. I was here in 1987 and there has been a lot of people taking souvenirs over the years as there is not much left.
Then Murphy raised his ugly head. I was bending over packing my pack and reached behind and down for the stove and when I straightened got a pain in my lower back that had me on the ground in spasms. In spite of 6-8 panadeine forts after one hour I pushed the button as I was going no where. I was still lying there 4 hours later when the local Omeo cop turned up with a paramedic. The 80 odd km trip back to Omeo Hospital was only accomplished with the generous application of morphine and muscle relaxers. At least I now know the inreach works.
I started worried about my hips that had both been replaced about 3 years ago and ended up injuring something I have never had trouble with. Turns out it was probably a pinched nerve as the specialist couldn't find anything except a bit of narrowing of the hole in the bottom disc. Just bad luck and I keep thinking I may have gone too hard to make up a day I didn't need to.
Still a very beautiful walk and I will be back, but probably with a group next time as a heap of people have asked if they can come along.
When I came back just before xmas to pick up the caches and rubbish, someone had knocked the one off (cache) at the blue water holes. I had them all marked with an expected arrival date so someone may have thought since I was over they could have it.
GBW wrote:Yer, great stuff Bushwalker99, hats off to you guys. Love to see some pics.
Bushwalker99 wrote:Hi jjoz58,
Sorry to hear that you couldn't complete your walk. We were the group of 5 who met you at Dibbins Hut and we often wondered how you went. We had a rest day at Taylors Crossing on the MItta Mitta river so it was probably us that you saw in camp when you came through. The water tank at Mt Wills was empty when we arrived so hope you found some. Based on your dates we arrived at Cowombat Flat the day after you.
Cheers,
Bushwalker 99
askew116 wrote:I've just completed the first draft of my itinerary, if anyone could take a look at it and offer advice, I'd really appreciate it.
I've based this itinerary on John Chapman's track notes. I'm looking for an easy-ish hike most days (if that's not an oxymoron to describe the AAWT!), and have included a few rest days and side trips.
Although I've included the actual dates, these are not necessarily going to be the dates, but is included for my own reference mainly.
Eljimberino wrote:I finished end to end south to north today if anyone has any questions.
Ride On
Eljimberino wrote:I finished end to end south to north today if anyone has any questions.
Ride On
Lophophaps wrote:Does anyone know if there is an accurate record of how many people have done the AAWT, or even an estimate? Also, is there a breakdown by year and direction?
madmacca wrote:There are a number of bushwalking clubs that have a regular calendar of walking a section each year, so that you would walk the entire trail over 5 or 6 years.
Acceptance by other government departments followed and grants were obtained to finance track marking. Work on the track started in 1970 and by 1976, the Alpine Walking Track was completed. The route was marked with distinctive yellow diamond markers, some of which still exist today. Much of the track linked together existing tracks thus reducing costs.
For 20 years, the Alpine Walking Track ended at the New South Wales border. The managers of the Kosciuszko National Park were not interested. In the early 1990's, a major change occurred when the governments of Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT recognised the Australian Alps as a single entity. The resulting cooperation has seen the track extended through to Canberra as originally proposed - it has thus become a symbol of the common link between all the parks. The eastern end of the track in Victoria was re-aligned to cross the state border in a more suitable location for continuing onto Canberra.
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