NSW High Country Camp 2014

Monday 31 March to Sunday 6 April 2014
Led by Mary and Stan

Words by Karen M, Susan, Elizabeth & Geoff, and Mary
Photos by Brian, Karen & Bob M

 

There's a lovely little bush campsite 12 km east of Thredbo on the Thredbo River called The Diggings. Facilities include 3 long drop toilets, several fireplaces, possums, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, deer, trout and a 5km circuit walk to Bullocks Flat which we never got to do because there was so much else going on. Seventeen of us set up our camp in this idyllic spot, while 6 others stayed at the highly recommended Thredbo Youth Hostel.

Our leaders Mary and Stan, had extensively researched the walks and the area and offered 3 grades of walk each day. All of the walks were close to Thredbo, so there wasn't a lot of long distance driving involved.

Day 1 - Summit of Mount Kosciuszko
All 3 walking groups did a variation of this walk from the top of the chairlift to Kosciusko summit with different return journeys. Here's the report from the YHA six.

Our Medium/Hard walkers led by Stan, met at the bottom of the Express Chairlift for a cool and invigorating ride to the top of the Thredbo Range. Under a light cloud cover with a typical mountain breeze, we walked upwards from the chairlift along the raised metal track, stopping at Kosciuszko and Lake Cootapatamba Lookouts. This glacial lake contains the freshest water on mainland Australia, and while there are no fish, crustaceans make their home in this icy water, evidence of which we discovered later.

Both lookouts provided fine views over unique Alpine formations and flora. Throughout the walk, there were a few Gentians, Alpine Daisies, Eye-bright and Bluebells showing their last flush of flowers before the onset of winter.

We pushed on upwards with our goal in sight, and after stopping at the highest toilet block in Australia at Rawson's Pass, finally reached the Kosciuszko Summit where many photos were taken. Here the views of the surrounding range were magnificent.

On the return from the summit, having left Rawson's Pass behind, we left the formed track and headed off to the right down to a rocky outcrop in the valley overlooking Lake Cootapatamba where we had a welcome lunch. After lunch, we headed south east towards North Ramshead before turning east for an arduous climb up over the saddle and down the other side to reach the metal walkway leading us back to the chairlift.  

 

Morning tea at the lookout Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Donna, Susan, Lorelle, Heather and Karen Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Some of the group at Rawsons Pass Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Mary and Karen at the summit Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Rodney and Bob at Lake Cootapatamba Kosciuszko Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Offtrack in the Ramshead Range Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 2 - The Cascade Trail and Pilot Wilderness
Again all 3 groups walked versions of this walk. Here is Elizabeth & Geoff's report on the Medium/Hard walk.

Eleven bushwalkers headed off on the Cascade Trail, near Dead Horse Gap, on a beautifully sunny mountain morning. We started by going upstream to the crossing of the Thredbo River, and then continued upstream along a narrow foodpad where we followed the brumbies' poo trail across the Boggy Plain. A stiff climb from the Cascade Trail led to Bob's Ridge where we had an extensive view into misty Victoria.

It was downhill nearly all the way back to the cars. What a great walk, and we were especially lucky to see a mob of brumbies in the distance and two galloping close by the track.  

 

Mary's group at the Cascade Trail Head Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Stan leads his group into the Pilot Wilderness Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Break by Thredbo River Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Enjoying the big sky country Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Snowy white mountain gentian Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Bob on his ridge Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 3 - Thredbo Valley Trail
This is a one way walk extending from Thredbo Village to The Diggings Campsite and our 3 groups walked various sections of it.

Mary spent a sleepless night working on her car shuffle flow chart and key-swap masterplan to ensure that we all got back to camp one way or another. (It worked seamlessly, by the way.)

I walked the 16.5km along the entire length of the track. We started off in spitting rain, which gradually got heavier as we neared the campsite. The Thredbo Valley Trail is still being constructed, so we had to negotiate a couple of tricky bits in the middle of the walk where river crossings and culverts were still being bridged. It's going to be an amazing track when complete and will be dual use for walkers and mountain bikes. The several bridges crossing the Thredbo River are highly engineered steel and cable affairs and must have cost a pretty penny....Karen M  

 

One of the new highly engineered bridges on the Thredbo Valley Trail Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Libby and Elizabeth Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Heather and Geoff Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 5 - Lay Day and Evening Dinner
The rain had well and truly set in for the day and we were thankful for Mary and Stan's efforts in erecting the Club tarpaulin shelter over a picnic table which gave us somewhere to gather out of the rain, warming ourselves by Karen & Bob's brazier. Some of us drove into Jindabyne to do a few chores and check out the cafes and shops (great sale on at the outdoor shop!) Others headed into Thredbo for a swim and hot shower at the Leisure Centre. Or lunch and schnapps tasting at the Wild Brumby Distillery just up the road.

Mary and Stan arranged dinner that night at the Crackenback Farm B&B Restaurant, a short drive away from camp. It's a rustic little place with a good bar and big open fire. We had pre-ordered our food from a choice of 3 mains, which started arriving as soon as we were seated, so no-one had to wait to be served. Dessert was a clever assortment of small tasting dishes to be shared by each table. We had also pre-paid, so apart from settling up for a few coffees at the bar, we were able to head back to camp whenever we chose.

I must say, this is one of the most enjoyable and fuss-free camp dinners I've attended, mostly due to our leaders' careful pre-planning with the restaurant staff. The food was good too.  

 

Dinner at Crackenback Farm B and B Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	And here's the rest of us Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Brian's trout Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

Day 6 - A walk around Geehi Huts
Persistent rain overnight Friday, and waking to a wet morning, was the catalyst for 12 members deciding to head for home a day early. By the time the remaining 12 gathered at the camp at 10am, the weather appeared to be clearing. Indeed the girls staying at the YHA said that the sun was shining in Thredbo! So without any delay off we all set for Geehi Flats Campground.

Our first short walk was to examine Geehi Hut, an 11m x 9m, 3 roomed, "river stone" building originally built in 1952. The return walk was along the old airstrip, which was built in 1959 by the Snowy Mountains Authority to support the thousands of people living and working in the area during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.  

 

A little bit of rain couldn't stop this lot Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Libby at Geehi Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo	Keebles Hut at Geehi Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo

 

After lunch, in another building made from river stones, we crossed back over the Swampy Plains River and walked a section of the Bicentennial National Trail to explore Keebles Hut, which was built as a fishing lodge in 1948 by Arthur Keeble.

Back to Thredbo and, with the weather remaining fine, after dinner we gathered together for a final campfire. As flames leapt and coals flickered, stories were told, poetry read and songs sung well into the night. A great finale to the High Country Camp!  

END   

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