AAWT Day 8: Mt Magdala Saddle to Viking Saddle, 184.1 km (18.5km today)

Shortest distance yet but toughest day.

I was looking forward today. Back into some known terrain that I’d previously hiked but in foul weather. Up ahead I had Mt Howitt to climb, the Crosscut Saw to traverse and a bunch of unjustifiably horrible sounding mountain names like Mt Buggery, Mt Speculation and Mt Despair, on towards to Razor and Viking.

Last time I was here was to do an outrageous two circuit of the Razor-Viking Wilderness area, making my way down the Wanangatta River and up the Zeka Spur Track. I made it but the weather was atrocious with next to no views. Today was a stark contrast. Clear blue skies with expansive views out and across todays route.

I made excellent time to ascent Mt Howitt and flew down the shallow spur line joining onto the Crosscut Saw, a blade line ridge with jutting rocks forming the saw teeth. This section is track was well maintained and straight word. Spectacular country with the track criss crossing over the ridge to avoid the steepest sections and rock and following right over the top of others. Fantastic stuff.

Across the Saw its a sharp, rocky climb down to the base of Mt Buggery and straight back up to towards the summit. It’s fair to say I was buggered by the time I reached Mt Buggery and had such a long day still ahead.

Next was Mt Speculation with another massive climb up. In sections short vertical rock faces had to be climbed, ropes fixed for assistance in spots. Hard work but incredible views. I found cell service on top and texted the Pott’s to let them know where I was almost exactly a week later.

I’d left myself short of water again and had about 250ml again on top of Mt Speculation. This time I wasn’t so worried, knowing there was water at Camp Creek not far away off the summit. This meant a diversion off the AAWT which I was completely comfortable with. The original routes flows a very sharp spur line down into oblivion to Catherine Saddle. I’d hiked this before and knew exactly what it entailed. The diversion to Camp Creek would allow me to follow the long closed Mt Speculation Road across contour to Catherine Saddle anyway. Slightly longer but much easier and water on the way.

Camp Creek was a welcome sight with clear water gushing from a culvert. A great early lunch stop.

Following the Mt Spec road was more like walking a creek bed at times with deep wash outs caused by recent rains and a very rocky surface. It was along here I saw snake number 2 of this trip, surprised I haven’t seen many more. I have no gaiters so I’m always cautious of feet placements.

Next to follow was Mt Despair another section of track I knew to be well overgrown. Much to my surprise fire crews had been at it again and I was greeted with cleared vegetation all the way to the summit. I was expecting my already cut up legs to get way more cut up through this section and so was wearing legging to provide some form of protection but they were so hot (not stylish hot 😝). But I knew beyond the top of Mt Despair the track is well into the wilderness area and the track would be non existent at times. I had to keep them on.

I wasn’t wrong. This section of track towards the Viking Saddle was incredibly rough and brought back all the struggles of having previously hiked it. Incredibly steep, very rocky and overgrown. Many false leads try to steer you down into the abyss but I remembered if in doubt always head back towards the ‘ridge line’ (read rock escarpment). There were only a few times I wandered off course, managing to correct direction before getting too lost.

Another tiring and very hard day. I was looking forward to getting to camp at the Viking Saddle but we n approach considered continuing on if I could push myself. The trail follows along a spur line for more than 2 kilometres and for the entire length all I could see in front was downed fire killed trees. You see where crews had cleared the jumble of logs only to have fresh new one fall across their work. At times it was like a jungle gym, over some, under others and through the odd one. The wind was howling and looking up all I could were more trees waiting to come down. We wouldn’t send our fire crews into this sort of country so why the bloody hell would I want to camp in.

Much to my relief on reaching the saddle the area opened up into more of a clearing and had obviously been less effected fire than the surrounding flanks with far leas dead standing trees above. This was great as it was a massive day already and I’m not sure I could have pushed on. Up ahead lay the Viking Chimney and summit then a further 6km on treacherous terrain down towards Barry Saddle.

I couldn’t go on and called it a night.