Posted by Camping out in the open on top of grass is never a good option. Without the shelter of trees it is always going to mean a wet tent with lots of condensation and that is exactly what I had. Knowing there was another short distance but long day ahead I jumped up to get going as the sun came up.
I was running short on water and todays mission was all about getting to Cheater yards where a natural spring has plenty of the good stuff. But before that I knew there were some very steep climbs ahead. A north wind was blowing bring warm air and it felt like it was going to be a hot day. Water rationing was the order if the morning.
From camp there was an immediate climb up to High Cone on single track somewhat obscured by vegetation. I lost the foot pad a couple times managing to recognise I was off track before venturing too far and regaining the faint footpath again. A few minor rock scrambles required. Of course what goes up must come down and that became the mantra for the rest of that.
Off High Cone it was down to an open grassy saddle before climbing up again towards Square Top. On top the trail become indistinguishable and it was a matter of choosing my own path in many sections. At least directionally it was fairly straight forward to follow – staying off the immediate top to skirt around the more open western flanks on rocky terraces. Then down again and up towards Mt Clear.
By the time I’d reached Mt Clear I was down to about 250ml of water which needed to last another 4km. I was exhausted and obviously getting dehydrated. The short climb to the summit seemed to take forever and felt like such hard work.
Views from the top were amazing but I new I couldn’t linger for long and needed to get to water soon. The descent down like all descents in this country was straight down, goaticle (no quite vertical but more suited to goats than humans) in spots, requiring some short down climbs on rock faces.
Entering into a open saddle area I noticed a few rock pools filled with water from recent rains. They water looked perfectly clear and unpolluted so without a second thought I was desperate enough to scoop up half a litre, without filtering and immediately throw in electrolytes to my water bottle for some welcome relief. This would at least get me through to the next guaranteed water source 4 kilometres away.
Reaching Cheater Yards was like walking into an oasis. Clear spring waters gusting from the ground. I drank half a litre before doing anything else. Satiated the lush green grass to too much of an allure not to lay down in, take off the shoes and enjoy lunch. I made sure I was fully stocked with water before departing.
From Cheater Yards the AAWT again followed an old track, undulating towards King Billy No2 and No1.
It was certainly hot. Without a thermometer it was difficult to gauge but I would say in the high 20’s for sure. Buckets of sweat were pouring out of me and I had the umbrella up for the first time for sum protection. Immediate temperature drop once the canopy was over my head and it meant I could take my saturated cap off.
Stopping for a short break at King Billy No 1 I found I had full cell service. This was amazing as it meant to could arrange one thing that had been playing in my mind. I needed to swap the hat I had borrowed from Kowen and somehow get my hiking cap back. I made a call to work mates and was able to pull together a special mission for them – retrieve my cap from home and have them brought out to my next food drop off the Benambra-Corryong Road in about a weeks time. There was no hesitation, everyone working together to make this happen. It makes you feel special and part of large family working with a close knit district team. My food drop site is well within our district patch and next to a planned burn that I am running so there was always the excuse that crew had to ‘inspect’ burn preparations.
Sorry Kowen, your cap has been very much needed and I was looking forward to wearing it all the way to Canberra and beyond but its just too thick, doesn’t breath at all and is overheating my head on massive climbs. But you don’t want this one back – its way too gross now. I’ll buy you a brand new one.
After this short but needed rest it was back at it. Of course given I was up high I had to head straight back down. The consolation, beauty single track to the base of Mt Magdala.
Mt Magdala was another epic climb but the views well worth the sustained effort. Way too steep for such a hot day. I don’t know how anyone could contemplate hiking the AAWT in summer, sweating their arses off in summer heat. Although a hot day and saturated with sweat, my shirt instantly dried on the summit with a thin line of salt accumulating around the neckline.
The day was drawing to a close and the summit was no place to camp, completely exposed to all the elements. Without staying long, I followed the food pad off the northern flank down towards a saddle, passing Hells Window along the well. Not quite sure while it named Hell before it beautiful. Pushing down to the saddle I found the picture perfect grassy campsite nestled in amongst snow gums.
Mick Beckers 