Posted by I fear this may be the point in the story where things start to become repetitive.
Today would mostly be on closed management tracks again and would allow a fast, long distance day. I also had the cull area to contend with. Although confident the AAWT would not be effected by the area closure, I was keen to depart the area by the end of the day with operations starting tomorrow. Even if the trail was unaffected, I couldn’t think of anything worse than just quietly walking along and then hearing a chopper buzzing around locally and the pop, pop, pop of shots being fired. Don’t get me wrong, I am fully supportive of this work. Unfortunately there is a fine balance between maintaining undisturbed recreational activities and managing feral animals. To totally exclude one from the other would effectively mean fully closing the AAWT and no one wants to see that.
To that end, I was out the door and on track by 06:30. The others were still in their tents as I slipped away.
The fog was super thick this morning, hanging low in the tree tops and obscuring any kind of view to 50m. This really meant there was very little to see for most of the morning, my world reduced to the track corridor out in front. It also meant for wet grasses and vegetation, my shoes and socks soaked within minutes. So it was going to be one of those days – wet and very smelly feet for most of the day. Hopefully I could dry gear out by a fire tonight.
There were a number of creek crossings to negotiate through the morning. From memory most were able to be crossed on rocks or narrow channels jumped across. Bogong Creek, Doubtful Creek, Diggers Creek and Tibeaudo Creek.
Approaching the wide valley of McKeahnies Creek and the area known as Crooks Racecourse the fog finally started to lift, slowly revealing the hidden landscape. An expansive grassy flat with tree lined ridge tops.
From here it was out to a Happy Jacks Road and the end of the cull area, very happy to have challenged myself to push hard and successfully get through the cull area over two days.
At Happy Jacks Road, Snowy Hydro had posted signs stating that the next area ahead, along a power line easement, had been badly impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires with many of the timber poles damaged. I knew the power along this section had been turned off but would still be keeping well clear of any wires regardless. Sure enough as I walked the power line a number of poles were encountered that had been completely burnt out at the base with the power line it self lying on the ground or poles hanging, suspended by the wire with no base to be seen.
Past the power line and a few more kilometres up a road, I was making good time and progress for the day, pulling up for lunch when a grumbling stomach told me it was time. Always at a calorie deficit I found I’d been needing more food over the last few days. My chosen spot for lunch was high on a ridge line with clear views out to the south east overlooking the Eucumbene Dam. The fog had lifted and with cell service available I hung around for a solid hour. Natured called and I have to say this was one of the best loos with a view on trail.
After lunch I was still undecided where I should aim for at the end of the day. It was only 8km or so plus an extra 1km off track to reach Broken Dam Hut, or I could continue past Broken Dam a further 6km and aim for Four Mile Hut. Keen to get some distance in on the easy tracks I set my sights on Four Mile Hut which would take me about 3.5 hours to reach, plenty of time left in the day.
Continuing to follow the closed vehicle tracks, Tabletop Mountain would approach next with its flat, bald top, dominating the skyline and my view for the next hour or so.
By late afternoon I’d reached the trail junction to Broken Dam Hut and was still indecisive to continue on or not. Finally I resolved to continue on to Four Mile Hut but at the last minute consulted my trail guide and learned that the hut burnt down in 2019/20 and was no more. Decision made for me, I turned towards Broken Dam Hut instead.
As it turned out this was a good call. Nearing the hut rain showers started to fall and I virtually ran the last 200m to escape them as they came in thick and fast. With a shorter day than expected there was plenty of time left in the afternoon to relax. Between rain showers I collected enough fire wood to see me through the night, collected water from a spring just in front of the hut and enjoyed multiple cups of tea while reading a book. Broken Dam was a great little hut and well cared for. I had a fire cranking in no time and would definitely have my shoes and socks dried out.
Planning for tomorrow and consulting my maps, I realised I was getting close to being within 100km of finishing the AAWT, depending on which distances you believe to be correct. The whole track is meant to be 680km but there are definitely variations. I’ll reach my last food drop stashed in the bush at Kiandra tomorrow.
Mick Beckers 