Australian Alps Walking Track - Talbot Hut Site to Stronachs Camp

Day: 02
Date: Thursday, 18 April 2019
Start:  Talbot Hut Site
Finish:  Stronachs Camp
Daily Kilometres:  21.5
Total AAWT Kilometres:  46.3
Weather:  Cold early, then mild and sunny
Accommodation:  Tent
Nutrition:
  Breakfast:  Muesli
  Lunch:  Trail Mix
  Dinner:  Rehydrated meal
Aches:  Both tired.
Highlight:  The early hours walking along a soft leafy trail amidst wiry snow gums illuminated patchily by the orange of the rising sun.
Lowlight:  Getting up in the cold
Pictures: Click here
Map and Position: Click here for Google Map
Journal:

I had a lot of trouble putting together last night's diary update because of technical issues, and stayed up later than my exhausted body hoped, eventually putting my head down at 9:30.  I seriously considered giving up on the whole idea.

It was a wild night with the wind roaring in the trees and occasional rain, making it difficult for Julie to sleep, though I was so zonked it didn't bother me.  Fortunately the rain had gone by the time we woke at 6:00, but it was cold, and we were both shivering with frozen hands by the time the tent was dismantled and we hit the trail at 7:30.  The early hiking, however, was magic through the sun-dappled snow gums on soft leafy trail.  Totally quiet apart from the occasional bird call.

This excellent trail, though with a few ups and downs, continued for most of the morning.  Either Julie was slowing down, or I was travelling a bit better, but we hiked together most of the time, though rarely spoke as we soaked up the peaceful alpine scenery.  We met four day hikers along this section, but nobody else for the rest of the day.

The afternoon was harder work on little maintained trail, that was overgrown and had many treefalls to negotiate.  Progress was slow, with 3kph seeming to be our sustainable speed.  Much of the trail was covered by long strands of tree bark, which often got tangled in our feet and sent me hard to the ground on one occasion.  However, we only had a short day scheduled and reached our planned campsite at 4:30 to find a large sign saying no camping.  It's in a water catchment, and we know there are restrictions, but the guide book clearly said a stay of one night was permitted.  We decided to camp there anyway, and will be gone before anybody sees us.

It was nice to set up camp in daylight, though I suspect this will be a rarity, with longer distances and shorter days ahead.