Day: 13
Date: Monday, 29 April 2019
Start: Mt Loch Carpark
Finish: Edmondson Hut
Daily Kilometres: 32.3 AAWT plus 2.2 from Davenport Village plus 1.0 to Hut
Total AAWT Kilometres: 276.4
Weather: Cold start then mild and sunny all day with a light breeze
Accommodation: Edmondson Hut
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Cereal and toast and peanut butter
Lunch: Trail Mix
Dinner: Rehydrated Meal
Aches: Very tired
Highlight: The views. All day we had magnificent views in all directions at one time or another. Humidity was low and we could see many kilometres to distant mountain ranges, or far across the Bogong High Plains, or to far-off rural valleys. Everywhere we looked were muted shades of green, orange and brown making a beautiful patchwork beneath the clear blue sky, with the profiles of the hills softened and made silver by the dead white trees killed by bushfires of the past.
Lowlight: None really
Pictures: Click here
Map and Position: Click here for Google Map
Journal:
We got away from the lodge at 6:15 as the eastern sky glowed a pre-dawn orange. It was cold and we were wearing several layers along with gloves and beanies to keep us warm. First, we had to walk the 2.2km to Mt Loch Carpark to rejoin the AAWT and then we journeyed past ski runs and ski lifts for a few kilometres before leaving the resort area behind. We warmed up quickly as we tackled some minor hills and were soon losing some of our clothing layers.
The views were breath-taking and we stopped frequently to take them in and/or take photos. The trail was generally well-maintained and we made good time, stopping for a morning snack in a beautiful little valley next to Dibbins Hut, one of the many that dot the Alpine National Park. From Dibbins there was a long climb up onto the Bogong High Plains where the gradients lessened and the views were fantastic. In the distance we could see a small herd of brumbies (wild horses), and in the other direction, the unmistakeable Mt Jim.
We stopped for lunch in the sun at Cope Saddle and then continued on to the north-east. To the north-west, in the distance, we could see the towers associated with the Falls Creek resort we had stayed at just after Christmas, and were now walking one of the trails we had run along during that vacation. The trail went on to pass the historic Wallaces Hut before dropping down to follow an aqueduct, part of the works designed to capture as much water as possible for the nearby Falls Creek Reservoir.
Eventually, the AAWT climbed away from the aqueduct and we stopped at a small stream to collect water for camping tonight. Our goal was Edmondson Hut, an old cattlemans' hut where we hoped to be the only residents, now that the school vacation period was over. Alas, when we joined a firetrail for the last few kilometres we could see a group of what looked like teenagers back down the firetrail, but apparently heading in the same direction as us. We powered on and reached the hut to find it unoccupied and the teenagers never turned up, so our fears were misplaced. The hut is very rustic and there is a sign saying it is only to be used overnight in the case of an emergency, but it's comfortable enough and saves us setting up and taking down the tent, which will be good since another very cold night is forecast.
Today was our longest, in terms of distance, so far and we were both very happy to finish.
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