Leader: Barbara Mitchell
Kosciuszko NP:
Main Range circuit from Charlottes Pass
7 March 2019
An 80 leaders walk
Photos top: Carole Beales
(Photo by 'kettle man')
Photos below: Robyn Christie
Early morning reflections
Walkers shadows
Blue Lake
Rogo and Jill at Blue Lake
Looking to the Sentinel
Alpine Genesian with bug
Lynne getting her photo taken
Group coming up the track
Daisies above Lake Albina
Another creek crossing
Looking back to where we came from
Participants:
Barbara Mitchell, Graham Conden, Rogo Owens, Robyn Christie, Carole Beales,
Ian Evans, Chris Edwards, Jan Mathieson, Shirley Hart, Jill Paillas,
Adrienne Kinna, Lynne Outhred
Walk description:
Walk description from program: Charlottes Pass Circuit via Snowy River, Blue
Lake, Sentinel saddle, Lake Albina & Seaman’s Hut. Map/s: Perisher valley 1: 25 000. Kosciuszko 1: 100 000
Report:
A day which began at Charlottes Pass at -7 degrees turned into a wonderful
clear sunny day with perfect weather and expansive views. As we headed down
to the Snowy River we started to peel off our layers of clothing and admire
the perfect reflections in the mirror like water.
The pace of the day was steady which allowed us ample opportunities to
admire the views and take lots of photographs.
After an uphill climb our first morning tea was enjoyed sitting on a grassy
slope overlooking Blue Lake. We then continued upward and were able to enjoy
a second morning tea at Sentinel saddle. The mountain ranges shrouded in
smoke from the bushfires stretched out towards Victoria and provided an
outstanding backdrop for a group photo taken by a walker we’d met and
nicknamed ‘kettle man’. He carried a large stainless steel kettle on outside
of his pack. We learnt his name was Andrew and it was his 33rd birthday.
This knowledge prompted us to burst into song and sing him a rousing Happy
Birthday with gusto. We also supplied him and his partner details of the
Bush Club.
As we climbed higher using the newly upgraded track we had a wonderful view
over Club Lake. The weather was ideal for a helicopter to transport bags of granite for the
ongoing track maintenance. The NPWS staff and contractors we spoke to agreed
that conditions up there don’t get any better than we were experiencing!
We enjoyed lunch and panoramic views overlooking Lake Albina. We were
shocked by the arrival of two larger than life characters in white forensic
suits wearing backpacks loaded with poison. When they learnt we hadn’t seen
any pesky orange hawkweed they beat a hasty retreat.
We walked off track downhill into a valley covered with the softest grass ‘carpet’ and once again crossed the Snowy river before climbing up to Seaman’s
Hut for an afternoon tea break. From there it was 6km along the fire trail
back to Charlottes Pass. After spotting a small snake crossing the track
sticks started to look like snakes!
We had the opportunity to chat with the helicopter crew. They had moved 60
bags of granite with only another 10 to go prior to heading for a well
earned rest and a refreshing drink. Good work!
Returning to Charlottes Pass we agreed that it had been an amazing day to
complete a classic walk.
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