Ambles in Aussie

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AMBLES IN AUSSIE Along with half a million flies we left country, especially when the temperature Lime Stone Creek. This is about 100 is up in the 90's. Here we ate and drank miles W.N.W. from Melbourne and the the day not yet finished. Two hours and start of a 10-day trip along the main a hill later we made Dead Horse Gap range to Mt. Kosciusko. The first couple our camp for the night and the south of days were spent wandering along foot of Kosciusko. The last day of 1965 through second-growth gum forest (the we climbed Australia's highest peak. result of a bush fire in 1939), getting From Dead Horse Gap this takes four ourselves into and on to the main divide hours, going uphill through country proper. Our first camp was at "The Play- which, unless you saw, you wouldn't ground", a pleasant flat overlooked by believe existed. The first bump is Ram's the first of the three Cobboras which we Head, a great clump of granite rock were to clamber over the next day. The piled up on the snow grass a hundred Cobboras were behind us after a few feet or so high. The whole area is studhours and with the first view of our ob- ded with these cake-shaped rocks. It jective in the distance, we toddled off looks as if back in the dark dismals a down to Quambat Flat to camp for the volcanic explosion scattered bits and night. Quambat Flat is the headwater of pieces all over the place. The final asthe Indi, or if you like, the Murray River, sault was made from Lake Cootopaalso the border of Victoria and New tamba, up a steep slope on to an easy South Wales. This bought about more snow ridge and on to the top of Ausfriendly rivalry, two bods decided to tralia (7316 ft.). From the summit a road camp in N.S.W., being loyal to their winds down the eastern slopes to the home state, three stayed in Victoria be- Chalet Kosciusko, so with tongues hangcause they reckoned it's a much better ing out and the thought of cool beer in place. The Kiwis just made themselves mind, away we went furiously wagging comfortable. Another bright sunny morn- thumbs at non-stopping tourist cars. ing saw us, after a short climb on an Eventually a small truck picked us up easy side track, on our way to The Pilot and delivered us to the chalet door. (6020 ft.). (At this point I will play Those guys deserve a medal it was George Washington as far as the Sydney hot and dry. Here we purchased the main bush walkers are concerned. Yes I did essentials of human life, bread. cheese put rocks in your packs when you were and beer. The morning of the first day away up the hill.) From The Pilot we of 1965 was spent talking to the chalet shoved off down a ridge to find the creek barman. In the afternoon we went via at the bottom running in the wrong what is reputed to be the longest chair direction. This was not Hughie or any of lift in the world, back up on to the the mountain gods playing tricks on us. Ram's Head for a look around. On the The end of the ridge is about half a 2nd Kiwi and Aussie reunited to spend mile wide, we were on the wrong side. a day climbing, bum skiing on pakas A very deceptive piece of country. A and drying backsides, the latter activity couple of wild horses later we arrived consuming quite some time. Via the at an old tin mine and a hut which re- 6000-ft. drop down Haivivel's Spur, we minded me of our own-that well- reached Geehi only to find that the bus known W.T. & M.C. whare built near we were supposed to catch was nonthe bush edge in the Tararuas- the existant (according to the locals). A smoke goes down the chimney and out friendly tow-truck driver was located, the door. That evening the two Kiwis and with two in the cab, five freezing on maintained they could make Kosciusko the back, we arrived at Corryong. Inciin a couple of days, the first being about dentally the bus passed us on the way. 28 miles. So in agreement with our Aus- Some made it back to Melbourne bv tralian friends, we decided to part com- train, some by air to end what I would pany next morning and meet them at the call a hell of a good trip. I can't remem- Chalet Kosciusko (licensed) on the 2nd ber the names of all the flies that were January, 1965. We got away fairly early, on this trip, but my Australian friends the weather hot and the usual flies too are Ian, Gladys, Wal, and Colin of the lazy to fly, taking a ride on our packs Victoria Mountaineering Club. The along the well-formed track to Cascade Kiwis, Kay and yours truly. Creek. The sight of flowing water in rea- COATHANGER sonable quantity is terrific in this type of (BARRIE KAYWOOD).