I spent the day walking across the rooftops of the world. Or Victoria. Or at least the Hotham region anyway. Whatever, I was up high walking along ridges and it was amazing. We had a late start – my poor old feet needed a sleep in after yesterday’s mammoth effort. After a breakie of avocado on vitaweats we drove all the way back to my starting point and I headed off at 11am. The first 30 minutes was along Twins Track, a pleasant 4WD track that actually followed my course the whole day, I was just up a little higher than it. Then the trail broke off and headed straight up the side of The Twins. It took about an hour to climb to the top along a spur. Someone had kindly marked the way with pink tape. The view looking back the way I’d come was amazing and got more amazing the higher I went. And the feeling at the top – you feel like a superstar for making it up there and even moreso when you look back and see where you’ve come from! I could see all the way back to the summit of Mt Hotham and the fire watch tower I’d passed yesterday. I could see The Great Alpine Road snaking its way along and the track I’d walked this morning. No words big enough for that feeling.
From the trig point at the summit you can see an AAWT marker. You walk towards it and it looks like you’re going to step off a cliff until the last moment when the mountain opens up before you and you see your path down. Down was pretty steep, although not as far as I’d climbed up. I wouldn’t end up going back down to the 4WD track again until about 6kms from the end of the day’s walk.
I followed the ridgeline, climbing to the top of one hill to descend into a saddle and climb to the top of the next. At times the space at the top was wide and grassy, at others it was narrow and rocky. Constantly changing and always beautiful. Sometimes the climbing was challenging, other times it was like walking along a gently rising path. Always the mountain dropping away steeply on either side of the track.
The final descent back to Twin Jeeps Track was kinder than I’d imagined. It started out steeply but then turned into a lovely track gently wandering down the mountain.
Twin Jeeps Track climbed up quite steeply (although that 4WD track out of Stony Creek redefined steep for me and this one was nowhere near its equivalent). I was heading towards Mt Murray but was not planning on climbing it. I could see a track winding its way up the side of that mountain and hoped I had it right, that I didn’t need to follow that track all the way up. But after missing my turn off (how, I have no idea), I almost did summit Mt Murray! I was well over half way to the top when I realised my error. I was pretty annoyed with myself as I turned around and followed the track back the way I’d come for at least 1km. But I decided to practice self kindness and cut myself some slack and when I finally got onto the right track, it was so lovely. Much lovelier than the wrong track had been!
It headed down hill gently at a gradient that felt really comfortable. After having had the sides of the mountain drop away from me on each side all day, it was lovely being surrounded by forest.
At the point Twin Jeeps Track broke off from Murray Logging Track there was a big sign saying the road was closed. No way I was obeying that – Jubble was not too far down that track! I came across a snake sprawled across the path absorbing the heat from the day. Luckily it didn’t seem remotely interested in me and I passed by with no incident. Quite close I might add – it was on one half of the track and I was on the other.
The snake was followed by a big uphill. Everything is relative though and this wasn’t as big as some of my other uphills. One foot in front of the other and before you know it, you’re at the top. The track kindly rounded the next hill instead of going straight up and over. Then a steep downhill and I was at the Jubbie-mobile.
Jub had found a fantastic campground about 15 mins away. It’s on huge flats with big trees towering around us and even bigger mountains towering above those. There’s a creek and it’s so peaceful. We can hear the creek from our nests. Jub had even set up a yoga mat for me to stretch on under cover. So spoilt.
Tomorrow is my last day of hiking before I get to the wilderness section I’d planned on skipping. Perfect timing – it means we’ll be en route to the next section and having a rest day together on Christmas Day!
Day 26: Mt St Bernard to Selwyn Creek Road 23/12/19
Kerry's Hikes 