Summer's end?!

Today was our last day of our High Country camp.  And it seemed like summer had also come to an end!

View to Spargo's Hut

We were so fortunate to have such great weather for all our walks during the last week. Today the weather closed in. The wind blew and the clouds descended obscuring all views of the surrounding mountains. Packing was done in haste before we all carefully drove down the mountain and made it safely home. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make the week a great success.

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A

Hotham Dinner Plain Trail - 7th Janurary, 2012

For our last walk of the week we decided to walk from Wire Plain to Dinner Plain.

Commencing from the Nordic Ski shelter on Wire Plain, we crossed the Great Alpine road to visit Howard's Hut.

The flowers glowed and the grass glistened in the morning light.

 If this sign had been on a post, we wouldn't have missed it on the first time we went past.

Snow gums lined our path

and the native grasses were so lush after recent rain.

We enjoyed morning tea at Paw Paw Plain, where we watched red robins dart among the branches of the Snow Gums.

Paw Paw Plain

There was a section of the track that was blocked off due to construction. 

 Despite the warning we decided to try out the new construction anyway.

It was unclear why the raised metal walkway was there, as the landscape did not appear to be boggy and it only lasted about 300 meters. Maybe it was for the local trolls. 

We were soon walking back on solid ground

and enjoying the Alpine views.

J.B. Plain

Lunch was enjoyed at J.B.Plain camp site before continuing on to Dinner Plain and a well deserved beer at a local cafe.

The walk was 10 kilometers in length with a few undulations. A great walk to stretch the muscles and kinks out after a fantastic week of walking.

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A

Spargo's Hut - 6th January, 2012

See that building with the red roof in amongst the trees on the hill? Well, that's Spargo's Hut. 

Today a group of intrepid Walkabouter's followed the newly marked track that leads out to this historic hut.

Stay tuned for more about this walking adventure.

Mount Tabletop, Thursday 5 January,2012

Today we tackled the 10 kilometer return walk to Mount Tabletop.

The Tabletop from Hotham Heights

Named for it's distinctive flat, table-like summit, Mount Tabletop rises to an altitude of 1,603 meters above sea level. It lies between the villages of Hotham Heights and Dinner Plain, south of the Great Alpine Road.

View from Dinner Plain

The track to Mount Tabletop starts at J.B. Plain, near Dinner Plain. 

The not very J.B. Plain

Following ski poles with orange triangles, the track crosses Alpine fields covered with 

native grasses and dotted with Snow Gums.

At the end of the plain, the track drops sharply down to Tabletop Creek. Here the plants and animals are abundant due to the constant water supply.

We came across the rather colourful lizard. 
Not quite sure what species of lizard, maybe it's a tiger lizard. 

Of course, after every steep decent there is a steep ascent.

The track that leads up to the summit of Mount Tabletop feels never ending. And just when you think you are there, another sharp incline sneaks beneath your feet and zaps you of your last physical effort. It's a good thing our lunches are sitting heavily in our packs.

 And then we were at the top!

Embracing the views!

       
The View!

 We were treated to patches of Green Hood Orchids on top of Mount Tabletop!

A Green Hood

 Our return trip followed the path back down the mountain and across the creek. 

We meandered across J.B. Plain and inspected the hut 

near J.B. Plain's camping area before returning to the lodge.

A very enjoyable walk, that tested our legs and provided some glorious views 

of the Victorian Alps.

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A

The Cobungra Ditch - Wednesday 4th January, 2012

Today we walked in a ditch. The Cobungra Ditch.

This is a new trail opened earlier this year that follows the old Cobungra Ditch or aqueduct from Mount Hotham to the abandoned Brandy Creek Mine.  

As we started the 12.5 kilometer walk the heavens opened and we quickly donned our wet weather gear. An alpine thunder storm wasn't going to stop us Walkabouters from walking!

 Fortunately the skies cleared and we were able to dry out at lunchtime.

The walk was fantastic! 

The track was lined with beautiful wildflowers,

 some a bit bedraggled,

 and waterfalls cascading down gullies.

We reached the end of the track where it joins the walking track to Brandy Mine.

A few of us made a quick visit down to Brandy Creek Mine.

 We finished the walk just as the fog started to set in.

In total, the walk was about 12 kilometers in length, mostly flat walking with excellent views.
It provided a great insight into the local history of the area with information signs ever few kilometers. An excellent walk that to add to the repertoire of walks in the Mount Hotham Alpine Region.

The Big Spur - Tuesday 3rd, January, 2012

Today we went on a big walk around the tracks on the Big Spur.

It must have been a big walk because we needed a big nap at lunch time!

We started walking at 9.30 in the morning following the track from the back of the lodge through the village of Hotham Heights and around the side of Mount Higginbotham.

 

Mount Tabletop could be seen in the distance.

That's the mountain with the flat top in the distance.

After crossing the Great Alpine road, we ambled along the grassy tracks
that meander around the Big Spur.

In winter time these tracks are used for cross country skiing.

There were great views of the surrounding mountains and ridges from the Spur.

View to Mount Hotham

 The hillsides were carpeted with flowers and grasses.

White trigger plant?

Pink trigger plants

The paths were lined with the bleached, dead branches of Snowgums,

that stand as reminders from fires that swept the High Country in the past decade.

The Snowgums are slowly regrowing as they are well adapted to the cycle of fire and growth that has shaped the Australian landscape for centuries.

 The hillsides were literally carpets of flowers.

Trigger plants and Snow Daisies

The walk in total was about 6 kilometers at an altitude of over 1700 meters.
A good introductory walk for our annual High Country Camp.

Walkabouters Club of Victoria Inc.

A0019863A