Swede
25-01-2009, 09:24 AM
Decided to have another crack at Mt Townsend since the weather stopped our last attempt at New Years. Took Friday off work and booked in to Stillwell lodge at Charlotte Pass. The plan was to walk out Fri morning and do the Main Range walk (clock wise) and set up camp around Wilkinsons or just above Lake Albina, walk up Mt Townsend the next morning and then head off back to Charlotte’s again.
Thursday 22 Jan
Went in to work early to be able to get away at a decent time and ended up getting a 4.00pm train home. Left Woonona at 5.45pm and headed over the mountain and on to the Hume.
Cruise control on 115 km/h and push the CD button on the stereo to see what’s been left in the player….
…One time you were my little chicken
Now you’ve grown into a fox
Once upon a time I was your little rooster
But now I’m just one of your cocks…….
Aaahh, Stones Biggerbang and Roughjustice, this CD will easily kill the first hour of driving while Little Swede’s busy playing Nintendo.
Stopped at Exeter’s Maccas and got some dinner and spent the next 20 minutes concentrating on driving, eating burgers, chips and not spilling TOO much in the car.
Marulan, Goulburn, Lake George and then it was like driving in to a big black wall. The rain was coming down at us horizontally and in such quantity I had to pull over and stop, you couldn’t see the front of the car. Thunder, lightning and howling wind, the worst downpour I’ve ever seen. Luckily it only lasted a few minutes and we could slowly continue on.
Stopped and got petrol, drinks and some Chupa Chups at the Hume petrol station outside Canberra.
Michelago, Bredbo, Cooma, Berridale, could probably close my eyes and still make it down.
10.15pm, over the little hill, small left turn and we can see the Jindy lights from the other side of the lake. Well, I can, Little Swede’s been asleep since Canberra.
Drive through Jindy and am getting prepared for the onslaught of wildlife that will face us the rest of the way up to Perisher, and it doesn’t take long before it all begins. Just in to the 100 zone a HUGE wombat crosses the road, the biggest ******* I’ve ever seen. Passed the Thredbo river the rabbits are running wild and just passed the National Park entry station the roos are out in force. Another wombat is waddling alongside the road just before Ski Riders and then a whole heap of roos and rabbits again. Then it’s quiet till we pass Perisher Valley where the rabbits are out I force again.
Pull up at Stillwell lodge spot on 11.00pm. Get Little Swede in to bed, carry a few things up to the room and it’s time to pour a couple of big ones of these and relax…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s59.jpg
Friday 23 Jan
Woke up at 6.15am and the wind was still howling outside. Got the gear ready, had a nice brekkie, got Sal and Evan to check the weather forecast for us and it didn’t look too bad, possible showers and thunder storms and easing off early Saturday.
Started our walk from Charlotte’s at 9.00am and headed out the Mai Range walk (clock wise).
Little Swede’s always happy to show she’s a Snowatcher…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s60.jpg
The weather was fine but you could already see some alarming clods over the range, Mt Lee and Caruthers peak…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s61.jpg
Got to the Snowy River crossing at about 10.15am and stopped for a well deserved break out of the wind and fuelled up on some chocolate, nuts and water…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s62.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s63.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s64.jpg
Got to Seamans Hut at 11.15am and the wind was absolute Gail now…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s65.jpg
Thursday 22 Jan
Went in to work early to be able to get away at a decent time and ended up getting a 4.00pm train home. Left Woonona at 5.45pm and headed over the mountain and on to the Hume.
Cruise control on 115 km/h and push the CD button on the stereo to see what’s been left in the player….
…One time you were my little chicken
Now you’ve grown into a fox
Once upon a time I was your little rooster
But now I’m just one of your cocks…….
Aaahh, Stones Biggerbang and Roughjustice, this CD will easily kill the first hour of driving while Little Swede’s busy playing Nintendo.
Stopped at Exeter’s Maccas and got some dinner and spent the next 20 minutes concentrating on driving, eating burgers, chips and not spilling TOO much in the car.
Marulan, Goulburn, Lake George and then it was like driving in to a big black wall. The rain was coming down at us horizontally and in such quantity I had to pull over and stop, you couldn’t see the front of the car. Thunder, lightning and howling wind, the worst downpour I’ve ever seen. Luckily it only lasted a few minutes and we could slowly continue on.
Stopped and got petrol, drinks and some Chupa Chups at the Hume petrol station outside Canberra.
Michelago, Bredbo, Cooma, Berridale, could probably close my eyes and still make it down.
10.15pm, over the little hill, small left turn and we can see the Jindy lights from the other side of the lake. Well, I can, Little Swede’s been asleep since Canberra.
Drive through Jindy and am getting prepared for the onslaught of wildlife that will face us the rest of the way up to Perisher, and it doesn’t take long before it all begins. Just in to the 100 zone a HUGE wombat crosses the road, the biggest ******* I’ve ever seen. Passed the Thredbo river the rabbits are running wild and just passed the National Park entry station the roos are out in force. Another wombat is waddling alongside the road just before Ski Riders and then a whole heap of roos and rabbits again. Then it’s quiet till we pass Perisher Valley where the rabbits are out I force again.
Pull up at Stillwell lodge spot on 11.00pm. Get Little Swede in to bed, carry a few things up to the room and it’s time to pour a couple of big ones of these and relax…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s59.jpg
Friday 23 Jan
Woke up at 6.15am and the wind was still howling outside. Got the gear ready, had a nice brekkie, got Sal and Evan to check the weather forecast for us and it didn’t look too bad, possible showers and thunder storms and easing off early Saturday.
Started our walk from Charlotte’s at 9.00am and headed out the Mai Range walk (clock wise).
Little Swede’s always happy to show she’s a Snowatcher…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s60.jpg
The weather was fine but you could already see some alarming clods over the range, Mt Lee and Caruthers peak…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s61.jpg
Got to the Snowy River crossing at about 10.15am and stopped for a well deserved break out of the wind and fuelled up on some chocolate, nuts and water…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s62.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s63.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s64.jpg
Got to Seamans Hut at 11.15am and the wind was absolute Gail now…
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w88/Ecka_Swede/s65.jpg