December 31, 2013
The puzzle is completed by several walkers over 4 days!
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Monday, 30 December 2013
Day Four New Years Eve
Tuesday December 31 Five walks
Walk 3
Leader Dianne Lacroix Diamond Valley
Cope Hut car park to Langford West camp ground 6.4 km 15 walkers
We were spoilt with another day of clear blue skies and a gentle breeze. After a car shuffle (we were instructed by Doris on her preferred method of doing this) we commenced our walk admiring stunning alpine views of distant mountains and headed down to Cope Hut and up to National Parks Camp Ground set up for bushwalkers. We followed the trail down hill observing the Rover Hut on a parallel track. The highlight of this trail were the many native shrubs & prostrate plants in full flower. Amongst these were clumps of Billy Buttons, silver daisies, Ozothamnus and large bushes of snowy Bossiaea, also prostrate Goodenias. We followed the trail around to the aqueduct tracks. There was plenty of water in the channel and Marie and Connie observed tiny tadpoles there. Lunch was enjoyed at the Langford West Camp area before we returned to Howman's Gap in time to prepare for New Year's Eve festivities.
Connie Carter Diamond Valley
Cope Hut car park to Langford West camp ground 6.4 km 15 walkers
We were spoilt with another day of clear blue skies and a gentle breeze. After a car shuffle (we were instructed by Doris on her preferred method of doing this) we commenced our walk admiring stunning alpine views of distant mountains and headed down to Cope Hut and up to National Parks Camp Ground set up for bushwalkers. We followed the trail down hill observing the Rover Hut on a parallel track. The highlight of this trail were the many native shrubs & prostrate plants in full flower. Amongst these were clumps of Billy Buttons, silver daisies, Ozothamnus and large bushes of snowy Bossiaea, also prostrate Goodenias. We followed the trail around to the aqueduct tracks. There was plenty of water in the channel and Marie and Connie observed tiny tadpoles there. Lunch was enjoyed at the Langford West Camp area before we returned to Howman's Gap in time to prepare for New Year's Eve festivities.
Connie Carter Diamond Valley
Large moth on car window
Doris giving a lesson on car shuffles
Close up of car shuffles principles
Morning tea on the track, sharing the only shady area with another pricate group of walkers......
Lunch at West Langford camp ground
Four Huts Walk Leader Kerry Killeen Diamond Valley
15 Intrepid walkers set off for the fairly easy and lovely four huts walk around 6kms. Beautiful day everyone had a relaxed walk and a good chat which is what bush walking as a group is all about.
Kerry Killeen Diamond Valley
George Scott from Waverley led a 4 huts walk including Edmonsons Hut, Johnston Hut, Kellys Hut and Fitzgerald Hut. 18K M
If you have photos or stories or corrections for these walks please email to Dianne Lacroix diannelacroix4@gmail.com Photos medium size
Walk 4
Leader Inge Schmidt Diamond Valley
Howman's Gap to Bogon, Lake Guy 7km
5 of us set off from the YMCA at Howmans Gap to walk down to Bogong Village and Lake Guy.
As we walked through the archery area a couple of people were surprised that they hadn't see it before. A bit of uphill before the long steep downhill where it was handy to have hiking poles. The track was a lot easier than the last time I had walked it as all the fallen trees had been cleared. The openness enabled us to sight the lake which hadn't been possible before. It took us 2 hours and 20 minutes to do the 6 kms. A shady spot by the lake was our lunch spot. Thanks to Inga for leading the walk and to Mick and Christa too, for the ride back up the mountain.
Karen Sheedy Diamond Valley & Koonong
As we walked through the archery area a couple of people were surprised that they hadn't see it before. A bit of uphill before the long steep downhill where it was handy to have hiking poles. The track was a lot easier than the last time I had walked it as all the fallen trees had been cleared. The openness enabled us to sight the lake which hadn't been possible before. It took us 2 hours and 20 minutes to do the 6 kms. A shady spot by the lake was our lunch spot. Thanks to Inga for leading the walk and to Mick and Christa too, for the ride back up the mountain.
Karen Sheedy Diamond Valley & Koonong
Walk 5
David Reid from Waverley led a 10K M walk to Ropers Lookout, cross country to Heathy Spur
If you have photos or stories or corrections for these walks please email to Dianne Lacroix diannelacroix4@gmail.com Photos medium size
Day Three 5 Walks
Monday December 30,2013 5 walks
Leader Marie Anson Diamond Valley
Leader Doris Beermann Diamond Valley
Leader Gary Dubsky Waverley 25K hard walk to Tims lookout
Leader Rachel Patrick Diamond Valley
17km Medium walk from Langfords gap via east Langford aqueduct to Fitzgeralds Hut and returning via Heathy Spur
This was quite a varied walk with long flat stretches, watercourses, a scramble up a long mountainside, distant views and a final descent back to the cars at Rocky Valley Dam and was the second longest walk of the day. Getting to the starting point involved considerable logistics. With the starting and ending points were several kilometres apart and such a large group an initial car shuffle was needed. The plan was to drive everyone to the Langford Gap Car Park and then bring the cars back to the Rocky Valley Dam, before finally driving the drivers back to join the walkers. However, just as the convoy was about to start out, it was discovered that one of the vehicles had a flat tyre. That was dealt with by a a quick vehicle swap. After twenty minutes of moving people and cars, or was it half an hour, the walk was underway on its way.
The morning started out breezy and cool but first part of the walk the track followed the East Langford aquaduct so it was flat and easy. A stop was made at the bridge over the aquaduct which called for a photo session and then on to the morning tea stop. This was at an idilic spot where there was a clearing alongside a crossing over a stream. Many walkers took advantage of clear mountain stream to refill their water bottles while others photographed the wildflowers, and others just lay out on the soft grass.
The track continued on for several more kilometres and then reached a small weir. At this point the walk left the track. The last stage was a scramble up an open marshy hillside, crisscrossed by rivulets. Everyone was left to make their own way up the hillside. Their instruction were to “Keep to the left of the trees; keep going up; don't start going down; if you start going down you are going the wrong way”. Five walkers took this literally and tore off up the hillside, setting a cracking pace that left the rest of the walkers behind. However, they soon found that they were slipping a sliding on the marshy ground so they kept to the left where the ground was firmer underfoot. However, the main party came halfway up the slope and then veered off to the right headed for Fitzgerald Hut, which unbeknown to the advance party was in a clearing in a large clusters of trees. Reaching the crest the advance party scanned the hillside and could see the Fitzgerald's Hut toilet half a kilometre away and set out in its direction, figuring that the Hut itself could not be far away. Ten minutes later everyone was reunited at the Hut where luch was followed by another photo session, this time assisted by a passing young walker from another group who was recruited to be the photographer.
The track now followed the crest of the spur that the advance group had used to reach the hut, but this was only the start of what turned out to be a very long straight stretch across the plateau with the wind in our faces. Our compensation for putting up with the buffeting of the wind were the distant views which included a view of the last patches of snow on the side of Mt Neil.
The last section of the walk involved a long slow climb up Leafy Spur follwed by a descent through the snow gums to Rock Valley Dam. Walkers who had used this track in previous years had built up our expectations of seeing masses of wildflowers but unfortunately we were disappointed. However, a striking feature of this section of the walk was the sight of snow gums regenerating after the 2003 fires. The new growth reached a third of the way up the burnt trunks giving an indication of how long it is going to take for the high country to recover fully from the effects of the fires. Expansive views of the Dam as we descended to the car park were our final reward for completing the long and at times strenuous walk.
Alistair Inglis Diamond Valley
An easy 6km walk from Falls Creek at the base of the chairlift through the village and down pack horse track Packhorse Heritage Trail and Falls Creek village.
In perfect sunny weather with a slight breeze, 10 of us set off from Summit car park to explore the Falls Creek village and the amazing variety of accommodation. We stopped for an energy booster at the Milch cafe before tackling the steps down past the Man Hotel to the Gully car park and the bicycle riders recovering in the pool at the top of the Falls Creek falls to the start of the Horsepack Heritage trail. The trail follows the old pack horse route used by the early cattlemen to access the Bogong High Plains and generally follows the Bogong High Plains Road from the Gully car park to Howmans Gap. Shortly after the start we took a short detour to view the Falls Creek falls which were running with lots of water. Then we followed the narrow well defined track on a gentle downward incline along the side of the valley. The track goes through a variety of vegetation of masses of wild flowers, ferns and snow gums, past many small waterfalls and along boardwalks. We stopped for lunch on the side of the track with a lovely view of the mountains. The number and variety of the wild flowers was amazing and the best that those who had been on the walk in previous years had seen. All in all, a very pleasant and interesting 6 km walk.
In perfect sunny weather with a slight breeze, 10 of us set off from Summit car park to explore the Falls Creek village and the amazing variety of accommodation. We stopped for an energy booster at the Milch cafe before tackling the steps down past the Man Hotel to the Gully car park and the bicycle riders recovering in the pool at the top of the Falls Creek falls to the start of the Horsepack Heritage trail. The trail follows the old pack horse route used by the early cattlemen to access the Bogong High Plains and generally follows the Bogong High Plains Road from the Gully car park to Howmans Gap. Shortly after the start we took a short detour to view the Falls Creek falls which were running with lots of water. Then we followed the narrow well defined track on a gentle downward incline along the side of the valley. The track goes through a variety of vegetation of masses of wild flowers, ferns and snow gums, past many small waterfalls and along boardwalks. We stopped for lunch on the side of the track with a lovely view of the mountains. The number and variety of the wild flowers was amazing and the best that those who had been on the walk in previous years had seen. All in all, a very pleasant and interesting 6 km walk.
Fiona Campbell Diamond Valley
Leader Alan Smith Waverley
from Cope Hut to Langfords West Camping Ground 6km E
Under a cloudless sky and with a cooling breeze 6 blokes and 5 Sheila's left the Cope Hut track car park after a 3 km car shuffle. After checking out the adjacent new campground, one site occupied, we made our way to Langfords West Aqueduct. Along it there was an abundance of white, yellow and orange bronze flowers. Morning tea was had in one of the few shady spots. There was no reason to hurry, plenty of time to absorb the magnificent scenery and to photograph it. The camp ground arrived soon enough to have lunch on a camp ground table in the sunshine listening to tellers tale.Alan Smith Waverley
Doris & Hardy Beerman led an 11km e/m walk from Langfords Gap to Rocky Valley Dam
On this pleasant sunny day 12 people from our 3 walking clubs walked 12km from Langford Gap to Rocky Valley Dam. The walk took us up from the Aqueduct along the Alps Walking Track and then along the Heathy Spur past some lush and sheltered areas with lots of wildflowers. Alpine Orites, purple Eyebright, Tall Riceflowers, Kunzea and Mintbushes were in full bloom. Having Michael Marmach on our walk we were given a crash course in Alpine Flora, much appreciated by all.
Doris Beermann Diamond Valley
Doris Beermann Diamond Valley
Seven serious walkers starting at Watchbed Creek and headed up the Big River Fire Track to the Mount Nelse peaks. Morning tea on the north peak provided views that seemed to stretch along the great divide. After morning tea we climbed to Timms Spur. It was breathtaking to trek along the spur with its sharp rugged valleys on either side. Lunch at the top provided a close up view of Mount Bogong. Cool winds, warm sun and good company made the 26k trek seem effortless. Thanks Garry for a great day.
Neil Jaycock Diamond Valley
Photos George Scott Waverley. ????
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