2006 Trip Note

Pack Carry: 10 March 2006 - Spion Kopje – Ropers Hut – Bogong Creek Saddle

Contributor: Bob Oxlade

Source: "The News", May 2006

Photogallery:

As some of our group had camped Friday night at the Mt Beauty Caravan Park, we met there at 8:15am on Saturday morning. Present were our leader Bill Donald, along with Rod, Jerry, Bert and Joycelyn, Frances, Susan, Alex and myself.

Following a briefing from Bill we drove to our starting point at Howman’s Gap, leaving Frances’ car at Clover Dam as we passed by. It was a beautiful morning and everyone was enthusiastic as we located the walking track. .After a short descent to a creek we crossed it for a steep 250 metre climb to the Spion Kopje Fire Track and all agreed that we deserved our morning tea break.

We continued a steady climb, leaving the forested level and emerged onto the more open high plains, and when only 1km from Spion Kopje we stopped for lunch. We had noticed that Joycelyn had been dropping back and we were all extremely disappointed to hear that she was experiencing a reoccurrence of a previous injury, and not wanting to take any risks, decided to return to their car while within reach of it. .Bill arranged that Rod would lead us while he and Jerry would accompany Joycelyn and Bert back to their car. Bert would then drive them up past Falls Creek so they could access the Alpine Walking Track and rejoin us at camp. A short side trip to Spion Kopje gave us nice views and it was decided that a very pleasant 2km short cut across the plains over Whiterock Creek would bring us to a snow pole line only 1km from Roper Hut campsite at 940 metres. It is a beautiful spacious area amongst snow gums with good water in a nearby rocky creek, and, although the hut had been destroyed by the recent bushfires, a new toilet had been erected. Bill and Jerry surprised us by arriving as early as 7pm after their long detour, and they didn’t waste any time erecting tents, having dinner and going to bed after their long day.

It was a warm morning on Sunday as we cut across the plain to the Big River Fire Track on Timms Spur. We had good views across the Grey Hills towards the Fainters and we wondered the position of Gina’s group in that area. We detoured around a snake sunning itself in the middle of the track and as we descended to Big River we encountered much after fires regrowth forest about 2 metres tall. We refreshed at the river and a short climb had us in the shade just prior to Bogong Creek Saddle at around 1400metres for a late lunch. As it was quite hot on the saddle we decided to give the views a miss and erect our tents where we were. This area was untouched by the fires. It was a unanimous decision that the side trip offered up Quartz Ridge was not really necessary. and although most elected to relax or maybe return to the river for a dip, a 3km walk was done to Cairn Creek Hut and back. This was an interesting trip as the track to this Survey Hut had been difficult to find prior to the fires.

It was a cool change in the weather on Monday when we continued down the Big River Fire Track. We had good views towards Mount Bogong as the track zig zagged down to the car at Clover Dam and it was raining when we arrived there. .After completing the car shuffle we had a late lunch at the Mt Beauty Bakery.

To Bert and Joycelyn, we missed your company, thanks to Rod for helping out, and to Bill for organising and leading another good walk.