2016 Trip Note

Pack Carry: 24-27 June 2016 - A Barmah Adventure

Contributor: Ian Mair

Source: "The News", August 2016

Photogallery: A Barmah Adventure

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Way back when the club’s Winter Activities Program was being put together a June trip to Little Desert seemed like a good idea. Something different, not too hot and within reasonable reach for a 3-day weekend. Alas, unreliable water availability resulted in a later location switch to the Barmah National Park. Nestled along the banks of the Murray River there had to be plenty of water to drink! Of course, I had never been there and it had an air of an exploratory trip about it. Background reading, study of maps and route planning built up a level of excitement. As the departure date drew nearer the scourge of Blue-Green Algae in the Murray River and waterways of the Barmah NP threatened to scuttle the trip. There were still weeks to go and a good flushing of the river may solve our problem. Plan B was also drawn up with alternative water drop points of good, clean Melbourne water.

The rains came in early June. Reports came through of road closures in the Barmah NP due to flooding. The Blue-Green Algae remained steadfast! The Fates were conspiring against us. As the days slipped by even more rain came but the algae were tenacious. With steely resolve it was decided to push ahead irrespective, but the Fates had more surprises to come. Icy weather, illness and a spate of personal issues whittled away our umbers. At last on the 24th June our diminished band of seven walking warriors set up camp in the rain at the Barmah Lakes camping area. By morning we were down to six. Near-zero temperatures and a sleepless night were not a good preparation for the days ahead.

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Saturday promised clear weather for the rest of the trip. After slipping and sliding on the wet and muddy roads an advance team positioned our water supply for the next few nights. By mid-morning we were ready to head out. Now, those of you who know the Barmah NP will also know that it is part of the largest River Red Gum forest in the world. The complex ecology of the forest is closely linked to the Murray River and its flooding regime, creating a diverse natural habitat for a variety of wildlife, particularly waterbirds. You will also know that it is billiard-table flat, just perfect for the pooling of heavy rains! Less well known may be the observation that maps of the area differ in their accuracy and location of roads and tracks that skirt the swampier zones, let alone the existence of a myriad of interconnecting brumby trails intertwined like synapses of the brain. Fortunately we had planned to spend as much time as possible walking off-track through the easily negotiated forests. Avoiding the recently replenished swamp zones proved a little more challenging and a few mid-course corrections were all part of the fun and exploration. (A word of advice to those who follow. Time spent scouring the area on Google Earth to plan a ‘dry’ route will be well spent if you have limited time to explore.)

By late afternoon on Saturday we had located our water dump and set up camp by the banks of the Murray River. Plan B determined that we would spend two nights at the same location. It was idyllic. The river flowed full and the cool winter months assured us of a relatively isolated camp site. A camp fire by the river bank added a touch of comfort as its warming glow kept some of the winter chill at bay.

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Sunday was like Saturday without heavy packs. Explorations along the river bank, a foray into the forest, calculation and re-calculation of a path around the swamps and finally back to the camp site. The surrounding forest changed appearance repeatedly, sometimes sparse, sometimes dense. Fallen timber was a hurdler’s delight. Fungi flourished after the extended rains, attracting much interest by their shape, colour and size variations. And brumbies and kangaroos monitored our progress.

Too soon it was Monday morning and time to head back to our starting point. By now our initial route plans had been abandoned and our course was set by random waypoints that it was hoped would take us to places of interest. They did just that. The forest diversity along our path continued to enchant, even where the signs of past logging had left their mark, and the replenished creeks we followed were home to an array of pelicans and other water birds. The sun shone brightly overhead and in our hearts.

Thank you to those who were able to join me on this adventure. Barmah National Park is a place to put back on the program.