Australian Alps Walking Track (Kiandra to Tharwa) |
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Ice crystals tinkled down on us from the canopy with each gust of wind. Leaving the forest, we crossed the grassy expanse of Wild Horse Plain, before once again climbing up into the forests of the Monaro Range, not particularly high hills but the Continental Divide nonetheless - we had unobtrusively crossed into the realm of west-flowing rivers. The steepish descent passed through a forest of tall elegant eucalyptus, a pleasant change after six days of snow gums. The scent of damp eucalyptus is one of the pleasures of bushwalking in Australia. The fresh tracks on the muddy path showed us that we were sharing the firetrail with kangaroos, pigs and wild horses. |
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Open woodland and tussock grassland |
The old timber slabs of Witse's Hut |
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Day 7 - Witse's Hut to Hainsworth Hut (23 km - 420m ascent - 420m descent)
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Early morning stroll across the golden grasslands of Blanket Plain |
A mob of brumbies gallops off in the distance |
Grey roo keeping a watchful eye on the intruders |
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A pair of brumbies taking the sun on the still-frosted grassland |
The ex-bridge across Tantangara Creek - now for a wade! |
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Rob on the climb up from the Murrumbidgee |
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Karen wading Tantangara Creek |
Picking a path across the Murrumbidgee River |
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Taking a compass bearing north of Dairyman's Creek |
Jim enjoying his lunch in the sun |
Landscape of the northern part of Kosciuszko National Park |
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Forlorn yet beautiful - Hainsworth Hut |
The more welcoming front of Hainworth Hut ... |
.... and the very welcoming interior |
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Anthony on the track |
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Early morning frost on Mosquito Creek Fire Trail |
First view of the Brindabella Range from Harry's Gap |
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On the track to Blue Waterhole Saddle |
Following a brumby track near Sallee Tree Creek |
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Climb up Murray's Gap Fire Trail |
Sunshine on Murray's Gap |
Some of the superb tall eucalypts |
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On the eastern side of the Brindabellas |
The Scabby Range |
It was great to walk through tall unburnt forest |
Descent through the sun-dappled forest |
Crown of a forest giant |
On the Yaouk Trail |
The rare double helix tree |
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Cotter Hut |
Landscapes of the Upper Cotter Valley |
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Overgrown track east of Cotter Hut |
A large termite mound in dry scerophyll forest |
Taller forest on the climb up to Cotter Gap |
Nearing the top of Cotter Gap |
The impressive granite tors of Split Rock Peak |
Around the campfire |
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Early morning light shows up the split in Split Rock |
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Looking across the Orroral Valley back toward Cotter Gap |
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Dry sclerophyll forest north of Orroral |
Last campsite at Honeysuckle Creek |
Red-necked wallaby checking out the campground |
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Heading up towards Booroomba Rocks |
A group of grey kangaroos on the fringe of the forest |
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Reflections in the dam at Bushfold Flat |
Open woodland on Bushfold Flat |
The end in sight - looking over the Limestone Plain to Canberra |
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