23 Oct 04

Mount Bogong

I hiked up Mt Bogong yesterday. At 1986 metres above sea level it’s Victoria’s highest peak and I’m pleased with the achievement.

I started from the Mountain Creek picnic ground, elevation 600 metres, and headed up the Staircase. The ascent is relentless, with very few flat sections to relax the legs.

I set myself a goal to tackle the climb in 100-metre stretches, counting 100 steps at a time and resting after 100 if I felt tired.

The early part was very hard, possibly made more so by the warmth and humidity among the tree ferns, which was almost tropical.

I stumbled unexpectedly across the ridge and found myself at Bivouac Hut, where I disturbed a scantily clad (male) camper. This was the beginning of true alpine terrain, above 1400 metres, and the walk seemed much easier from that point.

Unfortunately I had also reached the cloud, so continued in fairly thick fog. The landscape changed rapidly, with the trees diminishing in size until there were no more.

Snowpoles mark the route above the treeline, and in the fog I found these very helpful. Some large patches of snow still covered the track above 1800 metres, which made it hard to navigate, but I could always see the next snowpole.

I passed the memorial to skiers who died in a 1943 blizzard, thinking at first it was the summit cairn, and then trudged upwards to the peak.

The cloud by this time was starting to break up and I could see some fantastic views across the other side; however nothing down the Kiewa Valley or over to home. I had lunch at the summit.

I wanted to return via Eskdale Spur and had a rough idea where it was, but there were no signs to make me confident. Having started at 7am I was the first day walker to reach the top.

I came across a skier though, who had camped at Cleve Cole Hut. He was skiing on those tiny patches of soft snow … must be a diehard.

He pointed me in the right direction and I headed down the Eskdale Spur Track, passing another hiker on his way up. In the distance, I also saw some other walkers carrying skis on the Staircase.

Eskdale Spur runs 4km from its starting point compared with 6km up the Staircase. From the bottom though, I had to walk 7km back to my car. This was along grassy creek flats on a jeep track and was quite pleasant.

I crossed a creek five times before reaching the start of the Staircase. At the first couple of crossings the creek was a trickle and I stepped across, but after the fourth one I thought I’d be swimming the next. Fortunately there was a footbridge.

I really enjoyed the alpine sections of this walk and will do it again one day, perhaps climbing up Eskdale Spur instead for variety and going across to Cleve Cole Hut. I walked a total of 19km in seven hours.

These articles might be of interest:

• Buckland and Mount Sarah
• Og Gog Magog
• Razorback

Tags: Victoria, war