I’ve returned from a few days visiting Victoria. I caught up with my parents at Moe and made a short trip to Mt St Gwinear.
Western Australia doesn’t have any alpine country and I miss it. I haven’t been to the Stirling Ranges yet, but they’re as close as it gets in this state and they only climb to 1100 metres.
I haven’t found a mountain stream, or a river of any description, in WA where it’s safe to swim either. Victorians take these things for granted.
Mt St Gwinear is less than one hour’s drive from Moe. In winter it’s a popular destination for Latrobe Valley residents to go cross-country skiing or tobogganing.
In February it’s less attractive, but still offers some cool air on the plateau and good views of the alps beyond.
There are two tracks from the car park to the summit, which is only 2km away. I took the walking track to the top and returned via the ski trail.
The walking track was largely overgrown with scrub, which can scratch your legs if you’re wearing shorts. The march flies were out too.
Although it’s not steep I thought I might struggle, as it’s the first uphill climb I’ve made since leaving Porepunkah in January 2006. I was quite pleased that I didn’t have any trouble.
It was my first visit to the Baw Baw Plateau for about 10 years and the difference in altitude to the North East peaks was noticeable. Baw Baw is not above the treeline.
It’s still much higher and more alpine in character than anything in Western Australia. I prefer it in winter or spring, but I enjoyed the walk.
The summit cairn at Mt St Gwinear.
