| Day: | 006 |
| Date: | Sunday, 20 March 2011 |
| Start: | Rumpff Saddle + 1.5km |
| Finish: | Mt McDonald |
| Camp Location | Here |
| Daily Kilometres: | 22.4 |
| Total Kilometres: | 134.4 AAWT |
| Animal Encounters | Birds |
| People Encounters | One 4WD |
| Weather: | Mostly sunny and mild |
| Pictures: | Here |
| Journal: | I woke during the night to bright moonlight and no fog. On the road soon after 8:30am and spent the morning following the ridge of the Great Divide on old firetrails. The walking was pleasant, though the constant ups and downs were taking it out of me with a full pack. Through the trees on both sides of the ridge were tree-covered valleys and mountains as far as the eye could see. I reached Mt Sunday (1407m) at lunch time having made a few decisions about the hike going forward. I had set myself an aggressive 26 day schedule in the hope I would finish in Canberra in time to see some friends run the marathon there. However, I now don't think that's realistic and I want to enjoy the hike so will now aim for roughly 30 days including a day off in Mt Hotham and Thredbo. Also, the solar chargers I brought for my iPhone don't seem to be working very well and, since I had to discard my usual camera which had ceased to function, I need my iPhone for pictures. Therefore, future reports will be minimal and I'll keep a written journal. After lunch, the descent from Mt Sunday was made much easier because someone had been through with a brush-cutter and chainsaw. It was virtual jungle and would have been really tough bush-bashing. I even found a trickle of water near some ferns and was able to fill my bottles. The climb to Mt McDonald (1620m) that followed was another challenge following an overgrown ridge and slow work. There was not really a trail, just occasional signs someone had been there before. As the ridge climbed higher it became very rocky and I didn't enjoy the boulder hopping with my heavy pack and fatigue. Kept thinking about the movie 127 Hours! At the higher altitudes the brush thinned, though still a tough climb but the views were fantastic. Real wilderness. Then I started to hear some thunder coming from the south and decided at 6:15pm I was better to make camp while dry rather than continue on across some bare peaks. I found a small partly protected dip near the peak, and enjoyed dinner on the edge of a high bluff watching a beautiful sunset with the storms missing me to the south. |
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