July 6 & 7, Big Hut, Rock and Pillars, Potluck Dessert Trip
Too cold for shorts?
The prevailing snow conditions and an expected very high wind situation brought about a change of trip for this weekend.
Saturday morning saw 7 members heading out to go and do something around Mt Somers and when we collected in Geraldine for a quick coffee etc a discussion took place and we decided to head for the Pinnacle Hut. Hut tickets were bought at the Stavely Store and the request was made to drop back in on our return to report on conditions as no one had been in since the storm.
We were ready to go by 11 and away up to Duke’s Knob, we encountered only moderate damage to the trees and track at this stage. A deviation to Sharplin Falls was well rewarded with a spectacular display from the extra water in the river due to the meltwater. Lunch was had on the top of the knob with a view. We had gusty NW winds and fine weather but not overly warm. Down the other side and down to the Bowyer River, a brief encounter with an Iranian man who had returned after finding the track too hard to find beyond a slip made us slightly apprehensive. The damage to the track was now extensive with many trees having just fallen over in soggy conditions followed by a large snow dump. The snow was still there in many places and the track was quite hard to follow as it simply disappeared for extensive sections, it was also quite deep, deeper where the track beneath provided water channels and the snow had been hollowed out providing plenty of spots where legs vanished and were hard to retrieve, you know how that goes.
Up the last steeper slope and the little pass from where the hut can be seen, it looks so close from there, in good conditions taking just quarter of an hour. This time it took another hour to get here, the snow being quite deep. It was very good to get here by twilight, it would have been more difficult in the dark. The hut was well stocked with dry wood and some coal and it didn’t take long to warm the place and get hot drinks happening followed by food. The hut is usually serviced with running water in the hut but not now, the intake from the creek further up has probably come unstuck. Water was not far away with plenty of meltwater close by. Getting to the loo was also harder than usual and did involve close encounters with the cold snow.
We enjoyed a very good night up there, especially the very abundant dessert spread. One member showing exceptional abilities when it came to the consumption of whipped cream, not heeding in the slightest the many dire predictions made on the state of his intestinal tracts. We all ate plenty and felt very good indeed. Some merriment followed with the silly vegetable game providing plenty of laughs.
The following morning dawned with deteriorating conditions, more blustery wind and overcast. It was unanimously decided that a return the same way was the only thing to do given the snow conditions and the weather. It was much faster returning along the route clearly made the previous day and we were out for lunch in the carpark just as it started to clag in and looking backwards on the drive home the entire mountain was enveloped with cloud and it was clearly raining. Icecreams in Geraldine where it was fine and warm and home in good time. A very enjoyable winter weekend that provided plent of adventure and exercise. Thanks to Jac, Uwe, Sylvia, Maurice, John, Phyllis.
Robbie
The first of many for this member!!