Mt Jagungal from the Selwyn Trail

Thursday 16 November 2023: Kiandra to Selwyn – M/E. Plan B as Guthega to Spencers Creek bridge closed due to feral animal control.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (Epix Gen 2) – Distance: 13.84km | Climb: 315vm (Elev Corrections Enabled) | Time: 3:44 moving + 1:11 of stops = 4:55 | Grading: M/E; M(8).

Photographs

View photographs here.

gpx file

Download the gpx file here.

Track Map

Here’s where we went.

Track Kiandra to Selwyn

Trip Report

This was an old fellas walk, organised by Max. In the end 3 of us could make it.

I was last here on 10 Dec 2017, the last day of a week on the AAWT from Thredbo.

I was picked up from the old folks home at 7am and we motored via the Boboyan Road (Bobeyan Road at the southern end) to Kiandra, via a coffee stop at the Adaminaby Bakery. We parked at the higher of the 2 huts (now sites, sadly burnt) near Pollocks Gully. Walking at 9.30am.

Looking back to burnt out Wolgul Hut and Kiandra Courthouse

A gentle climb up beside Dunns Hill.

Snow Gum regrowth beside Tabletop Trail just S of Dunns Hill

Not an over-abundance, but some flowers during the trip, especially Alpine buttercups.

Wildflowers

Max had warned that the breeze would be cool and it was. But useful to keep the flies somewhat at bay.

We settled into an enjoyable pace on the Tabletop Trail.

Walking the Tabletop Trail

It’s obvious why Max and so many of my friends enjoy this area. Easy walking in that one is not contending with tight scrub, you can see for miles and miles around you. Very pleasant! The only sadness is the burnt (though slowly recovering) trees.

Old gate where the powerline easement crosses the Tabletop Trail

We passed through a track junction (where we were to pop out later in the day).

Junction Mt Selwyn cross country ski trail and Tabletop Trail

We had a chat with a lone AAWT walker, doing the 640km journey in 21 days. Ultra lightweight home made gear, doing 30-40km per day!

A couple of kilometers further south, we came to the Selwyn Trail junction and turned west.

Junction Tabletop Trail and Selwyn Trail

A mob of 14 feral horses. In beautiful condition, but they don’t belong in a National Park.

A mob of 14 feral horses on the Selwyn Trail

Our spirits were lifted by views to Mt Jagungal.

Mt Jagungal from the Selwyn Trail

Passed by some communication infrastructure.

Communication towers

Our outward journey ended at the top of the Selwyn chair lift, with views down to the rebuilt centre.

Selwyn ski field infrastructure

We returned to the comms towers, looking for a seat with a backrest and fly discouraging breeze for lunch.

Mt Selwyn was a short distance and gentle climb to the north, so we followed the snow poled route to it.

Approaching Selwyn trig

Selwyn trig

We next used the Mt Selwyn cross country ski trail to make a delightful loop back to the junction with Tabletop Trail.

Walking the Mt Selwyn cross country ski trail

We carried a few extra micrograms back to the car.

Freeloaders

A trip good for the soles and good for the soul – these guys make me laugh! Huge thanks, Max and Eric.

Party

3 walkers – Eric G, Max S (leader), me.

AllTrails

The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Johnny Boy’s Walkabout Blog FaceBook Page

I’ve started up a FaceBook page. Each trip report posts to it. It’s another way to get some info to get out and breathe a bit of fresh air. Why not pop over and Follow the page, or give a post a Like.