12 March 2011 Main Range Loop

Map: Perisher Valley 1:25000

Getting There

This walk was organised and led by me as a CBC/Parkway walk:

Saturday 12 March (Canberra Day long weekend) - Main Range Loop - L/M. Can't get away overnight? In town the Canberra Day long weekend? Walk the classic Main Range Track from Charlottes Pass, crossing the iconic Snowy River, to Mt Koscuiszko via Carruthers Peak, Mt Lee and Mt Northcote. Home via the Summit Road. Around 23km and 1000m climb and mainly on track, but not insignificant if you are not a regular walker. Limit: 12. Map: Perisher Valley. Leader: John Evans - jevans@pcug.org.au, (h) 6288 7235. Transport: ~$155 + park entry per car.

9 of us gathered in Canberra and we met 1 up there.

Further Information

11 of us booked.

The trip will only happen if the weather is reasonable to good.

It will be a long day. We'll meet in Canberra at 6am. It's a 3 hour drive to Charlottes Pass, including a quick stop at Jindabyne. Allow 8 hours for the walk. A 3½ hour drive back, including a stop in Jindabyne and maybe another quick one in Cooma. That's 8.30pm back in Canberra. It will cost you approximately $45 per person for transport and park entry (based on 4 per car).

Bring lunch, at least 2 litres of water, hat, sun screen, warm clothes (layers are best), waterproof jacket, boots/sturdy walking shoes. The weather can be extremely changeable.

The only toilets are at Jindabyne on the way up, Charlottes Pass and at Rawson Pass, about ⅔ of the way through the walk. Be prepared - it's far from ideal to spoil the high country.

Kambah, Drakeford Drive, L Johnson Drive, R Were St - Calwell Club, Johnson Drive, R Monaro Highway, Cooma, Snowy Mountains Highway, at intersection veer left on Kosciuszko Road, Jindabyne, stay on Kosciuszko Road (do not take Alpine Way), Charlottes Pass. ~215km ~2hrs 45mins.

Photographs

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Walk

Track maps: thumbnails are active - click for a larger picture
Track overview	Track 1	Track 2

With a bit of fluffing around, it's about 3hrs from meet to walk (includes a 10min wait for a no-show, a second loop through the Calwell Club car park, a visit to the Jindabyne bakery). Unfortunately, I hit a wallaby just into KNP - both for it and my insurance excess. Still, first one in 6 years of driving and, fortunately, on the front corner so the car was still drivable.

The day was overcast with the occasional fleeting patch of sunlight as we walked down and crossed the Snowy River. The stepping stones were well above the water level, so dry feet. However, the tops of the Main Range were in the clouds and the glimpses of the sun lessened. We passed the first of many walkers on the way to Blue Lake lookout where we regrouped. Blue Lake could not be seen.

By the time we'd climbed to Carruthers Peak on the Range it was starting to rain and visibility was minimal. 6km in 1hr 45mins to here. So it was just heads down and walk. No point in attempting to visit Mt Lee, so we slogged on. Even a break was not possible at this point, the wind blowing the rain in at us from the NW. No site of either Lake Albina to the right or Mt Northcote to the left as we walked on.

Sheltered slightly by Muellers Peak, we were able to stop for a 5 minute break just N of Muellers Pass at 11.55am. It was brunch. The leg from Carruthers Peak to here was 3.8km in 1hr.

At least the showers held off as we continued on, but the view did not improve. Ran into Jim D and a mate out for 3 days. Finally to the junction with the Kosciuszko Walk, where we again regrouped. Plenty of walkers about even on a day like this - I reckon we saw around 250 people during our trip.

On up to Kosi we ran into Roger and Rosemarie E with Rosemarie's scout troop. Arrived at Kosi at 12.50pm, the leg from N of Muellers Pass to Mt Kosi 3.1km in 1hr. Half the world were there and some of the world's rubbish too. Lunch in the fog and cloud, like my first trip there on 9-10 Apr 05. We must return, as it is lovely on a clear day such as 26-28 Feb 10.

We left the top of Australia at 1.10pm and wandered back down Kosciuszko Walk. Heading towards Rawson Pass we ran into Mac K and his FBI party, going to overnight at Wilkinsons Creek. A toilet break underground at Rawson Pass, the leg from the top to here 1.7km in 25mins.

The day improved markedly as we dropped down the Summit Walk. By Seamans Hut the day was clear (but overcast) - however, the Main Range was still clouded in. A quick look in Seamans Hut, then on to cross the Snowy River and Merritts Creek. A wander back along Summit Road to Charlottes Pass and the cars. Rawson Pass to CP 7.9km in 1hr 45mins.

I guess it was a little quicker than I'd estimated, as we didn't climb two hills and there was little view to admire.

An uneventful drive back home, with a stop again at the Jindabyne bakery and petrol in Cooma.

Thanks for your company Christine D, Chris F, Edwina Y, Llewellyn S-P, Nathan H, Phillip S, Russell H, Stephen and Lisa M. Pity about the views.

Distance: 22.5km Climb: 750m. Time: 9.05am - 3.15pm (6hrs 10mins), with 25mins of stops.
Grading: L/E; M(11)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Main Range Loop

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This page last updated 25Aug22