Main Range February

[bushnut]

Hi Folks,

I am thinking of doing 2.5 days around the Main Range in February, starting at Charlotte's Pass and doing something of a loop.

I have a few questions about this and would appreciate any advice from those in the know:

- what is the water situation like at that time of year?
- any thoughts on the level of challenge in something like this? I am not looking for something too taxing but don't want a stroll either. I am reasonably fit and have been up there in winter before (camped for two nights on the snow near Mt Tate).
- is Charlotte's Pass a good place to start/end from a practical perspective? e.g. parking, route options

Thanks as always!

[Mark F]

Water is almost never a problem on the Main Range although in Feb some of the smaller trickles may have dried up.
There are several loops you could do. Start at either Thredbo/Dead Horse Gap or Charlottes Pass and head over Mt Stilwell to Kosciuszko Lookout, cross the Kosciuszko track and up to North Ramshead. Do a loop down to South Ramshead and then wander around the western side of Kosciuszko via Lake Cootapatamba to Wilkinsons Valley. Options to climb Townsend, and/or Abbott before returning via Mueller Pass (side trip to Kosciuszko) to your car.

[bushnut]

Thanks Mark, really good to know about the water.

Do you think a loop from Charlotte's Pass around Blue Lake, Mt Kosciuszko and Rams Head (returning to CP) would be doable over 2.5 days? Having looked at the distances I think so but I am going off other trips in much rougher terrain (e.g. snow, dense vegetation).

[Mark F]

Many do the Blue Lake loop as a day trip or an easy 2 dayer at best. I suggested the Ramsheads because they are a wonderful area that is largely ignored as the herds thunder by on the Koscuiszko track - close but out of sight and out of mind.

You are above the tree line and it is all open and easy walking. I expect you are faster than me but for me I would allow 3 hours for CP to North Ramshead, the loop around the Ramsheads would take about half a day and you are carrying only a day pack. Allow a couple of hours to Wilkinsons Valley, half a day possibly with day pack to do Townsend etc. all track and road back to CP - about 3 hours. Assuming your 1/2 day is at the start you could camp at either around North Ramshead or Wilkinsons if reversing the itinerary. If you are much faster then it is easy to add in a bit more.

By the way what the map shows as South Ramshead is not what most people consider to be S. Ramshead. I mean the 2040m point about a km NE of the named point. It has a large metal trig on top (not shown on the maps).

[bushnut]

Thanks again. Sounds like I will have plenty of flexibility!

[rcaffin]

BUT - the big black bity flies and the little black bity flies will be out in force. They are a severe pain.
We generally wait until March.

Cheers
Roger

[bushnut]

Yeah I think that might be the way to go... I am now looking at mid-March

[climberman]

Avoid dark blue clothing, the *&%$#! march flies love it.

[climberman]

really? b l o o d y ? is this 1967?

[north-north-west]

really? b l o o d y ? is this 1967?

If you go into your personal settings you can turn off the swear filter.

[Warin]

really? b l o o d y ? is this 1967?

If you go into your personal settings you can turn off the swear filter.

Or do a Keating .. expand your vocabulary - there are myriads of words to recover.

[climberman]

really? b l o o d y ? is this 1967?

If you go into your personal settings you can turn off the swear filter.

Awesome thank you!

[climberman]

really? b l o o d y ? is this 1967?

If you go into your personal settings you can turn off the swear filter.

Or do a Keeting .. expand your vocabulary - there are myriads of words to recover.

Darned March flies?
Accursed?
Blasted?

[Warin]

Keating may have "A Roman senate of March flies"

This March fly I name Brutus, his conspirator Mark Anthony does javelin sport with me.