Theiss Village track - northern Kosciuszko

[Greg Buckman]

I am interested in walking along the Theiss Village fire trail from Round Mtn to the Dargals fire trail in Spring. A friendly work colleague tells me its hard to follow but a Google search reveals several parties using it or planing to use it.

Has anyone used it in the last year or two and tell me how hard/easy it is to follow?

Greg Buckman

[zac150]

Greg,

I believe it may be my lovely wife who suggested you try this forum to get more info on the Theiss Village Fire Trail.

When Jen mentioned your intentions to do the walk it brought back some memories, some fond, some less so. Essentially my thoughts are a little less negative than Jen's, but then I embrace challenge's and actively seek out pain (long course triathlons).

First the Pro's - basically it is hard to get "lost", yes at times you will not be able to say exactly where on the map you are but if you keep walking in an "East or West" direction you will eventually find your way to either the Round Mountain Fire Trail or the Dargals Fire Trail.

When we did the walk and remember this is 10+ years ago, we could at times follow the old road cutting, basically this is how we knew we were on the trail, but essentially we walked on what I can only assume were animal pads (when there was a trail).

The Cons - There is a reason that National parks have removed the sign posts at each end of the track! Actually if I remember correctly when we got to the other end someone had carved the word "ex" into the sign post. Each time I have walked past the end of the trail since, I have laughed as I look out across the plain and it is fair to say last year when I tried to point out to a friend where the Theiss trail joined the Dargals and I had no luck.

Basically if you want to walk it assume that you will be bush washing for that section and any time you find a trail will be a positive.

I did a google search and hike Oz have highlighted it as a possible walk, but if you read carefully they have not actually walked the trail!

There is a site by John Evans who discusses a walk in the area in 2010. Essentially his experience is the same as ours, in as much as we found heavy dense timber around Ogilvies creek, there is then an old quarry area at the end of the Round Hill track which if you read John Evans account appears to have mislead them and they followed this in error.

If I was planning this walk again I think I would try and link up with the Round Hill road from Patons, follow it until it's completion and then try and bush bash to the round mountain trail (assuming you are coming from the Paton's side).

I guess if you start with the mentality that any time you find a trail is a positive then you wont be disappointed, if you go hoping to follow a trail you will be very annoyed.

[Greg Buckman]

Thanks, so much, 'zac150': it was, indeed, your ever-friendly/helpful wife, Jen, who filled me in your challenging trip along the Theiss Village trail 10+ years ago.

Your reply, and the John Evans trip description, have basically confirmed what I'd more-or-less decided about the track, namely that I'd walk the track to the Cool Plain hut ruin then walk north-west to the Round Mtn Road trail. The rest of the Theiss trail sounds too vague to bother with.

A poster Jen has of Pretty Plain hut by her work desk inspired me to go into that part of the Jagungal area but I'm keen to do a loop trip and not just go in/out via Round Mtn fire trail and Hell Hole Ck fire trail.

After living (and bushwalking) in Tasmania for 25 years I'm re-exploring the greater Blue Mtns and Kosciuszko areas (once lived in Newcastle and Sydney).

Jen told me about this site, have spent hours on it over the past three days, its great. Quite got into this Gallery reply: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15873 . You guys should try the sandstone country of the Blue Mtns, its amazing (and very different to Kosciuszko).

Thanks, again.

Greg Buckman

[zac150]

Greg

Yes we do need to broaden the horizons, but after sitting out for so many years due to back and having kids I think Jen is keen to visit some of the old haunts in a bid to build back the fitness and then maybe head to Tassie for the overland track. If you are looking for other area's around Canberra I would recommend the Budawangs, Ben Boyd's (Light to Light) and Nagee.

Back to you planned walk the track into Pattens passes very close to the road so you could limit the time spent on the road by taking this shortcut.

I also believe there is a guy in Khancoben who will help with Car shuffles. I mention this as I did a walk last year that may be of interest to you. We started at Round Mountain and walked down to Derschkos on the first day, our second day was a short hop to Grey mare where we had planned on doing an afternoon walk over to the base of the Valentines falls (didn't happen as my foot was playing up - turned out it was broken but thats another storey). Our third day was over the Greymare range to Pretty plain hut and day 4 to Wheelers before walking out on the last day. We were lucky enough to be able to leave a car at Tooma.

However you could do the same walk but instead of walking to Wheelers, you could head back to Round Mountain, actually jen and I have walked Round Mountain to Okeefe's, Okeefe's to Grey Mare, Grey Mare to Pretty Plain, Pretty plain to the concrete bridge on the Round mtn fire trail and then back to the car.

Lots of great walks in the area.

[Greg Buckman]

Thanks, zac150/M....

I did the Light-to-Light walk last October and loved it and have done a few in the Budawangs.

Do you know the contact (or name) of the guy in Khancoben who helps with car shuffles?

If you get down to the Overland Track, or other Tas tracks, let me know: I've done a lot of walking there and used to even write Tas national parks guidebooks.

Greg

[zac150]

Greg I believe if you check this site his details have been on before or ask jen to check with David Scott who used him a few years ago. Otherwise try khancoben national parks.

If both of those fail I know a couple of people in Cabramatta who may help for beer.

[Greg Buckman]

Thanks, heaps, for all your help zac150/M.....

Greg