Rams Head to Mt. Stilwell

[Canoehead09]

Hey All!

First time poster and lookin for some advice.

I've been researching a 2-3 day trip that traverses the main range counter-clockwise starting at Charlotte's Pass to Twynam, then along the Main Range Track to Townsend/Abbott/Byatts/Alice Rawson (hitting sub-peaks along the way), then heading to Kosi/Etheridge, then along Kosciuszkolq Walk to North Rams Head and Rams Head.

Now instead of walking back to Rawson Pass from Rams Head and heading down the summit walk to Charlotte's Pass, can one traverse the Rams Head Range to My Stilwell and descend its summit track? From images and topo maps this seems a very viable option and would save a few kilometres.

I'll likely be doing this the second week of March.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Avatar]

I have done this 3 times now in good weather in summer. Both directions. There are no pads but you can go just about anywhere you want - underfoot can be damp and uneven in places.
So allow more time and energy than on a pad.
The arc of the Rams Head Range, being higher above the plain of the Snowy is slightly easier than the direct line from around Rams Head to Kangaroo Ridge and Mt Stilwell.
From there its a few minutes to Charlotte's Pass down a pad.
You can pretty much set a bearing on your compass and follow it across. It's taken me about 4 hours to travel across with pack.
In good weather your destination will usually be visible most of the way.
Your trip idea sounds good, but I'd take 5 days to explore from each camp, especially if you include Townsend - which is an awesome area.

[Canoehead09]

Thanks Avatar! That's what I wanted to hear

I'd love to spend more time there but unfortunately time is short and 3 days is likely the most I can pull off

I really wanted to head up to Mt Anderson and Mt Tate but that was adding on quite a distance from Anton round trip.

As a side question, as I am coming from Canada and our idea of a venomous snake/spider is a prairie rattler and a black widow (in very confined geographic locations). What's the chance of coming across either while hiking or camping in the area?

[Avatar]

I came across a Funnel Web spider last month moving near my pack one morning on Twynam. I could not find any spider hole near by it could have emerged from.
Some areas have lots of spider holes. You don't have any choice anyway.
Check boots, cups etc. in the morning (I stored mine in the tent)
I haven't seen any snakes up there but others have, near water. Also, they travel at night in warm weather.

[north-north-west]

Great idea for a walk, and you should love it. Easy enough in the time allotted.

Most common snakes on the Main Range are the White-Lipped Whips which, while technically venomous, are not really a danger to humans as they're so small. Just watch where you're going and be a little noisier than usual if you're in amongst the shrubbery (which shouldn't be necessary on this route), and you're not likely to have any problems. Although if you're still concerned, wear gaiters.
There are such things as Kosciuszko Funnelwebs, but you don't see them that often. Watch where you sit down (I've landed my butt on one without realising it until standing up and finding the ex-spider underneath), if you have an inner tent keep it closed up at night, ditto with the pack, and shake out your shoes/boots in the morning.

[DarrenM]

Just a note on the Funnel Web spiders, a lot of what people think are Funnel Web's are usually Mouse spiders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missulena

I see a few in Kosciuszko

[Avatar]

Could be right there Darren, for what I saw.

However, Wikipedia also says:
There is evidence that the bite of a mouse spider is potentially as serious as that of an Australasian funnel-web spider; however, recorded envenomings by this spider are rare. Funnel-web antivenom has been found to be an effective treatment for serious bites.

[north-north-west]

Mouse Spiders are still Mygalomorphs and all Mygalomorphs are venomous and potentially deadly. If it has huge pointy teeth treat it as you would anything that might hurt you: keep a sensible distance.

[DarrenM]

I did read that too! I was quite surprised but my understanding is that they are less aggressive than the Funnel Web. The one in the picture was underneath a bivvy bag near Mt Townsend. I had one crawling around while bivvying on Little Twynam once also.

As for snakes in the area, I've only ever seen a very small (possibly a brown) above the tree line, and a blacksnake down at the base of Mt Tate basking in the sun.

On the whole, the worst creatures ever...are the March flies. They do my head in when they're out.

[Avatar]

Yeah I nearly mentioned the March flies too.
Take a head net. I've used mine every time.

Also in summer an umbrella comes in handy and a small tarp for shade - Tyvek works as the white surface reflects well.
The spider I encountered was reluctant, but did not display any aggression, even though I moved him.

[Canoehead09]

Thanks for all the advice, this is wonderful.

I'm pretty much going to treat any and every snake/spider that I come across the same: it will likely kill me if I get near it. And seeing as this is Australia, I assume its pretty much true as well

I've done some internet searching and read that neither spider is particularly agressive and if you com across one, just give it room, it usually will rear its front legs in warning before striking and if you need to knock it off something, use a hiking pole or something else. It also seems they like the more moist areas?

So would it be safe to say when pitching a tent check a 7-10m radius of the ground looking for holes (it looks like the holes holes are about the size of two Aus 50 cent pieces?) If you don't find any, then you are likely fine - though spiders can wander. I plan on bringing all gear into the tent at night (if not wet) and make the tent is zipped tight.

[DarrenM]

I honestly wouldn't be too concerned mate. Sure, check around if you like but I guarantee you will find holes of all sorts in a 7-10m radius. The fact that you have a tent will solve most issues. I've bivvied a few times and seen the odd critter but you'd have to be lucky to even see one.

I remember feeling the same way about bears when camping in Squamish Valley the first time. The locals were pretty casual about them, but I was freaking out. Same deal, understand them but dont let it ruin your day.

[Canoehead09]

Quick question. I'll likely be taking a train from Sydney to Jindabyne. What's the best way to go from Jindabyne to Charlotte's Pass? Taxi? Is there a shuttle?

[north-north-west]

There's no train line into Jindy. You'll have to use buses. Or hitch.

Train or bus to Canberra, trainline coach link to Jindy leaves Canberra just before noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Don't know about shuttles during summer, you might be best contacting the local tourist info mob to find out about that. B ut I wouldn't be surprised to find you'd have to hitch or take a taxi (which would not be cheap).

[Mark F]

It is only recently that there is a bus to Jindabyne. Currently NSW Trainlink is trialing for 1 year routing the bus from Canberra to Bombala via Jindabyne rather than Nimmitabel.
http://www.nswtrainlink.info/about/news