Jagungal Wilderness Traverse to Kosciuszko

[Explorer_Sam]

G'day everyone,

We're hatching a plan to traverse Jagungal Wilderness starting at Round Mountain Hut, climbing Jagungal and venturing south to Kosciuszko. Any information on tracks that connect along the way would be very useful. We looked at the possibility of taking a canoe from Valentine Hut down the Geehi River towards Kosci, but research suggests it's more catered to white water rafting? With limited paddling experience, we certainly don't want to take on too much in a canoe.

Any suggested routes, feedback or any information or advice would be greatly appreciated. It's early days in the planning, but we would like to get a rough idea of our route.

Thanks,
Sam.

[crollsurf]

John Chapman's AAWT covers that area well and has an alternative route across the Kerries which is a heap better than hiking the fire trails all the way.
http://www.john.chapman.name/pub-aawt.html

Have fun.

[north-north-west]

There are a number of lines you can take from Jagungal to Schlinck, the best depending on available time and prevailing conditions.
Bull Peaks and Brassies to Tin Hut and then Gungartan; Tarn Bluff, Cup & Saucer, Mawsons, Kerrries to Gungartan; Strawberry Hill to either Mawsons or the Valentine River (where you can pick up the firetrai)l; part of the Grey Mare (until you pick up the firetrrail), detour track via Valentine Falls, then over the Ghost to pick up the track again further along . . .
Even from Schlinck you have three major options: straight up Dicky Coopers, and through the Rolling Grounds and Granite Peaks to Consett Stephens and Tate; frorm Whyte River Hut up to the Rolling Grounds and south, or via the tracks and roads to Guthega and then either Illawong/Little Twynam or Guthega trig/Consett Stephens/Tate to Twynam or some variation on that. Once at Twynam it's easy enough to pick up the circuit track out over Lee, Carruthers, Northcote to the Kosciuszko turrnoff, or you can go down Crummer Spur from Little Twynam, past Headley Tarn and pick up the circuit track near the river crossing.
etc etc etc

For the most part it's open walking, Bit of dodge and weave to avoid some scrub or more awkward bits of rough ground, but generally easy in good weather, and plenty of pads to follow on the cross country bits.

The best way to do it is to get a set of 1:25,000 topos and plan a rough route from them. Then see if you can follow it . . .

[north-north-west]

ps: You do not paddle downstream from Valentine Hut. There's a waterfall not far from there that would be most unkind to your prospects of continuing.
And I don't mean just continuing the trip. I mean continuing anything.

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

Plenty of good options already mentioned but just reinforcing to definately do not attempt to canoe Valentines River or Geehi River above Geehi Dam.
I can also highly recommend "Exploring the Jagungal wilderness"by Robert Green as part of your research.
Not sure how to put up a link but do a search on this forum titled "Exploring the Jagungal wilderness" and heaps of info there to sift through.

[kjbeath]

The first part is either fire trails or off track walking. To maximise off-track the following is probably the best. There is a sort of track, the Farm Ridge Trail from Round Mountain crossing the Tumut to O'Keefes Hut. From O'Keefes head up Jagungal and then follow a straight line to Mawsons Hut. A good side trip is to go to Valentines Hut and Falls from Mawsons Hut. From Mawsons head up into the Kerries. Follow these along to Gungartan with a possible detour to Tin Hut and then down to the Schlink Pass. You could walk upwards to Schlik Hut to camp or drop off the Kerries early. Then you have a choice of either heading up towards Dicky Cooper Bogong (bit scrubby from memory) and heading for the Rolling Grounds or down the fire trail to Whites River Hut and up there. Head through Consett Stephen Pass and follow the main range. Then either through the rams heads down to Dead Horse gap and then thredbo or the walking track and down the chairlift to thredbo.

If you want Fire Trail walking just follow the fire trails that parallel these except there is no option for the main range.

[peregrinator]

Sam, this is a nice plan. Even nicer if it does hatch. MeanderingFlyFisher's advice is spot on. The link to Robert's invaluable book is at http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=22065

As suggested by crollsurf, Chapman et al is worth consulting for track notes and sketch maps. If you absorb the details in both books and you examine the topographical maps, the replies by north-north-west and kjbeath will give you lots of ideas. And of course there are many other references to the area in this forum.

Finally, note the warning in Chapman et al that "walkers attempting these routes [i.e. most of those suggested by north-north-west and kjbeath] must be competent at off-track navigation."

[north-north-west]

Then you have a choice of either heading up towards Dicky Cooper Bogong (bit scrubby from memory) . . .

It's fairly open if you go almost straight across the valley and creek from the Schlink Hilton, and up the main spur from there. More direct until you need to sidle the bigger boulders near the top.

[kjbeath]

Finally, note the warning in Chapman et al that "walkers attempting these routes [i.e. most of those suggested by north-north-west and kjbeath] must be competent at off-track navigation."

Yes, definitely, and it should also be mentioned that the weather can change very quickly so navigating in a white-out is possible. One good aspect of this walk is that you can generally decide to take to the 4wd tracks. The only problem is the Main Range area where the weather can be extreme. There is always the possibility of ending up at Guthega and having to find a way out. Allowing an extra day or two doesn't hurt.

[Explorer_Sam]

Thanks for all the responses everyone, particularly NNW and kjbeath. Some great info! It turns out that an expedition we are doing with uni at the end of the year is very similar to this (although further south), so we cooled on it a bit. It might still happen though, and if not, I'll do it in future.

Another question, what would walking be like beside the Geehi River? Overgrown scrub bashing, or more open, comfortable walking?

[kjbeath]

Another question, what would walking be like beside the Geehi River? Overgrown scrub bashing, or more open, comfortable walking?

Above where it crosses Valentine Fire Trail it is open, a bit rough and boggy in parts. Headwaters near Jagungal are quite swampy, best just to take a direct path from Jagungal to Mawsons Hut.

Further down I haven't been there but from the map and some off-track near Valentines Falls my guess is not very pleasant. Scrub and a lot of fallen trees.

[rcaffin]

Another question, what would walking be like beside the Geehi River? Overgrown scrub bashing, or more open, comfortable walking?

Heh heh heh ... evil satanic glee.
North of Mawsons - fine.
Mawsons to Valentine - difficult as there's a bit of a gorge. A more straight line to the south is normal.
From Valentines to Geehi Reservoir ... can I have the gear you don't take with you? After all, you won't be needing it any more ...

Cheers
Roger

[Lophophaps]

Sam, there's good advice above. Can you please give an idea of how many days you want to take and if this is a round trip? If you are returning to Round Mountain I'd think about something like this:
Round Mountain, Farm Ridge Farm Ridge Hut site, O'Keefes
Jagungal, Mawsons
Gungartan, Dicky Cooper
Tate, Mann Bluff, Main Range camp
Day trip Kosciuszko, Townsend et al.
Day trip Watsons, Sentinals
Dicky Cooper, Schlink Pass or Schlink Hilton
Valentines, down the falls (could be overgrown), Grey Mare
Grey Mare FT, SMC
Round Mountain
That's 10 days and takes in a lot of summits. Go clockwise to get the Tumut crossing over early, and no major river crossings after the bottom of Valentine Falls, which could be a bit hairy. Add another two days for bad weather rests, and if it's sunny, have a menu of side trips for all the walk. Be prepared to vary the walk at any time. There's reliable potable water in most places, but be careful near some huts.

[Explorer_Sam]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Some brilliant ideas in here. A lot to think about.