First Snow for 2012 Mt Hotham Area

[marangaroo86]

Its Sunday January 15th I check the BOM weather. A massive cold front due later in the week. Snow down to 1700m
I'm dying for a Hike ( was off work for 7 months last year with a broken leg)and I love the cold.
I see my Boss and get Wednesday and Thursday off.(Could not get Friday, late notice BUMMER)
Being mid week the usual suspects for fellow hikers is 0ut. SO SOLO IT IS.
Next problem how to get there ? I live 2 1/2 hours away. My cars is at the panel beaters, hit a roo.
My Wife offers to drop and pick me up and the Kids get a day in Bright ITS A GO!
This Hike will be my first overnite since my brocken leg.My first solo hike And I have some new gear.
Lots of firsts SNOW 2012, SOLO,WALK BACK,NEW GEAR, TRACK.
Route: Alpine way-Brandy creek mine-Cobungra ditch track -The huts walk-spargos and Derricks Hut-Mt Loch- Machinery Spur- Mt lochk Carpark Approx 24km

GREAT ONLY 1KM Its 7pm , 10*C ,Windy and looks like rain

Brandy Creek Mine Track. Gee its nice tobe out in the bush again.

New Tents Up Before the rain. Exped Venus II UL . Quick setup , roomy for one, Nice and bright inside.

Quick to Setup. I find it simpler if you place the two corner pegs in on the side you place to poles in.

Whats Missing ? 6 pegs . I make stick ones later. Thats not all I forget, find out more later in the report.

THIS IS THE FIRST INSTALMENT OF THIS TRIP REPORT. MORE TO COME. ONE PER NIGHT. PLEASE TRY NOT TO POST A REPLY TILL THE END LATER IN THE WEEK
THANKS
MARANGAROO86

[marangaroo86]

I walk the 1km to Brandy Creek Mine.Tents up and its time for a cuppa. I have an new stove KOVEA CAMP5 with adaptor. Good little stove for solo . It has a pre heat tube for cold Temps and with the adaptor I can use the cheaper Gas in summer.(the pot is from a Primus ETA solo ,a jet boil style stove , I found it no good for true winter use, Hard to detach the pot and I lost the thermo wrap .) Woops I left the wind shield at home, sheets of rock(shale) will do the trick. While its boiling I setup my mat and sleeping bag. You guessed it a new pad EXPED SYNMAT UL , I love this pad ,lite ,quick to inflate(I use an EXPED Mini Pump, I know you can quickly inflate by mouth. But Im worried about introducing condisation into the mat.)I find 60% inflation the most comfy.
I now have time to have a look around the mine site, half the hill has been removed using just the power of water, Theres some shafts , but the have mesh covers. The small body of water is nice .It starts to rain at about 9pm. And was raining in the morning also, It stopped and I made my move to brake camp.
I'm off back up the track to the start of the Cobungra Ditch track.Time to start up the new GPS Garmin ETREX20 , Whoops the batteries are flat and no spares. Will have to give it a go next time.I know thats three thing :missing tent pegs, stove wind shield and flat GPS. Gee I rushed this trip and am a bit rusty.

I forgot the wind shield, The Adaptor for the cheaper gas is great, Take care when laying or inverting the gas

Very narrow Flame, But dont take your eye off it ,it boils quickly. Pot supports seem flimsy, But this Stove works for me.

Nice light late in the day at Brandy Creek Mine

Shale in the evening light.

That second guy is just not going to make it. I may get to use my PLB.

THIS IS THE 2nd INSTALMENT OF THIS TRIP REPORT. PLEASE DO NOT POST A REPLY, THERE IS MORE TO COME
THANKS
MARANGAROO86