Hume and Hovell Track Oct 2024

[safari]

Just finished up my second thru hike of the H&H Track, my first one was 6 years ago. This was a very impromptu walk with zero planning, I basically decided to hop on the trail again 24 hours before I started.

This time I walked for 14 days, Yass to Albury. The trail is in much better condition than my last wander along the creeks and fire trails and I actually met other hikers this time too!

Logistics: I am itinerant, roaming the mainland right now so I had my vehicle to transport me to Albury and facilitate food shopping.
I parked it at the Albury airport long term secure covered parking facility and utilised the public transport coach to Yass with Vline- cost around $20. 3.5 hours.

Day 1 was the road walk up to Captains Campsite and as the bus gets into Yass around 2:30pm it was a late arrival in the dark. Black Range Road was far busier than last time, I was nearly taken out a few times by arrogant bogans in very large utes getting very close to me as i walked as far off the bitumen as possible..

Day 2 involved a short wander to Burrinjuck Waters Tourist Park. The boat transfer across the lake is now scheduled for Monday and Thursday only.

Last time I just rocked up and Dean whisked me away. So I was lucky I hit Yass on a Tuesday, walked to Burrinjuck on the Wednesday and had the boat good to go the next Thursday morning. There were 6 of us in the boat, fare is $50 which includes a campsite and use of facilities. Wendy and Dean were still as super friendly and helpful as they were 6 years ago.

Trail condition: You can cruise. The blackberry is lush and green and impossibly thick, creeping metres up some gum trees, truly apocalyptic in places. Try not to look. I didn't suffer a scratch though.

The trail itself was well cut back from most overhanging brambles and the thick mess of sticks and twigs and fuel on the ground in the mountains was more of a hazard to be avoided. Maintenance has been excellent for the most part and there are plenty of new bridges and signage and a new shelter at Paddy's. The 100 mile Hume and Hovell Ultra was held while I was hiking as well so there was considerable effort that went into clearing that particular part of the trail.

Wildlife: So many beautiful, noisy native birds!! How lucky are we here in Australia to have these lovely animals? Too right.
Many brumbies even though the aerial cull had apparently just taken place on parts of the track in the Snowy's, some poor blind wallabies (toxoplasmosis from feral cats?), deer, foxes, roos, snakes and lizards and more flies than I care to remember.

Trail towns and resupply: I walked into Tumut and Tumbarumba this time instead of arranging transportation, continuous footsteps.

Tumut has become far busier in 6 years, the motorcycle touring crowd are a daily fixture. Tumby is almost unrecognisable, catering to it's surrounding farming community of course but also the well heeled city tourists as well. No more cheap pub meals. I couldn't locate a butane gas cannister either.

The Table Top Hotel is another nearly on trail supply point. I joked with another hiker that they probably have $24 burgers now. Burgers are actually $28. What people are willing to pay...

There was a doozy of a thunderstorm one weekend when I was passing by the Lankeys Creek section so I booked a room at the Hillview Oak B&B with Marie and Irvine (right on trail) and that was a definite highlight accommodation wise of my walk. Cool folks, nice place.

Final Thoughts: So yeah, another worthwhile 2 week walk on one of Australia's least popular multi day walks. Signage is solid, I used a little Avenza and Open Street Map Gps tracking when things were hazy but otherwise navigation is easy. Water was easily located in streams and rivers (I filtered everything with my Sawyer, even the tank water in the camps).

Good vibes, fantastic sunsets, solitude, quietness, remote camping and a cracker of a walk.