Re: AAWT FKT (3rd attempt) Departing 4 December 2022

[peregrinator]

Just added up the vert and John ascended around 27,655 m. I guess he descended a similar amount.

That's curious. I thought he was walking, not travelling by hot air balloon.

[north-north-west]

Just added up the vert and John ascended around 27,655 m. I guess he descended a similar amount.

Walhalla is a bit below 400m ASL, Tharwa is 600m ASL. So that's at least 200m less descent than ascent, which - if your knees hate those downhills as much as mine do - is one more reason for doing the AAWT northbound.

[neilmny]

Congratulation JohnR a mighty effort. You must have wings on your feet
I've been watching your progress daily.
This my be like when the Olympics ended, some sort of withdrawl is pending now it is done.

[JohnR]

Hi Guys,

Now back in Canberra. I have never had a shower that felt so good.

We left Walhalla a bit after 0600 on Friday 15 November and arrived at the Tharwa Visitor’s Centre a bit after 15:00 today. So I think our time was 11 days 9 hours.

Will write up a trip report soon (including an explanation on the nav for yesterday - I have already reported this to the Head Ranger at Tharwa).

What a great journey the AAWT is! No matter which way you do it.

Thanks for following my progress and showing such great interest and support.

For now, I need to catch up on some eating and sleeping.

Cheers,

John Riley

[Lukec]

Well done sir. I’ve been working my way up the AAWT (at mere mortal pace) over the past month, and can only marvel at your effort. I think you must have passed me while I was doing a side trip up mt Kosciusko, otherwise maybe I blinked and missed you. Congrats, phenomenal effort

[Lamont]

Enjoy some good food and rest. Congratulations

[crollsurf]

I'm amazed, I'm sure we all are and thanks for taking the time to post.

Look forward to reading about it in the coming weeks but no rush. Let it all sink in first. We don't know much about Cuthberts walk so your report will be very enlightening.

Thanks for having the guts and confidence to let us follow along.

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[bigkev]

I hope you enjoy having a real shower and good food John, what a great achievement

I did the walk in the same direction as you a couple of years ago, however I struggle to get my head around what you managed to achieve - some days I was totally shagged out after walking 10-15 kilometres I'm looking forward to your report. It was great being able to follow you with your tracker. I'm already looking forward to your next adventure.

Cheers
Kevin

[paidal_chalne_vala]

An amazing achievement . Some people complete this demanding route on foot in 2 months, not in under two weeks :-0 .

[ecowain]

Will write up a trip report soon (including an explanation on the nav for yesterday - I have already reported this to the Head Ranger at Tharwa).

Hi John, well done!

We start at tharwa tomorrow. Any chance of a brief elaboration about the track or nav issue? Was it to do with the horse catching operation near blue waterholes?

Thanks

[Lophophaps]

I suggest that you contact Tharwa
6237 5307
namadginationalpark@act.gov.au
for clarification about the little detour at Dairymans Creek. or you could ask them when you start. John is recovering and probably back at work.

[Baeng72]

I suggest that you contact Tharwa
6237 5307
namadginationalpark@act.gov.au
for clarification about the little detour at Dairymans Creek. or you could ask them when you start. John is recovering and probably back at work.

Back at work?
He's not human, but a machine!
I finished the Overland one a Wednesday, and there was no way I was going to be back at work before next Monday.
Admittedly, I suffer from chronic laziness, a terrible affliction, and which means I find it difficult to do anything but basal survival (hiking is an exception).

[ecowain]

I suggest that you contact Tharwa
6237 5307
namadginationalpark@act.gov.au
for clarification about the little detour at Dairymans Creek. or you could ask them when you start. John is recovering and probably back at work.

Thanks, will do.

However it is generally better to ask at the source, rather than play Chinese whispers. Hence the question here.

But completely understand that sleep is the main priority after this trip.

[Zapruda]

Why call ACT parks when Dairymans Creek is in NSW. NPWS Tumut would make more sense.

[Zapruda]

Is he trying to pick up the Old Currango Trail? There was sod-all of it visible last time I was in that area.

The Old Currango trail is very visible between Port Phillip FT and Old Currango hut now. Mainly from the feral horses. It even has flash new NPWS signs.

[Lophophaps]

Mea culpa. I should have said that several Tharwa staff are aware of the reason for Dairymans detour.

[Zapruda]

Mea culpa. I should have said that several Tharwa staff are aware of the reason for Dairymans detour.

Makes sense. Thanks Lop.

[JohnR]

We are off again this Sunday 4 December at 0600.

For those that would like to follow us, trekking links are here:

https://share.garmin.com/2AH8Y

https://maps.findmespot.com/s/XVQX

Aim is to get to Tharwa around early morning Thursday 15 December. Would need to get in before 0500 to better current FKT (10 days 23 hours).

Cheers,

John

[Xplora]

Hopefully the rivers will be low enough for you to cross. Big River is still high. Just ask Zapruda.

[Lophophaps]

The rivers are pretty high. Big River should be viable at Timms Spur, and I would not risk Duane Spur. The Murrumbidgee River may need to be bypassed. I cannot see an easy way.
http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/floo ... iver.shtml
https://realtimedata.waternsw.com.au/mo ... MBIDGE.htm

Take care.

[Xplora]

The rivers are pretty high. Big River should be viable at Timms Spur, and I would not risk Duane Spur.

It wasn't last week. Should be dropping at the crossing but I would not be certain it is passable. Big River at Joker is 1.44 now and Timms Spur was impassable when it was 1.8m last week. I would be confident Timms spur would be a goer if Joker was at 1.2m.

[Lophophaps]

Xplorer, thanks for the correction. Can someone post a Grey Hills update? They seem to have walked all night. Is this correct? They left Walhalla 28 hours ago and are level with Skene, very fast.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Long Spur track has been cleared completely as of
5/12/22. Trail Runners will love it !

[Lophophaps]

Winter and spring have high river levels, with debris taking the chain out. They were at Viking Saddle last night with the last time for there being 1:40 am. Viking Saddle is 180 kilometres from Walhalla. Loch car park is 235 kilometres. They should make the Bogong High Plains today and Bogong tomorrow.

The weather forecast is interesting.
Today
Snow falling above 1700 metres late tonight.
Thursday
Snow possible above 1300 metres. Winds southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 19.
Friday
Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 22.

[Xplora]

I don't see much in the way of snow but temps will be well into the negative overnight for the next two nights and daytime not into double digits. Touch and go if the T spur crossing is doable. I wouldn't try. Hard call to make. Going down to see will cost quite a bit of time if it is too high but will save lots of time if they can get across. Thunderstorms predicted today so all bets could be off. Hoping they make the right call and stay safe.

[Lophophaps]

They reach Mount Blowhard at 11:24 pm yesterday, slower than the first few days but the weather has been poor and Viking is slow. That's the last marker. By this time on other days they had covered 20 or so kilometres.

[JohnR]

Hi Guys,

We pulled the pin this morning after a very cold night in Blowhard Hut. Rained / hailed most of the night (so glad we made the hut). Conditions were very tough going through The Twins and we were pretty worn out trying to navigate in the dark.

Still a great adventure and makes you realise how lucky we are to have such extensive remote mountain ranges through NSW and Vic.

Hats off to the current record holders (Paul and Tom). Cannot understand how they went from Mt Spec to Blowhard Hut in day. Amazing achievement in itself.

Hope everyone enjoys some great hiking over Christmas holidays.

Thanks again for following.

Cheers,

John

[Lophophaps]

John, as you have probably seen I was a bit concerned about your wellbeing. The weather forecast was not good. I'm glad that you made it to the hut, cold though it was. Your times are pretty amazing. Spec to Blowhard in a day is incredible - Razor Viking is slow, and then roads, but even so ... The AAWT will be there next year.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

A solid effort never the less. If you want an excursion after Xmas then Do Give Long Spur a go. It is in top condition having just been fully cleared the whole way .

[crollsurf]

Well done JohnR for giving it go. That FKT is going to take some beating. Planning, fitness blah blah blah. In your case the weather didn't cooperate but you also need luck as well.

May luck be with you next time.

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