Training Log Archive: theway

Mt Gudgenby from Yankee Hat carpark, clockwise loop:
I phoned the NVC beforehand and spoke to a ranger who said "We had a training exercise up there a few months ago and the scrub was so thick that the rangers returned with not a shred of clothing on them". I told the others to wear trousers and gaiters, which they did, except for Ben who couldn't find his gaiters and accidentally left his trousers at work. We arrived at the carpark, had a pleasant coffee or tea to ease into the day. Then the back burning operations team stopped and warned us to take care (they were burning a few ridges to the south.

Route: From carpark go along old Boboyan Rd, right at FT that heads west, hit Bogong Ck and FT turns SW. Stay south of Bogong creek; the main FT crosses but Bernard soon put us right. Where FT turns south and starts climbing you leave FT and walk east, contouring (there was a roll of rusty fencing wire marking where to leave FT). Cross a marshy side creek turn left and walk uphill with creek on your left. You hit the large distinctive clearing.

Go to top of clearing and just beyond is the track. Turn right and climb to saddle which took 1:15 at very easy pace. The track braids and reforms a lot so if you lose it, don't worry you'll find it again. Main thing is to stay south of the creek and try to stay a bit away from creek as you approach saddle. We didn't, and crossed the creek into the nasty scrub on north side, then boys in front said we didn't need saddle as we could just continue up mtn. I skipped ahead, found the saddle and called the others over. The saddle is a beautiful place for a rest, and it's good to break up a long day with quality lazing and eating. One person at least was uncertain whether he should have stayed on the couch and watched the rugby.

Starting from the saddle and taking a line that veers more to southern side of mtn avoids the worst scrub on the SW side. After 45 minutes of lolling in the sunshine, chatting and eating we started up the trackless part and it was surprisingly easy. At every choice I went left and we didn't hit scrub, even found a few pleasant clearings and a large bog with some coloured tape (bushwalking clubs!). After this the slope steepens and there is a band of large boulders to cross. Choose a left route and (hopefully from memory) there will be slower scrub but no climbing thru boulders. But...

Ben took over leading and in spite of advice (because of it!) he aimed diagonally across mountain to right. Soon we were queuing to get between boulders and scrub, very slow. Got to a point where I couldn't climb up a slot at all, so hunted around, climbed a tree and got myself in front again where I stood still and looked right and left. Ben kept saying that going around to right was the best way which was very funny since he'd never been there b4 and didn't have a map etc.

Then I looked down and saw a large shiny black snake curled around my boots, just 5cm from each. It was dead still; I was standing still. For a second I thought it was dead, or plastic, or a joke. Then my fight or flight kicked in most effectively and I jumped into the air. The snake's response was to do the same with a full loop the loop and squiggle to the right as I landed to the left. Then the snake (with momentum on her side) threw herself down the gully, straight at the other 3 humans who each leaped sideways in terror like human skittles avoiding a venomous bowling ball.

After recovering... I contoured around a long way to left before I could find a way through. Then it was an easy enough walk and rock scramble to the top (via the SW aspect) including some distinctive Gudgenby slab climbing. Views at top are fantastic.

After lunch we descended top part via SW side again, turned R and contoured around to cross summit ridge line and find the top of the famous huge Gudgenby slabs. These are only just not too steep to walk down (with good soles), spectacular and fun. At the bottom of the slabs it's moderately dense, dry scrub, all the way back to the plains. Except that we did luck onto a delightful small clearing with views half way down so we sat down and enjoyed it - probably the only open space on that side of the mtn!

Approx times: Car to clearing 1:10, clearing to saddle 1:15, saddle to top 1:40. Total ascent 4:05. Descent about 3:30. That's slow pace but not including all the rests.

more garden work.

Chopping down trees and other garden work. Exhausting.

Commute to watson and back.

to blackie and back.

Circumcision trail challenge: PB but still 7 seconds slower than our March challenge target. Not sure if I can get any faster before the month ends. I was a bit short of time so the warm up was cycling there, walking up the hill then a few minutes running and drills. I think I started the lap too fast as I had to slow down after a few minutes. Went clockwise (b/c road crossing is safer) and took 5:05 to get to carpark. I was stuffed at the end and had to sit down for a bit, or maybe I'm soft. Legs were jellyish on walk down.

The walk up and down after, and includes about 5 mins run warm up.

cycled to yoga and back. Did some speeding especially in the mud. Feeling a bit bicycle fit actually :)

Last class before a month's break :( Rock and roll of spine very good. Ate 4 pieces of cake afterwards. That's impressive these days (all homemade).

Parked bike at lower blackie gate, walked up to circum, 2 laps at easyish pace starting with drills, then a controlled run downhill focusing on low impact to protect knees. Legs felt good on run and great afterwards.

First lap about 17:00 with starts and stops for drills, second lap a smooth easy 15:10 with a fun surge at the end. There were so many walkers on the path, all part of a seniors walking group by the look of it, that there was no point trying for my PB yet. Also it was getting a bit hot. I meant to leave an hour and a half earlier but when imo cancelled slothfulness set in. It felt great to be able to run down afterwards without the knees complaining. Taking short steps with bent knees worked. Saw a native Common Bronzewing Pidgeon on circum path, don't think I've ever seen one on blackie before.