By Scott
On Friday the 7th March at 5:30 Colin, Gareth, Angus and myself met at the Yinnar Scout Hall. Where we all piled into Mr. Halls ute, on our way to Mt. Baw Baw. Along the way we stopped at Moe McDonalds for a quick dinner. And shortly after that left to continue to Mt Baw Baw car park where we arrived at 7:40. After 20 minutes of discussion we started walking through the little village to find Village Trail. We came to a spot, just after the town where there was a snow blower, and Village Trail, so we followed that until we found an alright campsite. There were tables, trees, Pete Bogs and it was fairly open and very soft, squishy grass. Marked by a wooden sign saying ‘20’. After setting our tents up, and having a little talk we went turned the lights out at about 10:00.
Saturday morning we got up at 7:00 and packed our bags and had breakfast then left camp at 8:27. Walking along Village Trail there’s an intersection where we turned left. Once we turned we could see Loy Yang and Yallourn Power Station to the right. Walking a little bit more we came to an intersection where we turned right which brought us to another intersection where we go straight ahead. At 8:42 we came to a boggy swamp like area that was very open, with a sign post to the left. At 8:45 we had a 4 minute rest to remove our jackets and to have a little breather. And as we started walking we soon came to Pudding Basin. Then the track was a bit overgrown at 8:55 and at 9:00 there was a sign to the left. 9:05 came and there was a sign to the left where we went straight ahead. There was a wooden bridge at 9:13 where we went straight ahead.
At 9:21 we came to an intersection. Left is Mt. Baw Baw – 2.3km. Right (The way we came) leads to Mt. Baw Baw – 2.5km Straight ahead is a narrow hiking trail only that leads to Mt. St. Phillack. Our next rest was at 9:28 at a grassy venue on the side of the track with a nice log to sit on. Surrounded by small gums and 1m-1.5m high shrubs. At 9:28 we started walking again. At 9:40 we came to an open flat with the Tanjil Creek running through it. Which is safe drinking water. And within 1 minute later we met a wooden sign to the left. And another minute later we were walking along a narrow track uphill. 10:00 came and we decided to have an 8 minute rest on the right side of the track. Where there was no grass, small bushes and was rocky. Shortly after that rest we came o an intersection where Mt. Whitelaw was to the left and Mt. St. Phillack was to the right – we turned right.
St. Phillack saddle was open, grassy, windy and had a nice view. 5 minutes later we left St. Phillack saddle and came across an alright campsite that had no water. and another 5 minutes later came across what would make again, an alright campsite with no water. At 10:28 we came to a sign that said ‘Mt. St. Phillack – 1556m’. Nearby was a rock cairn and large rocks. We stopped there for about 13 minutes. When we started walking again we came to a wooden sign to the left. ‘Baw Baw Village – 5km. Mt. St. Gwinear – 1km’ it said. We came across what would be a nice campsite if it had water at 11:09 that was grassy and bushy. At 11:19 there was head height bushes and possibly safe drinking water. We also met a St. Joseph’s school group. Then had a 14 minute break at 11:32 on the side of the track where it was sheltered and had small bushes and sticks on the track. At 11:54 there was an open plane to the right which was grassy.
We stopped for lunch at 12:08. We stopped upon a large rock that was part of the track. There was no grass, and only a few bushes. We started walking again at 12:47 when Angus had realised after Colin strapped up his foot, he’d put the wrong shoes on the wrong feet. After a bit of walking we came across what, again would be a nice campsite but had no water. And 4 minutes later another one amongst a rather large clearing. At 1:20, after 15 minutes of walking we met two hikers who said it was only 50 minutes to Mt. Erica. After talking to them we had a quick 13 minute rest on the side of the track. Sitting on a large rock we declared the track was getting steeper.
Once we got to the top of Mt. Talbot and over the peak. We came across an old, large, stone and mortar fire place and chimney that was about 2 metres tall standing among same rocks and logs. There was a track from this ruin towards the creek, which went nowhere. it must be a track people use regularly when camping in this area. It would of been a good campsite with water.
To get back on track we had to back-track a little bit to a path with 2 small wooden bridges crossing Hut Creek. We stopped here at 2:45 and restocked our water supplies. As we were about to leave we met some walkers walking to the ruin for a day trip, and we got talking to them for a while and left at 3:00. At 3:00 we started walking up the slopes of Mt. Erica and at 3:10 came to a wooden sign that said ‘Mt. Erica 1509’ where we had a photo opportunity. At 3:40 we met three more hikers and at 3:45 had a small break where the day-trippers walked passed us. And at 3:50 we got walking again.
At 4:30 we had a 5 minute rest on the side of the track. And at 4:58 came to a little creek of possibly safe drinking water to the right of the track about 100 metres below of the car park. We came walking into the car park at about 5:00. Where we stopped and sat on a table near an information board. Where we got talking to some hikers walking into The Rocks and shared some information with them. We then decided we needed to start getting into camp and started walking along the road to an intersection. Straight ahead leads to Monarchs walk and left was Mt. Erica road. We turned left. About 15 minutes after the intersection we called a 5 minute rest on the side of the road. Then walked to where the trail continued. This is what we called our campsite for Saturday night and we arrived at about 6:00. It was a little opening, with a silver Nissan parked in it. About 75 metres away from a good water source.
As we started putting the tents up we realised the ground wasn’t too soft after about 5cm of small clay clumps with a thin layer of grass growing on top, but it was too late to do anything about it, so we found a rock and tree root and used them as hammers to hit the pegs in, and they turned out hanging in there. At the point of the campsite we were 16km away from Walhalla. As Colin had arranged earlier, Katrina was dropping Caitlin off at this opening. So we lit a small signal fire to make it easier to be seen. When Katrina came Caitlin’s luggage was unloaded and Angus’s was loaded in. We’d decided Angus, after rolling his ankle, had had enough and was going to go home. So at 10:45, after 5 minutes of her being there, Katrina left. And, after setting up Caitlin’s tent, lights were off at 11:00.
Sunday morning we arose at 7:00 again, had breakfast, packed and were ready by 8:15 we had started walking to Walhalla. Just after we started we had a steep decent and there were a few complaints about how this impacted on them. And it could be slippery if it was wet. At 9:37 after a few rests here and there we crossed the creek near O’Shea’s Mill Site. Where there was no bridge, and was slippery. At O’Shea’s Mill Site there was another St. Joseph’s school group walking in the opposite direction to us. And there was a group of people camping there. We stopped here until 10:00. We walked up to the drop dunny and turned right to get back unto the trail. This time the trail was a fairly steep accent and we rested at 10:27 on the side on the track where we all gulped down some water and started walking again at 10:35.
At 10:39 we came to a gate with an Australian Alpine Walking Trail sign on it. And a minute later we we’re crossing a bitumen road – the Thompson Valley Road. To the right of us there was a road called Southface road which goes down to O’Sheas. We crossed and went down Fingerboard Spur which was steeper then what we’d walked that morning. We came to a sharp bend and met some hikers with dogs discussing which way the track went. So we helped them out and they told us they’d seen a snake on the track they’d come along and we were about to go on. So at 11:15 we started walking, keeping our eyes on the watch for this snake, that nobody saw. Also along the spur we saw three other hikers. Then walked along a very poor track for about 30 minutes.
Then the track stopped and we came to a bridge – Poverty Point. This bridge is 40 metres long and 1.8 metres wide. And stands about 12.8 metres above a usual summer flow of the Thompson River below. This spectacular bridge was built in the 1900’s and has new handrails. We stopped here for a short break and at 12:04 we started walking again. And came to a track on the right which we continued to walk past. Then we met 12 walkers over a period of 15 minutes, all going down to look at the Poverty Point Bridge. We stopped at 12:38 for some water from a run off. This water was beautiful to drink and very fresh. And 9 minutes later started walking again.
At 1:11 we stopped for lunch at the top of Killer Hill. Only 4km to Walhalla from here. We dried most of the perspiration from our shirts during our 50 minute lunch break. And after throwing a few rocks, we learnt that the Buda religion believes that everything, every rock and stick has a soul, and that over time, it works hard to get in such a spot with a good view, and by throwing it off, it may take millions of years for it to get back to this spot. So we decided to help the rocks and throw some uphill a bit, to save them the time in waiting.
After 45 minutes of walking the Walhalla Train Station came visible from the trail. And 5 minutes later we could see the Cemetery from the trail. We stopped for a 15 minute rest on the side of the trail at 3:11. And at 3:21 we were walking down the stairs, into Walhalla opposite the general store. We had finished 38kms of walking in 2 days. So after Colin had finished his milkshake we went down to the swimming hole and dipped our feet in the fresh, cool, creek, where Colin cracked his Coke open. Soon after, our transport, Sylvia and Mum arrived and we were on our way home.
