Snakey Plains - Gray Mare Loop March 2000

Day 0 - After packing the cars in Beecroft / Epping the 8 of us headed in two cars to Cooma with a stop at a roadhouse for dinner.  It was a great run down so we had time once checked in for a quick walk to the local pub and a few Kilkenny's.

Day 1 - The drive to Tooma Reservoir was interrupted by a couple of short stops.  A breakfast stop at Adaminaby Pie Shop that brought back memories of the year before and the pain we'd been through to get there plus the relief once we had arrived.  And a stop at Cabramurra and laugh about the night at the Scout Hall.  Great coffee, custard tarts and pies!!

The drive down past Tumut Ponds also brought back memories of the year before massive uphill climb and the "Cooks".  We parked the cars on the side of the road to Khancoban past the reservoir and prepared the bikes for the ride in on Snakey Plains Fire Trail.  Within 3kms we had our first breakdown - another rack problem.  "Engineering Services" had put in a lot of time to fix up last years issues but we now had found a few new wrinkles to iron out.  Nothing too major and in 30 minutes we were making our first steep hill "push".

Late afternoon Snakey Plains joined up with Dargals Fire Trail and within a few k's and a couple of creek crossings we reached Tongue Bend and a really nice, soft camp site by the creek.  Such a great spot protected from the wind and plenty of fresh water and firewood.

Day 2 - Recharged we hit the hills and the Dargals Fire Trail which connected to another Fire Trail that lead through some amazing forests covered in sticks.  Not good.  The sticks kept flicking up and catching in the spokes and one ended up catching in Geoffs deraileur and snapping the hanger.  Really not good.  "Engineering Services" to the rescue with a patch job to get us out of the forest and onto the high country.  We enjoyed some great views before a fantastic dirt downhill under the power lines and into a campsite on Bogong Creek. 

Day 3 - The great downhill from the afternoon before meant a HUGE uphill for the morning.  In fact so huge the entire morning was gone climbing the 800m up over 6 ks'.  This was Pauls' plan but where was Paul.  He didn't make it this year - did he really know what he'd planned and avoided it or was it an innocent mistake?

We finally made the top of the mountain and the connection to Gray Mare Fire Trail.  Geoffs bike had been engineered for the hill climb and needed some modifications for the flatter ridge ride to Gray Mare Hut and camp for the night.  "Engineering Services" had more fun with this challenge.  Some of us sensed they enjoyed this part of mountain biking more than the riding.

Late afternoon we had a fantastic downhill into Gray Mare Hut.  Steep in places, a few bumps and plenty of places to get air.  This would have been even more fun without packs and racks.  We had to do it in the future so it was locked in for next year.

We had a great night at our favourite hut - Gray Mare Hut.  Starry night, clean water, great view, good food and company.  It was our last night and many of us really didn't want it to end.

Day 4 - Gray Mare Fire Trail and Round Mountain Fire Trail are the easiest of rides in the Snowy Mountains.  Smooth, relatively flat, plenty of water and fantastic views.  Mt Jagungal is so awesome and as we past Derkhous hut right near "The Big Bogong" we knew we had to stay there some night in the future. 

JohnD and Phil headed off for the cars on the bitumen once everyone reached the Round Mountain Car Park.  Geoffs bike was not up to the ride and this would pick up some time for the drive home.  JohnD and Phil had a blast on the 18k mostly downhill run hitting the speed limit a few times.

With the cars back at Round Mountain it was a quick pack before a safe drive home to Sydney.  Excellent Loop ride with some more learnings about where to stay, where to ride and how to manage the bikes and racks.  We'll be back.