Day 3

Saturday started with an energizing "fry up" courtesy of Graham who executed his flawless bbq skills again.  Plan for the day - drive to Tooma Dam, ride past Paton Hut, gentle ride up to Derschkos Hut to view the "Big Bogong" (Mt Jajungal) along Hell Hole Creek Trail, onto O'Keefes Hut, along Farm Ridge Trail past the Round Mountain Hut, up to the car park previously covered in snow then downhill to Tooma Dam.  Sounds good, nice easy ride.  Why you laughing?  Have you been with us before?

Ok, you're right!  After avoiding kangaroos and lyre birds on the drive up the first few Ks went fine.  Lovely creek crossing at Tongue Bend and then the PUSH biking began AGAIN.  When we hadn't reached Derschkos Hut for lunch the plan was revised.  No visit to Derschkos Hut or O'Keefe's this year.  We hit Round Mountain Trail about 2.30 then it was a smooth ride back to the Round Mountain car park in just over an hour.  That extra couple of centimetres on the longer travel bikes was so nice compared to the old ones where our pedals would hit the grass either side of the dirt ruts.  And the push up the hill to the car park was so easy compared to when we'd carried full packs and panniers in the past.

Great downhill to Tooma Dam with just a small uphill on the way, back in the car and on the way to Khancoban avoiding heaps of kangaroos on the way.  Back before sunset was a nice change from the day before providing time to clean up before smorgasbord at the Khancoban Country Club.  Nice.  Back to base camp and Option D2c (Khancoban for 3 nights) was in full swing.  Iron Chef and "What Women Want (the movie)" over chocolate and a plan to ride the Thredbo XC track on the way back to Sydney.

Day 4

Last day and a fairly relaxed breakfast and packing of the cars.  A few of us wanted to meet the "nice" old guy who'd told us about the easy ride along "Tiger Trail".  We wanted to meet his Superman son who could do it in 6 hours.  Yeah right! 

The drive along the Alpine Way was really nice with big, wide valley views and mountains with snow tops.  As we headed away from Khancoban we started to appreciate the magnitude of the effort on Day 2.  That's one big ridge and Mt Youngel is damn high.

We regrouped at the Thredbo Bakery for coffee then hit the XC trail.  Here's the XC Trail map.  The PUSH bike up some parts brought on discussion of our most recent epic adventures.  Quite a good hour loop with the bottom section along the golf course being by far the best.  The black diamond section was a little tough.

Back to the cars, quick change and off to Cooma for lunch about 2 at the same place Yarro, JD, JohnO and Phil had dinner on Wednesday night.   And just for more memories a quick McCafe outside Marulan.  Home by 7.30.

Another great adventure filled with bushrats, dehy, laughs, bundy and Frank.  Next time we'll add 30% to the daily plan though and make sure to have contour maps to avoid so much PUSH biking.  We really have to get to Grey Mare Hut and stay over again.

Back to beginning of Snowy Mountains 2006