Snowy Mountains - March 2008

Day 0 – Friday March 14

On time departures all around meant the first 6 (JD, JohnO, Richard, Yarro, Peter and Phil) arrived at Cooma around 7:00pm for checkin at the Cooma Motor Lodge. Not a bad little spot with a handy Chinese restaurant down the street. Starter of San Choi Bow followed by some classics (shredded beef, steamed green vegies, crispy chicken) and an extra serve of sizzling prawns and scallops.

It was then a brisk walk down the full length of the Cooma main street trying to find a bottle shop for some cleansing ales and the traditional mountain biking beverage “Bundy and Coke”. Finally found the pub open with a bottle shop and ordered a dozen Olds and a dozen Bundys’.

Back to the hotel and nice table in the car park for a chat and contemplation of the 4 days ahead. Rod and Dave turned up to join us for chips and drinks. JD, reluctant at first, succumb to the temptation of the Bundy and decided to have one, or was it 2 … hang on how many was it in the end. Anyway, he wasn’t alone in being unable to resist the Bundy Bear and a dozen Bundys turned into just one for Phil to ride in with on Saturday.

Day 1 – Saturday March 15

It was “going to be” an early start but upon final checks on Saturday it was discovered that JDs was missing shoes, helmet and gloves. Oh O. Change of plans so off to The Lott for a full breakfast and pass the time ‘til the Cooma Bike shop open. “Lucky JD” scored the last pair of bike shoes which happened to be just one half size too small. No problem – remove the inner sole and “perfect”.

Now fully equipped we headed off to Round Mountain.

Around 11:30 we loaded up the bikes and backs – most just had packs on the backs ranging from 15 to 25 kilos. Phil had the old style rear panniers plus a front handlebar bag and smaller back pack. With a beautiful fine day we set off with a first stop Derschkos Hut for lunch with a group of Duke of Ed. Students.

Next leg was a relatively smooth run through to Gray Mares Hut with Double “D” having a flat on the way. The hut looked pretty much the same as it did when here years ago. Probably still the same family of rats too.

Dinner, a little wine, the last of the Bundys and spot a few satellites before bed.

Day 2 – 50k loop

Early breakfast and JD just loved the Rice Porridge – “not”. A big climb up to intersection with Stromlo Track and stopped for morning tea and a few photos. Then a nice ridge ride to the microwave station and a chance to check the scenery. Also a chance to fix Phils gear changes. Good fix by Yarro. Smooth as from then on but at this spot also realized that the rear shock outer seal had broken away. Phil wasn’t happy with the service he’d just had. Electrical tape from Richard was enough to keep it in place for the rest of the week.

Excellent downhill through tall grasses to the dirt road which was an even better all the way down to the road that right, lead to Alpine Way, and left, the way we went, was uphill. Peter got a flat on the way down. Fortunately a slow flat so nothing dramatic and no accident.

This uphill was one of many for this ride. Down again into a really nice spot by the creek for a chance to eat lunch and cool the feet. Of course, with every down hill, and particularly one that gets you to a large creek, means an uphill and the next was a real beauty. Check it out on Yarros GPS run sheet.

Both Yarro and Peter had GPS navigation systems that really helped on the trip. A couple of times they confirmed where we were and what turns to take. The other bonus was the recorded information on altitude and distanced travelled. Over the 4 days we climbed and dropped nearly two kilometres.

By about 3:00pm we reached the intersection with the Valentines trail and we all had a nice rest under the trees on the soft grasses.

Off to Valentines Hut on some undulating tracks with some sweet downhills and great views. Short stop at the Hut for a chat and reflection on previous visits before heading north downhill to the creek and up, up, up again. Another down and another good up before the down into the valley where we started. Some of us reflected on the same section 9 years earlier where the down to the valley was covered in thicket that ripped into your hands exposed on the handlebars. Click here to see more on that old adventure.

Back at Gray Mare it was still light and most –well all but Rodney really – needed the rest, the fire and something to eat and drink. Rod is amazing with the bush food and Double D enjoyed some top meals. Richard and Peter seemed to do fine too, as did JohnO and Phil who took the simple noodles mixed with fish approach. Yarro and JD enjoyed “Gluten” free.

Some wine, some chocolate, some satellites and desserts before bed. Stars that night were awesome.

Day 3 – Mt Jagungal

Not so early start after the big day before. Easy ride to the base of Mt Jagungal and the weather station there to drop the bikes. Spotted some mountain brumbies in the distance and Dave (Double “D”) met a snake as he placed the bike at the weather station.

Seems the animals are still yet to return after the major fires of 2004.

JD and Phil decided to just ride back to camp and not climb – blisters from new shoes. The rest started off on the 300m up the “Big Bogong”. An hour up, something to eat and then Rod and Pete took a different path back down. Meanwhile JD and Phil were enjoying a quiet lunch by one of the creeks watching baby trout and then a bath in the creek near Gray Mare.

Phil had a chance to catch an episode of TopGear on the phone back at camp while waiting for the climbers to get back. When they returned after swims in the creek it was time for him to climb trees and chop wood.

Rod, on the other hand, headed off for a little more riding including the big ride up to Stromlo we’d done the day before. Where does he get the energy from. He’s a machine.

Once he was back he cooked up another wonderful meal, like spaghetti bolognese, based on TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein). JD had a taste, and another taste, and another, and another. Frank was definitely on the trip and it looks like Dave has a symbiote too. His called “Dan” ... more qualification for the name double “D”.

Desserts, including a chocolate mousse by Rod and puddings from Yarro, chocolate, a touch of “dram” (scotch) courtesy of Peter and another stunning sunset, stars and satellites. And the stars after the moonset that night around 2am where even better than the night before.

Day 4 – heading home

Everyone pitched in to clean up the site after breakfast and although running about 45 minutes later than planned it wasn’t a big concern. We knew the ride back was smoother than we could ever remember and the weather was good. If anything a bit hot. Unfortunately Yarro wasn’t feeling the best – maybe something he ate the last night. Just before Derschkos he hit the wall and lost his “lunch” (breakfast and dinner). Running out of energy has happened to others of us in the crew before and it’ll probably happen again. Comes with this kind of adventure.

We spread the gear in Yarros backpack around and we all stuck together to get him back to Round Mountain and the cars. We made very good time and after a quick pack of the cars it was off to Adaminaby for burgers, chips and cool drinks.

A stop just north of Canberra for fuel and food, another at Pheasants Nest to change drivers and off to Sydney. Yarro was looking much better and most were home by just before 8:00pm.

So, yet another successful 4 day adventure done and plans are already in place for a “pub crawl” in the Blue Mountains next year encompassing the Six Foot Track, an abseil with the bigs, and the Oaks and Andersons tracks. Sounds great.