In 1983, I set out to hike the length of the relatively new Alpine Track that traversed the Victorian Alps. I didn't make it the whole way, mainly because of sore feet, and hitch-hiked home from Mt Hotham. The Alpine Track was later extended into New South Wales and became known as the Australian Alps Walking Track. In retrospect, I learnt lessons from this hike about planning, tolerance of discomfort, and focus that benefited me in all of my subsequent adventures.

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Australian Alps Walking Track - Violet Town to Black River

Day: 003
Date: Thursday, 8 December 1983
Start: Violet Town
Finish: Black River
Daily Kilometres: 24.1
Total Kilometres: 73.8

Journal:
Slept quite well.  Extremely tired.  Got up at 6:30am but, after breakfast and wash and re-pack, didn’t start walking until 8:30am.  Straight up extremely steep hill for 2 – 3km.  Then, on reaching main road, turned wrong way!  Woke up in Aberfeldy (extra 4km there and 4km back).  Very demoralising.  Feet extremely painful.  Stopped and broke blisters and patched up feet.  Same again at lunch.  Feet very sore.  Walked on to Black River.  750m drop, but “jogged” down quite quickly.  Saw a large feral dog.  Feet so sore.  Took wrong turn, but found out 0.5km later.  Getting dark and stopped at 8:30pm.  Quick tea, feet wash, and into bed.

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