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 - Cone to Mt Speculation

Day:  006
Date:  Sunday, 11 December 1983
Start:  Cone
Finish:  Mt Speculation
Daily Kilometres:  28.5
Total Kilometres:  151.3

Journal:
Got up at 5:45am and on road at 7:20am.  Beautiful morning above clouds with mountains poking through like islands.  Climbed High Cone and easily got bearings again.  Skirted Square Top and climbed Mt Clear.  Later stopped at Chesters Yards and had wash and washed shirt.  Saw trail bike group later and then, at 1:00pm, bumped into a school group and gave them a message for Barb.  They couldn’t believe I intended to get to Catherine Saddle in the afternoon (it had taken them 1.5 days).  Realising it would be difficult, I pressed on speedily.  Lunched atop Magdala.  Beautiful grassy area in warm sunshine.  Burnt legs.  Then across Howitt.  Spectacular scenery the whole way then Crosscut Saw and Mt Speculation.  Found nice camp just on the other side.  Had trouble getting water.  Had to scrub bash.  Absolutely beautiful evening.  No clouds, no wind, lovely sunset.  Perfect end to spectacular tiring day.

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