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 - Whitelaw Hut Site to Violet Town

Day: 002
Date: Wednesday, 7 December 1983
Start: Whitelaw Hut Site
Finish: Violet Town
Daily Kilometres: 33.0
Total Kilometres: 49.7

Journal:
Woke up at 5:45am.  Still raining. Had breakfast and packed up inside the tent then set off mainly downhill from the Baw Baw plateau.  Got very cold after one hour so stopped and put all gear on.  In lower altitudes, wet rainforest and big pink worms.  Had lunch at Thomson River (21km).  Headed up hill again, but lost scrubby track.  Bush-bashed for an hour on compass bearing and eventually found right track, but cost an hour.  Steep descent to Violet Town on Jordan River.  Too dark (9:00pm) to see how deep the water was.  Decided to sidle across on large slippery log.  Very nearly fell in.  On other side found log ended in middle of blackberries.  Very dark.  Just bashed my way through in shorts.  Cut legs. Had dinner in tent set up in dark.  Went to sleep at 11:00pm.  During the night, one end of the tent fell down.

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Australian Alps Walking Track - Mt Erica Car Park to Whitelaw Hut Site

Day: 001
Date: Tuesday, 6 December 1983
Start: Mt Erica Car Park
Finish: Whitelaw Hut Site
Daily Kilometres: 16.7
Total Kilometres: 16.7

Journal:
Left Mt Erica Car Park at 2:12pm with Geoff Nicholls, who had driven me from Melbourne.  Walked to Mt Erica (5km) through lush vegetation and eerie fairy-tale rock formations.  Geoff turned back and I walked on across Baw Baw plateau in mist and drizzle.  No views, but quite pleasant.  Got tired near end, but still made it to Whitelaw Hut (burnt out) by 7:30pm. Decided to stop.  17km for day not bad.  Rain getting heavier.  Put up tent (fly wrong way, first time) and had muesli and crackers sheltering inside.  Made tomorrow’s scroggin.  Went to sleep about 9:30pm.  Rain still heavy.

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