NSW Nordic Ski Club
Gungarlin Gambol
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For five years I had planned to do this trip and each year the paucity of snow had led to another area being selected. I had begun to think that this was the trip that was not meant to be! However, perseverance is rewarded in the end if one is infinitely patient. Thus it came to pass that this year that there was an abundance of snow suitable for our long delayed journey. Ten of us left our cars at the quarry below Snowy Gap, just up from Eucumbene Dam, donned our skis and shouldered our packs to commence the journey. The way was initially along a fairly well graded road skiing through Mountain Ash and Snow Gum as we settled once more into the familiar rhythm of the diagonal stride.
First to Adams Hut to have morning tea under a very large and spreading Snow Gum. The hut is on private land and has grown a bit since last I saw it with a new awning and steel shutters on all the windows. Thence via a delightful string of small valleys and copses we skied our way to Kellys Hut. This too was locked and so we inspected its interesting architecture and admired its brick red colouring from outside. A short ski over a knoll brought us to the valley of the Gungarlin River and there, before our eyes, the very slope began to move and then, to bound! From near and far the roos and wallaroos had gathered to feast on a football field sized patch of grass not covered by the snows. There were at least 40 of them in the mob and as we skied down the slope they bounded away in all directions.
After admiring our marsupial friends method of clearing fences we skied up the length of the Gungarlin River valley gradually climbing as we went. This proved to be a delightful interlude with a series of open glades across which we gracefully slid. Mid afternoon found us peeping over the rim to see a rare site, that of the Happy Jack Plains completely covered in snow. A short ski brought us to Mackeys Hut on Tibeaudo Creek. Some then erected shelters of varyious types for the night, others played on the slopes whilst the TRUE adventures went exploring in the magic snow-covered Forrest! Warlocks, Wolves and Witches having been narrowly avoided we spent a pleasant dreamless night.
The morrow began with a lovely ski down a slope to Diggers Creek. Some sought to gain maximum distance for height and so set their skis to "Run" whilst others were seduced by the slope and found their skis telemarking in graceful curves. After a bout of sticky snow (cured by the application of glide wax) we skied across the edge of the Happy Jacks Plain to have morning tea at Boo Bee Hut (did I forget to mention that this was a Hut Crawl trip?). Then, by heading slightly north we followed an open spur up onto Far Bald Ridge. Here we dropped our packs and followed the slightly undulating tops to Far Bald Mountain. We stood on the summit and wistfully gazed all of 20 metres, yes you guessed it we had been orographiced! As compensation we revelled in a fast ski back to the packs on the fresh cut tracks. After lunch we followed the ridge along to Doubtful Gap through magnificent groves of large mature Snow Gums.
From here the route was simple to follow as we used the Doubtfull Creek valley as a snow-covered corridor to our destination. This was a lovely ski up a creek bubbling down through rapids, waterfalls and ponds fringed with ice and snow. In time we bid farewell to the Doubtfull and turned off to ski up to Cesjacks Hut (built by Ces & Jack before the war). After engaging in some extended excavations to locate some elusive water we enjoyed a pleasant evening around the fire. A casual glance at the map revealed that, due to good snow and superb route selection, some 22kms of snow had pleasantly slipped beneath our skis that day.
On our final day we contoured around to Spencers Peak for some extended views in all directions (Oros was elsewhere). After a challenging ski down a steep and heavily treed slope we emerged into the valley of the upper reaches of Tibeaudo Creek. This provided a pleasant highway back to the edge of the Gungarlin Valley and another treed descent. Here the trees weren't the problem - rather the wildlife was the hazard. I ask you what does one do when a wallaroo tries to leap into your arms or, more particularly, when a wombat tries to climb onto your skis as you telemark past his home? Having survived the attentions of the fauna we strode across the plain to the Gungarlin River to contemplate this icy prospect.
Having kept the party's feet dry all weekend I felt obliged to attempt some fence high wire walking. To play this sport one needs an agricultural fence suspended above a broad and icy river and, of course, a heavy pack (extra points are awarded for strapping skis on the pack). One then crosses the river, Burma Bridge style, swaying back and forth to the encouragement of the rest of the party. The tension of the wire not quite being up to the required standard I briefly contemplated instituting the Gungarlin long jumping championship. Wise counsel dissuaded me from this course and instead we all entered into the art of bottom wading. Well, the men were Stoic and silent as they endured the short wade (knee deep) but the women turned the air blue! Having thus washed our feet we took luncheon at a suitably idyllic spot. Then it was back to Adams Hut to complete our circle.
The ski down the hill on the road was effortless and yielded the rare sight of a male Lyre Bird strutting in the snow. The cars having been extracted without drama we retired to the Lebanese Restaurant in Queanbeyan for dinner. In all a great trip and a fitting finale to five years of waiting.
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