Sunday, December 15, 2019

Schlink Hut Walking Track and Disappointment Spur Track (Snowy Mountains and Canberra Trip)


Sunday 15 December 2019 – 279 470

This morning we drove to Guthega Power Station to walk the Schlink Hut walk. 
The start of the trail was a steep climb for 2.5km.  The first hut we reached was Horse Camp Hut – built by the Snowy Mountains Authority.  It was set in a lovely meadow area amidst wildflowers, with many small streams and waterfalls flowing throughout the area.
Guthega Power Station

View from top of first climb looking down on Guthega Power Station




Horse Camp Hut








Whites River Hut
The next hut was Whites River Hut, which dates from 1934, originally a shepherd’s hut. When we hiked through Schlink Pass it was extremely windy.  Schlink Hut was a largely building – at least six rooms – built by the Snowy Mountains Authority to house workers.  This would be a horribly cold spot in winter, as the wind howls through the area.




Schlink Hut





Disappointment Hut
We came back via Disappointment Spur Track, and Hut.  The hut appears to be on skis and must have been towed in during the winter.  The track itself was “disappointing” - maybe that it how it got its name.  At the end of the track the bridge across the river was absent – signs at the start of the walk indicated it was structurally unsound and should not be used, the signs did not say it had been removed.  We scrambled down and found a spot to cross the river and get out of the water on the other side.  Much harder, was forcing our way through dense scrub and up the other bank to re-join the track.  Once we were back on the track, we realised that Drew’s sunglasses had come off in the scramble – so back in we went and amazingly he not only found them, but they were unbroken, what a relief!




On the road in and out of Guthega we saw a Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) three times by the side of the road.  We also saw deer again.  In the campsite this afternoon we saw several small kangaroos.

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