Yesterday we decided to try for the top of Mount Kosciuszko from the top of the Thredbo chairlift. We hadn’t been further than the lookout, just 2 km from the chairlift, for several years. We knew that Nathan would manage the 13 km return walk but we weren’t sure that Toby would. He often stands infront of me with his arms up saying “carry me” and this walk wasn’t any different. Even though it has been at least two years since Toby has been in the mei tai (with the exception of a few weeks ago when he was sick and he tolerated 10 minutes on my back) we took it along with us.
We arrived at the Thredbo top station at 9:45 am and started walking the track. It took us about 45 minutes to walk the 2 km to the first lookout where we had a ‘rest’. The boys didn’t really rest though, they just climbed the rocks. After a drink and a snack we kept walking. It got harder and harder with Nathan complaining and Toby telling me he had sore feet and wanting to be carried. Toby wanted to stop and look at all the little streams of water that we went past, and because he was looking he was the first to see tiny native fish in some of the creeks.
Rawson Pass has changed a lot since I was there last. It used to be a flat area that had gravel off over it and a row of portaloos. Now there is a toilet block, paved footpaths and some signs to read. It is quite a beautiful spot now. Toby was tired and went onto my back at Rawson Pass and then we set off for the final 1.4 km uphill trek to the top of Mount Kosciuszko. Andrew took off ahead of the kids and me so that he could get to the top and set up his radio and antenna for SOTA (summits of the air).
Toby was upset that I wouldn’t let him down when we got to a patch of snow on the side of the track, and I told him that he could walk down on the way back and play in the snow then. We finally got to the top, had the obligatory photo at the stone marker, and sat down for some lunch. We watched Andrew make his first contacts, the boys climbed the rocks (again, instead of resting) and at 1:15 we set off down the mountain, leaving Andrew to finish working on his radio contacts and pack up.
It took us over an hour to get back to Rawson Pass. The boys wanted to walk on the rocks beside the walking track instead of on the walking track, and then they played on both of the patches of snow. At Rawson Pass Toby went back on my back for a while, and it was not far from the Kosciuszko lookout that Andrew caught up with us after leaving the top of the mountain at 2:15 pm. We made it back to the chairlift at 3:45 pm, so we had plenty of time to spare before the chairlift stopped at 4:30 pm ( we had been a bit worried about making it back in time).
It was a great day, perfect weather for a long walk, and as always I adored the views from the top of Australia.
No running
Walking with Daddy
At the lookout….resting….
Another lookout, near Rawson Pass
We made it!
We ALL made it!
Highest boy in Australia
Andrew playing on the radio
Heading down the mountain
Walking on the rocks beside the track
Little native fish
Chairlift back to Thredbo
Lovely photos and great weather. I don’t know how you do it Christine; it is hard enough to do these walks without carrying a 4 year old on your back. You do a great job.