Day 10 hiking the Australian Alps Walking Track solo

Australian Alps Walking Trail, Hiking, Trail Journal

Off-track through the Rolling Grounds, then the Main Range for epic peaks and glacial lakes — 26km testing body, mind, and gear to Muellers Pass.

White’s River Hut to Muellers Pass (26km) | TOTAL – 234.6km

I knew I was in for a big one today! Descriptions like ‘hard to navigate’, ‘completely exposed and ‘non-existent foot pads’, as well as strong warnings to take the lower route when faced with adverse weather, had me questioning my capacity to traverse the Main Range.

I woke at 5am and set off at 6.30am, with a lovely sunrise trailing me.

The track was discrete from the word go, with tall and dense shrubbery suffocating the trail.

I followed the faint food pad for a while, until it all but disappeared on the rocky Main Range.

From here, I followed my GPS to eventually rejoin the track.

I went on and off the track several times over the northern end of the range, known as The Rolling Grounds, making my way up and down mountain ranges, through dense low-lying vegetation and small streams.

It was an arduous effort – the toughest of the track so far!

But I was to be rewarded for my efforts. At about 15 kilometres in, I was greeted by mountain after mountain, the track itself taking me to the peaks of Mt Tate (2,068m) and Carruthers Peak (2,145m).

The trail – known as the Main Range Walk – also sidled many other peaks, including the spectacular Mt Townsend (2,209m) – Australia’s second highest peak, with the glacial Albina Lake at its feet.

I was taken aback by the absolute sheer beauty of Kosciusko National Park’s Main Range, stopping frequently for photos and just to take it all in.

When I reached the official Main Range Walk, I crossed paths with many weekend and day walkers.

Several of whom, female hikers, stopped to quiz me on my solo journey and express admiration, which I expressed back.

With fatigue building and grey clouds threatening showers, I made camp for the night in a sheltered section of Muellers Pass, 1.8km north of Mt Kosciuszko, which I’ll summit in the morning.