Day 25 hiking the Australian Alps Walking Track solo

Australian Alps Walking Trail, Hiking, Trail Journal

Bitter fog and soaking bushwalks to Mount Selwyn, prickly jungle detours, then a windy, rainy evening tucked safely in my tent at Selwyn Track Camp.

Camp near Twins Tank to 194km Selwyn Track Camp (24.9km) | TOTAL – 523.2km

I woke to a bitterly cold morning, with thick fog and a strong breeze, and took shelter in my tent until sunlight emerged.

Fog engulfed the trail and surrounding mountains all morning, but I managed to stay on track with careful observation.

The trail weaved through dense, soaking wet head-high bushes, with the moisture drenching my pants, socks and shoes.

I had a rain jacket on, and in hindsight I should have chucked my rain pants on too. But too late she cried!

I could hear what I presumed to be deer galloping off in the distance, and after several kilometres the foot trail met a 4WD track which I was grateful to follow.

The 4WD track stayed high on the range, just below the clouds, and afforded stunning views of the tree covered slopes below, which must have fallen victim to fires in recent times, with no leaves on their tall, grey slender bodies.

Birds kept me company on trail, with several rosella sightings, as well as a very large dark grey bird, which took off from the road.

The trail then left the comfort of the 4WD track to climb up Mount Selwyn (1,614m) on a gruelling foot pad.

Before ascending, I enjoyed a short break and a brief chat with a passing 4WD crew who offered me a lift – an offer I gratefully declined. Once at the top, stunning views of mountain ranges to both sides were offered.

From here, the track followed a steep 4WD trail for a couple hundred metres, before disappearing into a thick jungle-like forest.

With no sight of a track, I pushed my way through the vegetation, becoming a magnet for prickly blossoms.

After re-discovering the trail, in no time I had arrived at Mt Selwyn South and filled up a litre of water at the tank.

The descent from South Selwyn was stunning, with beautiful tall trees and giant moss-covered boulders surrounding the trail.

The sun momentarily disappeared, the temperature dropped noticeably and I had to step carefully so as not to slip on the damp leaves underfoot.

The trail then followed a 4WD track, where I met eight hikers from Adelaide while I was enjoying a late lunch.

I continued along the 4WD track then turned onto a disused vehicle track which climbed gradually until it met with East Riley Road.

I followed the track marker onto a foot trail, where I replenished my water supplies at a small tank 20 metres on.

I wasn’t keen on camping at the East Riley Road junction, so despite my weary legs and the clock nearing 5pm, I pushed on for a further two kilometres where a small clearing provided enough room for my tent, with a little landscaping.

I was all set up by around 5.15pm, which was fortunate as the weather took a turn.

The wind sounded fierce from inside my little tent, and the rain pattered loudly on my tent roof.