Name the lakes

Today I did the Lakes Walk. Well, that is what it was called in the past anyway; these days it goes by the name of Main Range Track. It is a 20 km loop walk from Charlotte's Pass to Mt. Kosciuszko, one half along the ridge of the main range, the other half along the old summit road. You can do the walk from Thredbo, you just need to add another 12 km to the length by walking from the top of the chairlift to Rawsons Pass and back. I wasn't sure whether I would be up for 32 km at this stage of my "get fit" programme, so I drove to Charlotte's Pass. 

You have the choice of doing the loop clockwise or anti-clockwise. Which direction you choose depends on whether you like short very steep inclines or longer steep inclines. If you go anti-clockwise you walk the more picturesque half first, but you have two long climbs, first up Mt Carruthers and then the Kosciuszko north ridge. Going clockwise you do the 9 km summit road first, which climbs very gradually, but you then have a short steep climb up the south-west ridge to Mt Carruthers and then again a short, but very steep incline from the Snowy River up to Charlotte's Pass (colloquially known as  Heart Attack Hill), right at the end of the walk. I chose the anti-clockwise direction. Since I last walked the track it has been built out by National Parks to make it more erosion proof. The first few kilometres are actually paving stones, like a garden path. Once you are past Blue Lake it turns more natural, which I prefer. The path is well recognisable all the way, so I don't need to explain anything about it. I completed the whole loop in 4 1/2 hours. There are some great views of the western slopes along the way.

The first few kilometres are a paved garden path

Crossing the Snowy River

The view from top of Mt Carruthers from Kosciuszko on the left via Mt Townsend to Watsons Crags on the right

The view down to Victoria from Mt Carruthers

As I mentioned in the beginning, the track used to be called the Lakes Walk, because it passes five glacial lakes. To test the part of my readership who have lived up here, or are regular visitors, I show you the lakes in random order, without names. If you can name them all (use the comments section), I'll buy you a beer when you next visit me. For the others, enjoy the pictures; I will take you on the walk when you next visit me and if you can name them afterwards you will get a beer too.

Lake number one

Lake number two

Lake number three

Lake number four

Lake number five

The second half of the walk was from Mt. Kosciusko back to Charlotte's Pass along the old summit road. This is not as picturesque as the narrow and steeper first half, but you pass by Seamans Hut and you cross the Snowy River over a bridge, instead of rock hopping. Once you get closer to Charlotte's Pass you will find some beautiful Snowgums along the road.

The first half is narrower and steeper

Seamans Hut

Ancient Snowgum near Charlotte's Pass

Given that it is only a week until Christmas I also want to show you that we can have a white Christmas in Australia, I took these pictures just past Mueller's Pass. Somebody must have built it since I walked past there on my way back from Mt Townsend last Saturday.

For most of today's walk I could see Mt Twynam, which is Australia's third highest mountain; I think I will make it one of my next exercises.

Mt Twynam, third highest and top of my list