Today I decided to walk from Dead Horse Gap to the Cascade Hut, an easy walk of just under 10 kilometres each way. The walk leads up along the Thredbo River and then crosses it to Bob's Ridge, before descending to the Cascades. It is all along a well managed track that is suitable for walking as well as mountain biking.
Only about 2 km into the walk, just after crossing the Thredbo River, I encountered the first snake of the day. It was sunning itself right on the walking track. On all the walks that I have done over the past month I only encountered one other snake, and that was on a cold morning, when one was warming itself on a sewerage manhole cover just below the house where I live.
I don't like snakes much, especially when they are not behind glass, and I don't know what the official rules are for an encounter. I follow my own 5 step procedure, which had served me well so far:
Step 1: Stop dead in my track and try to maintain control of bladder and bowel
Step 2 (optional): With slow movements reach for camera and take picture
Step 3: Slowly walk backwards to a distance of about 10 metres away from the snake
Step 4: Stamp my foot to make the ground vibrate, the snake usually buggers off
Step 5: Continue on track
If the snake doesn't move in step 4 I would look for an alternative route, but so far I always had success. And just to test it out again I came across another larger snake just before Cascade Hut, and the technique worked again. This one took off up a grassy slope and I could see how fast they can move (maybe 10 metres is a bit short of a safety distance...)
Other than that the walk was very pleasant with some good views and a group of brumbies down on the open plain near Cascade Hut, including a little foal and another mare that looked like she was getting close to giving birth.
Only about 2 km into the walk, just after crossing the Thredbo River, I encountered the first snake of the day. It was sunning itself right on the walking track. On all the walks that I have done over the past month I only encountered one other snake, and that was on a cold morning, when one was warming itself on a sewerage manhole cover just below the house where I live.
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| Came across this one early on today |
Step 1: Stop dead in my track and try to maintain control of bladder and bowel
Step 2 (optional): With slow movements reach for camera and take picture
Step 3: Slowly walk backwards to a distance of about 10 metres away from the snake
Step 4: Stamp my foot to make the ground vibrate, the snake usually buggers off
Step 5: Continue on track
If the snake doesn't move in step 4 I would look for an alternative route, but so far I always had success. And just to test it out again I came across another larger snake just before Cascade Hut, and the technique worked again. This one took off up a grassy slope and I could see how fast they can move (maybe 10 metres is a bit short of a safety distance...)
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| Came across this one near Cascade Hut |
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| Brumby with foal |
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| Cascade Hut |
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| Inside the hut |
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| View over boggy plain towards Chimney's Ridge (another walk on my list) |
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| View from track to Bob's Ridge over to Ramshead Range |
Happy New Year Urs. Wishing you and your blistered feet health and happiness as you continue your gap year!
ReplyDeleteThanks David. I hope we get the chance to catch up when you are in Australia this year.
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