Page 11 - 80 Walks by 80 Leaders 2

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Date: 8 March 2019
Par�cipants: Anne Armstrong, Barbara Mitchell, Graham Conden, Ardrienne Kinna, Chris Edwards, Jan
Mathieson, Shirley Hart, Lynne Outhred, John Maltby, Graham Lewarne, Tom Halbert, Mark Armstrong

The weather on the day was mild and cloudy with a bellied black snake basking on the river bank. It ignored us
light breeze. The open woodland and stringybark entirely and we kept our distance.
forests were inspiring - the eucalypts a heady
mixture of tall manna gums, candlebarks and Soon we reached our destina�on, the Thredbo River Rest
mountain gums. Regeneration a�er the 1998 and Area with its extensive picnic facilities and NP informa�on
2003 bushfires is well-advanced, with established noticeboards. Some walkers enjoyed another snack
saplings growing in abundance. opportunity whilethe carshuffle mechanismwas activated.
The logistics and merits of arranging a main parking base
There is a gentle incline for 3km at the beginning of half-way (and uphill) on a walk were superbly
the Waterfall Track, a 6km loop walk which features demonstrated by Barbara Mitchell.
a noisy Waterfall on the Sawpit Creek, and the
Boulders where we stopped for morning tea and
photographs in afield ofmassive graniterocks. Four
bouncy and inquisitive red-necked wallabies shared
the track at different stages. Tiger snakes were
reported by others on this track, but the leader saw
nothing despite keeping a keen eye out when the
day warmed up.
Photo taken by Graham Conden at the Boulders, Waterfall Track,
looking south. We joinedthe PallaiboTrack a�er lunchat theSawpit Creek
Rest Area, heading down the Sawpit Creek. At the first wet
Walk descrip�on: crossing three alpine water skinks scrambled for cover
Early startfrom Sawpit Creek RestArea on Kosciuszko Road. among the rocks but were too fast to be photographed.
Loop walk west along Waterfall Track to base of waterfall Further along the track as we descended into rolling
then northwest past large granite boulders; return to start grasslands we encountered an enthusias�c tribe of walkers
for morning tea. Walk south on Pallaibo Track along Sawpit advancing in the opposite direction - our other Bush Club
Creek to Thredbo River. Various landscapes. All on track. group led by Lyndal Lawless, with Karen from the Geehi Lower Thredbo River near rest area: Photo Anne Armstrong
Car shuffle required. Map: Kalkite Mountain. Club. Exhala�ons andexcitement ensued, as Karen pointed
out the planned track upgrade and construction material. This was a special walk for me and a happy one. Nine
Report: walkers were veteran Bush Club leaders; it was
The track then followed the lower reaches of the Thredbo
These two well-formed tracks are easily accessible fromthe an 80 Leaders Walk; and it was my first official role as a
River, a wider stream at this point before it flows into Lake
Kosciusko Road and clearly signposted from the Sawpit leader for the Bush Club.
Creek Rest Area, 12km north of Jindabyne. Jindabyne. From the track above we observed a large red-

Report by: Anne Armstrong 1 Photos: Graham Conden, Anne Armstrong