25/01/1977 – 30/01/1977 Round Mountain – SMC Hut – O’Keefes Hut – Jagungal – Jackys Lookout – Farm Ridge
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Steve Davies (Photos), Bevan Johns (Leader), Rod Nillson (Report)
We drove down to the Snowy Mountains area on Friday 28th and camped at 5 Mile Dam, a little beyond Kiandra. The next morning we drove around to Round Mountain and commenced walking in overcast conditions which gradually impoved. We followed a clearly defined track along to the S.M.C. hut (locked) and had lunch just a little further on.
This route was reconstructed from memory using Google Earth Pro and GPS Visualizer.
Max elevation: 2046 m
Total climbing: 1732 m
Total descent: -1733 m
Average speed: nan km/h
After lunch we followed the track along to O’Keefe’s hut but only for a short way before climbing up to a S.H. ridge giving access to a relatively easy climb to Jagungal. From here, there is a superb view in almost all directions, the Main Range is prominent, also Round Mountain, Talbingo and/or Table top, We camped overnight on the Southern side of Jagungal but still very high up.
The next morning we proceeded past the upper reaches of the Geehi River to Jacky lookout (navigation here was a little tricky, despite the good conditions). Our route out was now down Farm Ridge, via the ruins of Farm Ridge Hut to the Tumut River.
At Round Mountain Hut the present author could only draw the club emblem in the visitor’s book by copying one thoughtfully provided by a previous trip, a report of which has not been made available.
Main Range over Farmers Ridge
Special mention should be made of the wild flowers on this trip. Although at the lower altitudes some flowers were past there best, and an earlier trip might have been better still, the flowers along would have made this trip worthwhile. The Alpine Mint Bush (Prostanthera cuneata) was very prominent and exuding a minty fragrance. Also notable were the Trigger Plant (Stylidium graninifolium), Billy Buttons (Craspadia Uniflora), many buttercups and many daisies.
Clickable icons on a world map which open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries and other content
