Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
This out and back forested trail leads to an alpine meadow and lake (Chester Lake) below Mount Chester. Wildlife encounters can include bears, birds and rabbits. This is a year round maintained trail which would be a pleasant cross country ski during the colder months. In sections the trail is segregated for skiers. It is accessed via the trailhead on the Smith Dorrien / Spray Lakes road.
Participants: Beth Davies, Sue Davies (Report and Photos)
Ptarmigan Cirque trail leads to a high mountain bowl between Mount Arethusa and Mount Rae close to the Highwood Pass in Peter Lougheed Park near Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. The Ptarmigan Cirque hiking trail is a short loop in the cirque. Possible wildlife sighting may include deer, bears and mountain sheep. There are wonderful panoramic views for relatively little effort.
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Moore
This short walk starts at the base of the Wangi Falls where there is a tempting plunge pool. The pool is surrounded by river pandanus which provides food for fish and turtles. Saltwater and freshwater crocodiles inhabit the pools during the wet season. The sun unfortunately was in the wrong position early in the morning for good photos of the falls.
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Moore
The walk commences at Greenant Creek picnic area which is difficult to spot when driving from Tolmar Falls as there is no sign on the side of the road. Driving back from Wangi Falls there was a sign for the picnic area.
18/4/2018 – 5/5/2018 Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley
NEPAL
Distance: 362km Total Ascent: 35,900m Total Descent: 34,800m Time: 123 hours
NB: The GPS tracking results of distance, ascents and descents on this trek with its very deep valleys and surrounding high peaks is highly exaggerated, see my Track Info!
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Kaka Dural (Porter), Emily Jayne, Prabin Kumar Karki (Guide), Ralston Keyt, Sarah Keyt, Pawan Nepali (Porter), Ravi Phuyal (Porter), Rosan Rai (Assistant Guide), Wendy Young
At 8,163m the impressive Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. Meaning “mountain of the spirit” it’s name is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “intellect” or “soul”. This trek is considered to a less crowded alternative to the more popular Everest Base camp or Annapurna circuit treks.
As with most treks in Nepal, it starts and finishes in Kathmandu. It is mandatory to have a guide on the Manaslu circuit, we had a very positive experience with Kathmandu based Himilayan Encounters.
This trek provides geographical and cultural diversity and when also completing the Tsum valley, provides an insight into remote Nepali village life.
The diversity of the scenery was remarkable over the 18 days of the walk, from subtropical jungle to the desolate and cold Larkya La pass at 5,160m. Stunning alpine scenery, unique remote villages and beautiful Tibetan Buddhist monasteries all combine to make this one of the best treks in Nepal.
Thursday 20/09/2018 Charlotte Pass – Mount Townsend – The Racecourse – Lake Albina
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies and 22 others!
Today a mixed ability group in excess of twenty people, led again by Colin Ridley, set out in an attempt to summit Mount Townsend. Along with our NSW Nordic Ski Club group we had visitors from Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Sue and I left separately a couple of minutes earlier, heading further up Kosciuszko Road than the main group to take some panoramas of the Main Range.Continue reading →
Wednesday 19/09/2018 Charlotte Pass – Mount Guthrie Circuit
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
With the forecast overnight snow not eventuating along with overcast skies and cold wind blowing together with an overnight freeze there was no reason for an early start. So after 10:00am Sue and I departed, traversing across the nearly deserted but still operating downhill slopes to Charlotte Pass. It was cold and felt like more than the forecast 40km/h headwind. Continue reading →
Tuesday 18/09/2018 Charlotte Pass – The Foxhole – Wrights Creek
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Helen Cromb, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Tuesday’s forecast temperature was 8C with winds to 70km/h after an overnight low of -4C. Finding somewhere out of the wind seemed the best idea. After waiting a while for the snow to soften after it’s overnight freeze we headed straight up the hill behind the lodge hoping the trees would provide a little shelter. We were still too early for our planned return descent, as there were still plenty of frozen sections in the shade around the trees, so after ascending most of the hill we headed further around towards Wrights Creek in order to find a slope that had seen more morning sun.Continue reading →
