Bushwalk Australia

I just came across this alert on the npws website. The proposed diversion via Hannels Spur will add a little je ne sais quoi to the the walk.

Closed areas: Cascade trail section closure - Cascade Hut to Tin Mines
The Cascade fire trail 7.5km section south of Cascade Hut to Tin Mines is closed during March 2019. This section is closed between Friday 1 March and Sunday 31 March 2019, 7am to 7pm daily due to heavy machinery and tree works. The 7.5km section is a part of the Australian Alps walking track from Walhalla, Victoria to Namadgi National Park, ACT. This will affect long distance walkers through this section.

A long diversion is in place to navigate this section by taking:

Limestone/Black Mount Road
Limestone Creek
Davies Plain
Tom Groggin
Geehi
Hannels Spur
Mount Kosciuszko
Visitors should plan their journey to avoid these closure periods or be prepared to experience lengthy delays. The 7.5km section is open outside of operational hours during this period. For individual or group safety, please obey all closure and warning signs and directions. Heavy equipment and machinery will be operating in these areas.

Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact Snowy River area office on 02 6450 5620 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Road to Geehi and then Hannels is an ouchie! Is there a viable off-track way around the road works? One option from Carters Huts may be to follow the clearings east of the road to the Tin Mines FT. Then go north climbing about 250 metres to reach Brodies Camp and Cascade Creek, which is followed downstream to Cascade Hut. The 4 kilometres to Brodies camp are unknown, but are surely easier than the Geehi-Hannels alternative.

I've done Bobs Ridge to the Tin Mines off track some years ago. Much slower than the track but doable. Jerusalem, Purgatory and Paradise Hills (in whichever order they run), then Charcoal Range to Stockwhip and down the valley to the huts. Depends on what the regrowth situation is like now, but some of that was hard work at the time.

As NNW suggests it is feasible but slowwwww. Last year on the Charcoal Range was slow going because of the regrowth. The open areas you see on the maps are boggy and slow.

Very beautiful area and worth exploring as an alternative to the closed track. I would definitely prefer it to the road walk and the climb up Hannels. It would be easier as well.

As the notice says, the track will be open outside working hours so at worst it will only take 2 hours max to pass through so start early or late. I also expect that the actual work will only take a couple of days within the closure period - it's only cleaning up 7.5km of fire trail although they may be replacing a couple of the creek crossings which will take longer. As usual they don't yet know the actual dates due to weather, equipment availability, fire risks and other operational requirments.

Maybe it will be possible to post advice that the works have started or have finished. I like the suggestion to start early or late, much better than Hannels. Starting at 6am is viable, if unusual for many people. Walking from 4-6pm may be easier for some. It depends on when the party reaches the start of the works.