Hello fellow Bushwalkers.
Just finished K2K in a day, well if you can call starting walk at 6:50am and finishing at 1:20am a day.
Figured I'd give you some updates and my thoughts on the Hike.
First off, I totally underestimated how hard thiis track is. To put it in perspective, I like to think I'm reasonably fit.
Ive hiked the six foot track in a day, took me 9.5Hrs.
K2K in a day took me and my mate Ben 18.5Hrs.
So the embarresing bit.
We lost the track at Mt Berry, came down the wrong ridge zigzaging down to hopefully pick up the track, when Mt High and Mighty came into view again, it was 90 degrees to our left, a quick consult of the topo told us not only were we off course, we had descended about 300m too far. then the fun began. faced with a long slog to the top of Berry again, we decided to traverse the ridge and slightly uphill to meet the track again near Gabes Gap. this was easier said than done. it was a nasty bush bash, thick scrub and Lawyer vine. I swear, ( and I did at length ) that damn vine. Every third vine snagged my pack and stopped me dead. the other two of the three, snagged my arms, legs and boots. We also discovered three new species of plant, known now as "F@#k you plants" the first is a single leafed spikey plant. the second is a three leafed spikey plant, the third is a particulary nasty *&%$#! of spikes topped with needle like spikes. 1.5 hrs later, we were at Gabes Gap.
We made it to Cloudmaker around 12:30, signed the log book and noted K2K in a day, running late.
Spirits were still high, we were off to Dex Creek. I expected to waste some time here trying to pick up the track, I had not expected to get lost at Mt Berry. Every time the track dissapeared, we entered a clearing or over a rocky section, My heart sank a little. ( please no, not again, please let us pick the track again )
Dex creek has no running water. There are a few stagnant puddles if you were desperate.
a little bush bashing again and we picked up the track west of Carra Top.
Then down Strongleg ridge to the river. What a ruthless hill, my feet ached with every step down, my toes felt like they had been put through a mincer. we descended for ages and still the valley floor seemed no closer. Its a hard merciless hill.
we hit the bottom around 4pm, well behind time. Kanangra creek is not running, a few pools of water, I filled up here, the water was crystal clear, treated the water and followed the creek to Coxs river, its running but quite low.
my feet were burning by this stage. It was crossing the river where I made my second Rookie mistake.
I took my boots and socks off and rolled up my pants, boots in one hand, backpack in the other ( yeah, I know, Dumb. Still can work out why i didn't put pack back on)
my only warm jersey tied around my waist, I crossed the river. Its uber slippery. *&%$#!, *&%$#!, *&%$#! I said as I slipped and went over backwards. Inslow motion, I feel I landed on my butt, sitting in the water.
Soaking wet, hours behind time, we headed up Mt Yellow Dog. ( a little tip I picked up, wet clothes will dry faster if you wear them )
Mt Yellow Dog is a Behemoth of a hill. I'd rather not go into detail, it hurt, the sun was setting, we still had about 20kms to go.
It was well dark when we made it to the top. Around 7pm.
Head torches on, we made it to Mobs Swamp, Again, no water here.
from there to Medlow Gap ( it took ages ) along this section, we came across a wombat, cant tell you how much running into that one rotund hairy mammal lifted our spirits. Thanks Wombat.
Medlow gap to tarros Ladder, 2km took an hour, granted the hike up is unpleasant with fresh legs, in the dark, after walking for around 15hrs, I'll just say it was really unpleasant. Base of ladders was reached about 10pm.
Narrow Neck, the longest 10km I've ever hiked. It just went on and on ( a bit like this post )
every step hurt, every downhill section was agony, my knee was screaming at me, my blistered feet protested all the way.
It took over 3hrs to walk that damn fire trail.
If you know the area, we called my beautiful girlfriend Erica, around where you would leave the main trail to take Redledge Pass.
The relentlessness of Narrow neck, the fact we had been walking 18hrs, we were both buggered. I'd had enough.
At 1:20am, we climbed the stile at the locked gate. Erica, as fantastic as she is, met us with water, hot food and hot tea.
I kid you not, It was the greatest cup of tea Ive ever had in my life. Ben wolfed down all the food. I couldn't eat because id been dry retching for the past 2hrs.
In short.
If you have never done this walk, do not underestimate how tough it is.
Take all relevant maps and a compass and know how to use both.
You will lose the track numerous times,its vague in a lot of places, its non existant in others.
Only water at Dex creek was brown and nasty looking puddle water.
water in pools at Kanangra creek and running at Coxs river.
No water at all at Mobs Swamp.
Happy Hiking.