Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

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Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby kelvinn » Sat 17 Dec, 2022 12:15 pm

Hi everyone!

It is that time of the year again when I jump in a car and head down to KNP to enjoy my yearly holiday hike.

I am looking for feedback on the following route:

https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=13.0/1 ... 6150df2913

Is the track between Whites River Hut and Consett Stephen Pass open? On Gaia Maps there seems to be a track, but the NSW Topo maps do not show one. However, they do seem to show a fire road nearby. How about Consett Stephen Pass to the junction of the Main Range Track?

This year I'm going with my partner, so there are some additional constraints on route selection:

* About 20km/day max depending on terrain
* Need to go up to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko
* Preferably no off track, but small sections might be OK
* About 4 days, but potentially 4 1/2 days

The easiest plan seems to be to connect a larger walk with the Main Range, but I'm open to ideas!

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!
kelvinn
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Re: Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby crollsurf » Sat 17 Dec, 2022 12:42 pm

Track from Whites to Rolling Ground is gone although they said that years ago and I remember some sort of track for some of the way.
There is no track across the Rolling Ground, try and avoid walking up the middle.
Disappointment Spur Bridge, crossing the Munyang is gone.
Track from Townsend to Consett Stephen Pass is more of a pad than a track but easy enough to follow.
There is a nice pad out to Watsons Cragg which is worth a visit.
Mount Stillwell and a visit to the chairlift ruins at Twin Valleys is a easy walk but off-track.
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Re: Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby Tyreless » Sat 17 Dec, 2022 1:29 pm

I came down the track from Rolling Grounds to Whites River Hut in March this year and it was easy to follow - you will be able to pick it up easily at the bottom (on the southern side of the creek) and follow it for over a km before it peters out.
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Re: Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby kelvinn » Sun 18 Dec, 2022 5:17 pm

Thank you crullsurf and Tyreless! Appreciate the feedback!

Tyreless - a question for you. Did you happen to also hike from the Main Range Track to Consette Stephen Pass, and then on to the Rolling Grounds?
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Re: Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby Tyreless » Sun 18 Dec, 2022 6:11 pm

Yes, I did. It’s lovely walking around there, particularly in nice weather.
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Re: Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby kelvinn » Sun 18 Dec, 2022 9:01 pm

This fills me with hope! Was there a track to follow, or mostly just walking through fields? I'm pretty comfortable going off track, as long as the shrub isn't too high, but I'm going with someone where this would be their first off track adventure (if it is).

Really appreciate the response!
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Re: Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby north-north-west » Thu 22 Dec, 2022 7:51 am

It's technically off-track, but there are pads. Mostly you just stick to the higher rocky ridges - which means a lot of meandering - rather than trying to go straight across the lower, wetter ground.
Beautiful country, just keep an eye on the weather. It can change quickly up there and it's very easy to get disoriented when the cloud comes down.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
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Re: Longer Route Around Main Range (KNP)

Postby kelvinn » Sun 01 Jan, 2023 2:40 pm

Thank you everyone for your input! Your advice was spot on.

There was a weakly visible trail out of Whites River Hut, which quickly disappeared as the Rolling Grounds presented themselves. No visible trail until Consett Stephen Pass, and then the trail sort of just came and went. It became more visible as we approached Mount Twynam. The trail from Charlottes Pass to Guthega Dam was similar to the Main Track, and then from Guthega Dam up to the top of the ridge, just before Consette Stephen Pass, the trail was obvious. After that the trail disappeared.
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