Day 5
Once again, we were all split into two groups for the ride up to our accommodation for the next two nights. The Six headed off lead by Dean.
We rode up through tall mountain ash forests underlaid with ferns and other prehistoric looking vegetation.
The mist became thicker. I'm sure there are dinosaurs hiding here somewhere. We had a couple of canters up the road.
Riding higher. Fire-killed silhouettes of dead trees from the 2006 bush fires.
The temperature began to drop. Damp clouds enveloped us. Light rain and drizzle. My hands and feet were so cold they hurt. The track became rocky and steep so the horses could go no faster than a walk.
Snow on the ground with clumps of purple and yellow wildflowers.
The refuge hut was a very welcome sight. But you could have lost your way going to the toilet which was hidden in the fog.
A fire! And hot soup for lunch. Heaven!
Poor horses. They were not happy about getting their bridles back on after lunch. My Blackie skidded on a patch of snow as we walked off. No wonder he kept giving the snow suspicious looks; he knew it was slippery.
We rode down slightly below the snow along a narrow track through beautiful mountain ash trees until we reached Razorback Hut. A group of vintage army vehicles passed. There was another group of horse riders camping near the hut with half a dozen horse floats. The horse yard was a quagmire due to the rain.
Blackie wearing his rug for the night, waiting for his dinner.
The Chinese laundry scene in the main hut as we hung our clothes to dry around the two fires. Steam rising. Conversation flowing as we warmed our chilled bodies. Christian told us some good stories about times he has had to call ambulances and helicopters to collect injured riders.
We retired to a very rustic, uninsulated, cold, drafty wooden hut to snuggle into our sleeping bags inside swags on the bunks. I was very careful on the ladder this time and very glad my sleeping bag is rated to -3 degrees. I will confess that our group of six all opted to avoid stripping for a shower.
Day 6
The penaltimate Man from Snowy River day began in the foggy skeletal forest.
As we rode higher the cloud began to lift. We could almost see Jim Craig rescuing Jessica from that mountain over there.
We rode up around the side of Mt Stirling and down again. As we rode through some very thick undergrowth Dean announced that we should canter. Really? Here? Where?
So we cantered! Out in to the wide open space of a high mountain ridge. Loretta and me.
Up the slope. Deb.
Along a fence. Fiona and Lisa.
Past the iconic Craig's Hut. Loretta and me.
Talk about a "Man from Snowy River" movie moment! Fiona and Lisa.
Pen!
Me cantering again, just because I could. I think I just might be enjoying myself!
Today's lunch was much more pleasant than yesterday, for both people and horses.
We had a bbq with real billy tea and Anzac biscuits.
Craig's Hut is a movie location. There was never a real hut here. The location is too exposed. The original movie set, built in 1982, burnt down in the 2006 fires. It was rebuilt largely by local 4WD groups who valued it as a destination and part of recent local history. It certainly is in a beautiful location.
After lunch
We saw hikers and mountain bike riders today, This is a great area to explore on foot, wheels and hoof.
Dean looking very much the Man from Snowy River. The peak of Mt Stirling in the background.
Glamping tents left over from winter. Used by cross-country skiers and skidoo riders.
Another evening in Razorback Hut. Swampy returned to sing for us.
Singing along around the outside fire pit. The Gambler will never be the same with Loretta trying to harmonize. It will always remind me of this trip. Swampy also sang great versions of The Man from Snowy River and Clancy of the Overflow - those iconic Banjo Paterson poems about great horsemen.
Day 6 - the last ride.
Oh wow! Sunshine! The hut looks so much better. It was still very cold.
Heading down through mountain ash. Gwen lead us on a couple of good long canters. Loretta's horse fell over on a wet grassy corner but they both got back up and continued on.
Giving the horses a drink.
Blackie watching the vintage army vehicles go by again.
A clever Do Not Litter sign near a ski building. I can't believe how excited we were to use the flushing toilets behind the building.
Mt Buller and its ski village could be seen across the valley as we descended Mt Stirling down the road.
Then we dropped off the edge onto an old over grown logging track and into the most amazing thicket of ferns.
A narrow slippery river crossing.
The shared track along the Delatite River criss-crosses back and forth over the river numerous times. We encountered some mountain bikers. One group were sternly educated by Gwen about riding too fast up behind horses. They scared the ones at the back of our group. Trail rules here are that hikers and bikers all must give way to hrses.
We did some cantering between the river crossings. I would like to come back here with my mountain bike.
At the picnic grounds we unsaddled near the horse trucks.
Our horses were hosed down with water pumped from the river, given a brush, allowed to eat some sweet grass and tied up under some trees to await their drive home in the trucks. We sadly said goodbye and thank you to our faithful friends.
After another delicious bbq lunch we all posed for a final photo before heading off back to our real lives.
Now that you have read the book - watch the movie! This video of our ride was filmed and produced by Jason and Nicole. Enjoy the
High Country
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