TA Day 29: Thursday 16 January 2025

Stone Hut - Bush Stream Track / South of Brabazon Downs

This morning was unusually chilly, and it made it extra hard to leave the sleeping bag in the morning. Knowing we had a tough day ahead of us, with some more difficult river crossing, didn't exactly make it easier.

We didn't come very far until the sun cleared the fog and it got really hot. As usual, Kim struggled much more once the sun returned and it didn't help that the trail was going slowly upwards, with some tussock and Spaniard-fighting along the way. Barry soon caught up with us, and we walked together the rest of the day. It was nice with some company and made the time pass quicker.

In the distance we could see the saddle we would pass, and a long gravelly path leading up to it. When we finally got there, it felt good at first, but then it just got tougher and steeper. In the soft gravel it almost made it feel like there was no progress while going forward. For Lukas it didn't feel as tough, so he pushed Kim the last little bit to get her up to the saddle quicker. Here we had a break, and while resting we saw Rose making her way up the gravel slope. Lukas and Barry decided to wait for her, while Kim got a head start to Crooked Spur Hut. This part was fast and easy, and Barry and Lukas didn't catch up with Kim until at the hut.

We had lunch here, and mentally prepared ourselves for the next part. Bush Stream.

Here at the hut, the hiker Jan - the hiker that camped with Barry and Rose yesterday by the river, showed up and joined us on our way towards the carpark.

At first the trail was incredibly steep, and not short either, but it kept going down, down, down. Rose and Lukas raced ahead and Kim and Jan came down to the stream (or rather, the river) some minutes later. The water was thigh deep on Kim and most of the others, and quite strong. It was a bit difficult to put the trekking poles down as the stream would grab them.

The trail then went up and down, around the stream before joining it again. We spent the rest of the afternoon in it, or walking the river bed, crossing it over and over again. But we had a lot of fun, and Lukas even found a nice swimming hole that everyone jumped into, except Kim, who filmed.

Not long after, we met a group of SOBOs, maybe ten people at once! And we started to think about how we will meet more and more people in the upcoming days and weeks.

In the evening we stopped by a place that was probably about 1-1,5 km from the carpark, so we could have an easy morning before the shuttle tomorrow at 10. We could all camp here (but you're probably not really allowed to 🫢) and we also went for a swim in a pool (that you're also not really allowed to swim in). Even Kim swam this time!

Today's:

Distance: 19.28 km

Ascent: 758 m

Descent: 1307 m

Tent nights: 20/29

Weather: Cool and clody morning, then sunny all day