Cast your mind back to those terrible fires of 2003. My first operational experience as a volunteer with the Rural Fire Service was to do an overnight shift to protect Pryors Hut and its associated Arboretum. That night, our Light Tanker plus an ACT Ranger undertook back-burning operations, to build on a fire-break created by a bull dozer. Pryors Hut is on the flanks of Mt Gingera and we watched in amazement as the mountain burnt. I never really felt safe that night on the lonely Mt Franklin Rd. I've been back a couple of times to Pryors Hut but I never made the hike to top of Gingera.
Today was the day. Had a house full of Yogi's so it was time to put some serious kilometres in. The last 30 km of access roads is a good dirt road though you need to keep your wits as there are some blind corners and the road in places totters on the side of a precipice. The road is gated shut at the bottom of Mt Ginini, but it is a good fire trail on the other side of the gate. A 5k walk gets you to Pryors Hut, then after a further kilometre, a foot pad takes you the final kilometre up to the summit (ish). The alpine scenery is stunning and you do get a feeling that you are on top of this particular part of the planet. After finding the Geocache (of course) which was smothered by literally thousands of moths, I guess baby bogongs ????, I found a nice sunny rock to rest my weary legs and eat my lunch.
The winds were picking up and some clouds blew in. It was a good 10 degrees colder than Canberra and I was glad I was wearing a couple of layers but I didn't want to get wet. So it was time to bid adieu, I probably won't climb this way again (though there some people camping on the slopes) and head back to the car. There were a few other walkers on the trail but I wasn't in a chatting mood. AFter getting back to the car, I briefly drove to the Air Navigation Facility at the top of Mt Ginini - send a SMS to say I was safe and driving, found 1 more cache. I didn't need to eat anyone else's dust on the drive home and I think I will sleep well tonight!
Today was the day. Had a house full of Yogi's so it was time to put some serious kilometres in. The last 30 km of access roads is a good dirt road though you need to keep your wits as there are some blind corners and the road in places totters on the side of a precipice. The road is gated shut at the bottom of Mt Ginini, but it is a good fire trail on the other side of the gate. A 5k walk gets you to Pryors Hut, then after a further kilometre, a foot pad takes you the final kilometre up to the summit (ish). The alpine scenery is stunning and you do get a feeling that you are on top of this particular part of the planet. After finding the Geocache (of course) which was smothered by literally thousands of moths, I guess baby bogongs ????, I found a nice sunny rock to rest my weary legs and eat my lunch.
The winds were picking up and some clouds blew in. It was a good 10 degrees colder than Canberra and I was glad I was wearing a couple of layers but I didn't want to get wet. So it was time to bid adieu, I probably won't climb this way again (though there some people camping on the slopes) and head back to the car. There were a few other walkers on the trail but I wasn't in a chatting mood. AFter getting back to the car, I briefly drove to the Air Navigation Facility at the top of Mt Ginini - send a SMS to say I was safe and driving, found 1 more cache. I didn't need to eat anyone else's dust on the drive home and I think I will sleep well tonight!
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