KOSCIUSZKO 2007 - DAY 2

In the morning the weather is reasonable in Thredbo, but as soon as we reach the beginning of the Kosciuszko Walk, a 6.5 km (4 mi) long trail, the wind increases and dense clouds cover the view.

Since we only have one day to climb the mountain, we move on. The trail is an elevated steel walkway, erected about 0.5 m (1.5 ft) above the ground to protect fragile vegetation below.

Despite bad weather we make a rapid progress. We cross a small bridge and observe alpine growing on the side of the walkway. Last winter snow still covers some deep depressions. After an hour of fighting with an increasing wind, we arrive at a lookout point. The plaque at the lookout tells the story of the erosion of the mountain by wind, rain and ice. So far we have two out of three and the temperature is not much above the freezing so the third one is likely. The wind speed approaches 100 km/h (63 mph) and the visibility is down to 30 m (100 ft). We have to be careful walking on the slippery walkway; several times the wind almost blows us out. It starts to rain.

The conditions are deteriorating. We are barely moving. It is hard to believe that we are in the middle of a drought stricken Australia. After three hours of struggle we are forced to turn back. After another hour of waiting for the weather to improve, we decide to take the ski lift down to Thredbo. Descending we meet die-hard bikers on their way to the top.

We are very disappointed. Tomorrow we have drive all the way to Melbourne, a distance of about 550 km (340mi). We need about 6-7 hours to do it.