Easter 2019 at Kahane Lodge

Thirty-three members joined us for our annual Easter walking weekend based at the Kahane Lodge. We organised several walks each day including the Porcupine, Illawong, Bullocks Hut, Paliabo Track, Lakes Walk, Rainbow Lake and Thredbo to Kosiuszko.

The annual Lakelight Sculptures in Jindabyne were a popular destination. This popular event grows bigger every year with 137 entries this year.

The Thredbo River and Rainbow Lake attracted our fishermen with Steve and Jackson each returning with a fine catch.

A few members brought bicycles and enjoyed the return ride to the Charlotte Pass turnaround. This is a challenging ride both ways but you can rely on a good tailwind for the run home.

Our shared dinners on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were a great success. Huge thanks to all members who were involved.

Even though it was a late Easter this year we experienced mostly fine weather, with just a few windy days.

We look forward to our next Easter weekend in 2020.

Our great outdoors.

Some four-legged park dwellers.

Lakelight Sculptures down in Jindabyne.

Good company at meal time - plus a couple of strange visitors.

Feb to Mar 2019 - Cootapatamba Hut Rebuild

Cootapatamba Hut was built by the SMA as a hydrographer's hut during the planning for the Snowy Scheme. As a founding member of Kosciuszko Huts Association (KHA) Rex Cox became the caretaker and over the years he was assisted by many SASC members. Eventually SASC became the official caretaker, and the XC and Bushwalking group began organising 2-yearly painting and maintenance trips.

The hut sits below Lake Cootapatamba in the shadow of Mt Kosciuszko and it is exposed to the full force of the Snowy winter. If you have walked from Thredbo to Kosciuszko, then you will have seen the little red hut sitting in the snow grass next to the Swampy Plain River just below the lake.

In early 2019 NPWS inspected the hut and decided that it should be rebuilt. However, since the hut is heritage listed the design had to comply with strict heritage guidelines.

In the winter of 2019 the new frame was constructed at the NPWS Jindabyne depot and exterior cladding boards were cut and painted.

During Feb and Mar 2019, the old hut was moved off its base and the new frame concreted into position using steel supports. Over the next several weeks the new hut was built as a replica of the old hut. The original project plan was interrupted first by bushfires (NPWS staff were called away from the hut project to assist) and then by gale force winds which grounded the helicopter being used to ferry workers and materials.

To assist in the rebuild NPWS asked the SASC caretakers to provide two volunteers each week. The volunteers would be required to hold a White Card, travel to the site via helicopter and camp there for the working week. We originally had 6 volunteers ready to assist but due to weather delays only two members managed to make the trip - Ian Griffith and Jonathon D'Arcy.

By early April the hut was completed and is now a fantastic replica of the original even including its infamous power point.

A great result thanks to the hard work of NPWS, KHA and our SASC volunteers.

Along with our photos from 2019, there is some good history in the first two photos from 1990 and 2007.

01 - 04 Mar 19. Wyangala Waters Camping Weekend.

We had 21 members join us for a camping weekend at Wyangala Waters (near Cowra).

On Saturday we walked from the park to Elliot’s Lookout via the Elliot’s Fire Trail. Morning tea was taken on a ridge overlooking Wyangala Dam, and we returned via the Drovers Fire Trail and Balancing Rock Lookout.

On Sunday there was a variety of outings including the Koorawatha Show and the Cowra Japanese Gardens.

Sunday 03 Feb 19. Garigal National Park.

Nineteen walkers spent the day following Davidson Trail, Governor Phillip Trail, Middle Harbour Creek Trail and Cascades Trail. All told, it was a beautiful walk following the creek in dappled shade.

We finished the day with a refreshing swim at the Thomas’s place, followed by fish and chips at Rosemary MacDonald’s. Thanks to Ursula, Geoff and Rosemary for your support.