After meeting up on the side of the Ski Tube in Perisher, we car shuffled to the trail heads of Porcupine and Bullocks Flat. Leaving the Porcupine trail, the eight of us continued onto the Bullocks Flat trail for a while until we found the signs indicating the cross-country trail. We found small patches of snow in the shady areas, left from a snow fall around 4 weeks ago.
Following the cross-country trail, we traversed a small boggy plain before reaching a small saddle. We stopped for morning tea on a small ridge, enjoying the warm sunshine and the views towards Perisher and Mt. Duncan.
Refreshed, we then traversed another small boggy plain still following the cross-country signs before starting our ascent towards Mt. Duncan. By then, we had left the cross-country signs and followed Graeme’s lead. We also started to see glimpses of the escarpment with views across the Thredbo Valley.
The terrain became steeper, and we picked our way through waist high bushes and small rocks. We rounded the base of Mt Duncan which consists of huge boulders and found ourselves looking down on Bullocks Flat and a little further, Lake Crackenback. The trig point on Mt. Duncan had been blown off and was laying on its side at the base of the boulders.
We climbed to the top and had lunch there, enjoying an amazing 360 degrees view of the Main Range, Charlotte Pass, Perisher Valley out towards the ACT and Mt Morgan, while on the other side, we could see a glimpse of Lake Jindabyne, the Monaro Plain towards Nimmitabel and Dalgety and up the Thredbo Valley towards the Pilot Wilderness and Victoria. The day was a perfect autumn weather with clear views with very little smoke haze from hazard reduction burning. Directly in front of us stood the Porcupines which are another set of boulders.
After lunch, Graeme and Martin decided to find a way to the top of the Porcupines by the back, while the rest of us lead by Neroli, contoured the base of the Porcupines and rejoined the trail. On our way, we saw remnants of fencing from the days, the cattle grazed the high country.
While some relaxed at the junction of Porcupines and Wheatley Link trails, some of us climbed up the top of the Porcupines and rejoined Graeme and Martin to enjoy yet more beautiful vistas.
Back down on the plain around the Porcupines, we all followed the Wheatley Link Trail which was in parts wet. to Perisher Gap at the base of Mount Perisher where Graeme had left his car in the morning, so we didn’t have to walk back to Perisher.
A very enjoyed day with great weather and great company. Thank you to Graeme for his guidance and knowledge.