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Travel Writers: Mount Townsend - Australia's second highest
mountain by Barry Hughes
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Location: Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales,
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You would think that Mt Kosciusko, Australia's highest mountain
would have the alluring appeal of conquest, but it's a walk
in the park! A 5900 ft climb, sitting quietly on a chair lift,
followed by a 2 hour meandering walk along a metal path, elevated
just above the ground, designed to protect the delicate grasslands
and wild flowers from exuberant foot traffic, then you're
there, on the rooftop of Australia, Mt. Kosciusko 7310 ft
above sea level. This trek is so popular (and not too challenging)
that I shared the summit with a bus group of travellers from
the USA, a group of scouts from Canberra Australia and a myriad
of people, picnicking and panting the final steep climb to
the top. Indeed we had shared most of the morning walk together.
I had enjoyed the company but now, the populated summit suggested
that I try something a little different.
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Sunset from Mt Townsend. Kosciusko Nat. Park Australia
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Mt. Townsend is Australia's second highest mountain. I was
told that I would find no-one on this mountain and that ordinary
joe bloggs like myself could reach the top, if prepared to
stay the night. I could clearly see Mt Townsend from my vantage
point on Mt Kosciusko, so I set off across the high country
grasslands towards this lonely summit.
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The stark contrast to my morning walk along the metal path
was illustrated by the simple absence of people. The calling
and shouting of scouts was replaced by the strong brush noise
of the wind through the grasslands. With no trees at this
elevation, I could see the wind advance. The wild flowers
were dipping and swaying to each gust as it approached and
then left me in silence as it swept to the valley way down
below. I was alone.
As I climbed the track, the summit of Mt Townsend came into
view. I reached lost snowdrifts on the shoulders of the mountain
as the top loomed just ahead of me. I stopped to catch my
breath. The sun had shone bright and warm all day but now
it was going. I looked back at Mt Kosciusko and could just
see the last day-trippers leaving in a long line along the
Metal path to make the last chair lift home. The solitude
felt melancholic but weirdly enjoyable. I kept going. |
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Me, at the summit of Mt Townsend, Elev.7247ft. Kosciusko
Nat. Park, Australia
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Just below the summit was a final patch of grass amongst boulders
and snow drifts. I quickly pitched the tent here in the fading
light, grabbed the camera and a water bottle and started scrabbling
over the last boulders to the summit.
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Here I experienced a unique contact with the Planet Earth.
I knew there was nowhere else on the planet that I should
be right now. I could see the valley floor thousands of feet
below. There was a fantastic sunset and I could look across
at the clouds, rather then up. Here surely is the roof top
of Australia. I cast a quick glance to my tent 50 ft below.
I imagined it was my lunar module. It would keep me here safe
and warm through the night and then I would return to civilization
in the morning. The dark was now closing in fast. I took a
couple of pictures and then descended to my lunar module for
the night.
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Cool at the top: the magnificent panorama at the summit
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