Way to Go Alpine Hiking - Kosciuszko National Park, Charlotte Pass to Dead Horse Gap
Where:
Kosciuszko National Park - Charlotte Pass to Dead Horse Gap
When:
Thursday 16th January - Saturday 18th January 2025
Who:
Guides 12+
Senior Guides
Olaves
Adult Members
Trefoil Guild Members
Time:
Thursday 5pm - Saturday 3pm
Cost:
$50 per person
Food not provided; transport from Murrungundie Guide Hall to National Park Friday morning included in this cost.
Additional hire options for all participants include:
- Tent Hire $7pp shared accommodation
- Cooking Gear & Gas Hire $7pp
- Backpack Hire $7pp
All equipment hire fees are used to maintain and replace equipment only.
Hike Details:
1. Drop Off: Thursday 16th January any time after 5pm at Murrungundie Guide Hall, 3 Verge Place, Charnwood, ACT 2615
2. Pick Up: Saturday 18th January 3pm at Dead Horse Gap Parking Lot
3. This hike can be used as DoE Bronze Level hike Qualifier.
4. This classic hike will provide the opportunity to take in some of our most spectacular Alpine sites. Main Range walk to Mt Kosciuszko Summit past Blue Lake, Carruthers Peak, Albina Lake, camping overnight at Wilkinson's Creek. After ascending Mt Kosciuszko Summit on day 2, Descend via Rawson Pass, Kosciuszko Look Out, then Dead Horse Gap Track to Dead Horse Gap Parking Lot. This hike includes bush camping with no facilities.
5. Leader in Charge: Jess Honour, Supervisor: Lauren Dadd
Central Equipment that will be distributed by LIC:
- A lightweight tarp that can be rigged as a cooking shelter using hiking poles.
- Repair equipment for gear
- LiC Emergency and First Aid Kit
- Mobile Phone, satellite connection device
- Topographic Maps covering hike route
Kit List:
Shared between each pair of tent buddies (mostly from Unit equipment if you have it):
- *Gas or fuel stove plus fuel for 1 night (if your menu requires cooking)
- *Lightweight cooking pots (suitable to your menu), detergent, scourer, chux, small potholder or old leather glove – these should all be as small as possible. e.g. cut a scourer in 4 pieces and bring one piece, save the rest for future hikes. Decant detergent into a tiny bottle.
- 3 seasons quality tent per 2 people – lightweight and compact with good tie downs for windy conditions! If your Unit/family does not have access to this, please hire with your ticket.
*Share these items between back packs - e.g. one buddy carry tent and pegs, the other fly and poles
- You will need Thursday night dinner and breakfast Friday in addition to below (bring in separate, overnight bag).
- Food for 1 dinner, 1 breakfast, 2 lunch, snacks, (buddies can menu separately if they wish but then need own fuel and pots too) Bring only what you need – not lots of extra packaging. Try to package up all the food into one large zip lock bag per day.
On this hike dehydrated evening meals are recommended as there is water along the trail. These can be dehydrated at home, with your Guide Unit or purchased commercially. This lowers the weight you carry. It is also recommended that you use powdered milk, beverage sachets, etc. to minimize weight due to water.
Refer to Food to Go, the digital hiking cookbook shared from your training for menu ideas, dehydration ideas and tips to minimize weight of food.
Individual Kit List:
- Wear Guide Uniform Polo and lightweight pants, leggings or shorts (no blue jeans!), sturdy shoes/hiking boots and thick socks.
- Shady wide brimmed hat.
- Fleece jacket or jumper
- Munchies, sunscreen, warm jacket and rain gear (preferably rain pants and rain jacket plus a waterproof pack cover). Pack these items you may need while hiking in pockets of backpack or close to top.
- One day supply of water in bottles and/or camel pack for when hiking. The campsite will be near a creek for water collection for cooking and the next day. At least one water bottle if you are using camel pack for water collection.
- Warm Sleeping bag and liner in waterproof stuff sack, insulated sleeping mat also in waterproof bag. Choose the best quality you can afford or borrow and as light and compact as you can afford or borrow.
- Sit Upon (piece of strong plastic or small stool or padded waterproof square).
- Mess Kit (as required for your menu – don’t bring excess) – most need a spoon or spork, bowl, mug, pocket knife and a small square of sturdy plastic for food preparation – your menu might require something different.
- Trowel or scoop for bush toileting – the mini trowels in some gardening sets, beach buckets or a kitchen scoop work here. Use what you have - don’t go to the expense of purchasing a purpose made one.
- Small bags for garbage, spare zip lock bags – these can be recycled bags from supermarket packaged foods that have been washed.
- Purification tablets or ultraviolet water purifier.
- Your Route Plan in a waterproof map case or large zip lock bag, pencil and pocket-sized notebook. Orienteering compass (you may be able to borrow this from your unit) We will bring the maps.
- Extra clothing: 1 spare pair underpants, 2 pairs good quality hiking socks, clean polo or shirt (with Guide logo preferred), thermal long sleeved top, thermal leggings, a pair of long hike pants if you wear shorts (or the zip on attachments to make shorts into pants), small beanie, lightweight gloves.
- No need to bring pjs. After cleaning up at end of day, before bed, change into clean undies and t-shirt and wear to bed. Next morning pull on your socks, pants or shorts and jumper and shoes. If it is cold, you can sleep in your thermals and your beanie.
- All spare clothing items need to be packed in waterproof bags within a well fitted backpack.
- Emergency Kit: One spare dehydrated meal each plus spare chocolate etc for emergency food, matches/lighter preferably wind and waterproof matches, candle or Firestarter to start an emergency fire in shelter hut.
- A basic first aid kit (personal usage) including a lightweight emergency blanket, roller bandage, triangular bandage, personal first aid needs, antiseptic, blister kit.
- Head lamp with new batteries and carry spare batteries
- Basic lightweight toiletries – BUG REPELLANT! (small quantities toothpaste, roll on deodorant if you wish) decanted into small containers, baby/travel wipes or a small cloth that you can wet to wipe down (much more environmentally friendly), plus microfiber towel or chux, toilet paper for toilet requirements for 4 days, small hand sanitiser, sanitary items and nappy bags for carrying out sanitary items. NO AEROSOLS as these damage tents and can trigger asthma in some participants. Pump sprays are okay if used well away from the group and away from tents. Preferable to use roll on.
- ADM.27 form and any medication in original packaging with a copy of ADM.53
- Phone/camera in waterproof container if you wish. Battery pack to recharge.
If possible in a separate bag pack your requirements for sleeping overnight in the Guide Hall so you don’t need to unpack repack your pack.
**Average January temperatures in the high country: Perisher Valley - High 15°C Low 5°C with 8 days rain for the month. It can get as high as 21°C during the day or it may only reach 10°C. It can get quite windy so the value of the rain gear to cut the wind chill is really important. Also, the beanie and gloves.