Day 1 Mount McKay

Pictures Day 1 Mount McKay
I didn't sleep all that well, in spite of the long journey yesterday. Took ages to get off to sleep, then woke at 6.00AM, an hour too early and couldn't get back to sleep.
Not sure what woke me, however it was raining, which did not appeal at all.
By the time I emerged into the kitchen, 6 flights of stairs up from the basement, most of the group were there.
I should add, there were NO pyjamas and I was only only one in anything resembling Lycra, my Skins.
Departure time was 8.00AM, not 7.59 Am and certainly not 8.01AM. This is ARPA.
Loaded into the cars and down back towards Mount Beauty, to Howman's Gap, where we left the cars at the Falls Creek Alpine Resort entrance.
We then picked up a fire track that truly contoured around Frying Pan Spur up towards the McKay Creek Penstock line.

Burnt out Snow Gums

We walked through burnt out Snow Gums, that I was told don't regenerate like other gums, hence the rather odd appearance, with the trunks pointing skyward like skeletons.
In spite of the early rain, it was quite warm and sunny, with the resultant sweating as we climbed almost continuously for 2 hours, albeit at a rather gently.
At our turn-off for Mount McKay, the weather turned nasty and rain and wind came in from the west.
It got worse and worse, pack covers on, rain jackets on, heads down. Of course I had been sweating, so was wet, and now cold and wet.
We struggled up to Mt McKay, height 1849m, to be blown off our feet. Luckily, there was a skiers shelter, which we hurriedly occupied and had morning tea, rather late as it was about 11.10AM. The wind blew and shook the hut, however we were warm and snug inside. Finally, of course we had to leave and it was very windy, and very cold.
Once the decision to move off had been made, and once we were in the lee of the mountain, the weather improved. The rain eased, the wind dropped and it looked much better.
There was some navigational disagreement and we ended up at another hut, Lorna Dunkley Hut, at the top of the ski runs, in heavy mist. So we were geographically embarrassed, had rather poor maps (the ink was running in the rain) and couldn't see any features, at all!!
A quick call to Chris, and we had things sorted, sort of. Anyway the mist still plagued us and so we decided to have second lunch in the hut, and whilst we sat and ate, the mist cleared and we could see our route.
Then it was up to Frying Pan Spur, past more ski runs and the Melbourne University Hut, and onto our first single file track, along the spur.
Of course by this time the mist had gone, the rain had gone and we were all stripping off rain jackets, vests etc.

Mount McKay

The Spur track was open with great views east and west and at the end of the spur up the Kiewa Valley to the north.

We than had a steep descent back down to the cars at Howman's Gap.
Now bright and sunny, however soaked boots and still wet gear.
So boots packed with the Sunday Mail and placed on the furnace. Coats and gaiters out on the verandah to sun dry which they did pretty quickly.
Shower, change for happy hour, catch up on emails and briefing for tomorrow.
Dinner was quite delightful and I might add, I was responsible. I had brought curry take-away from Adelaide and it survived the trip in great condition.
Tomorrow Shannonvale, with a 40km drive to the start, and a swapping of keys as the two groups cross over.
And if you're very keen you can see the walk on EveryTrail.
http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1406407&code=9723e5bc461ecaac69a1080873c3b3e7