DAY 0 (3 kms) Arrival

From Cooma follow the Snowy Mountains Hwy to the abandoned gold mining town of Kiandra approximately 90km from Cooma. From there, turn off the highway and head towards Cabramurra (follow the signs to Mt Selwyn). Bypass the Cabramurra turn off and continue along the Tooma Road (a.k.a the Cabramurra-Khancoban road) towards Khancoban. Approximately 3km past Bradleys (a.k.a O'Briens) Hut is the Round Mountain car park, go past this and down the road for another 10km until just after the Tooma Dam wall. Here you will find a trail head just off the main road. This is the start of our trip.

After parking the car, there is a little walking to do before we can rest. Our campsite for tonight is about 3km down the realigned Snakey Plain Fire Trail, through Wolseleys Gap and to the top to the hill and trig station SMA 1009 [GR 123 060 SMA1009].

Camp here for the night with views of the million stars above, and in the morning, Jagungal to the East.

DAY 1 (16 kms) Broadway Tops to Pretty Plain Hut

From our camp site, we head south west, then south along Snakey Plain Fire Trail until it crosses Snakey Plain Creek. At this point, the trail changes into Wheelers Hut Fire Trail. After following the creek for a short while, the track heads south, and once again deviates from the original fire trail, and continues heading due south for about 1 km before turning to the East.

Wheelers Hut is then found about another 1 km down the trail [GR 127 027 WHEELRS] for a total of about 6 kms so far today.

From Wheelers Hut, we head due East across Broadway Creek until we hit Dargals Fire Trail [GR 146 023 DARGLS] (2 kms). Turn right here and head due South along the fire trail, which takes us over the Broadway Top ridge. After about 4 kms, we turn off the fire trail, and head cross country towards Pretty Plain.

Follow the ridge and then the creek down into the valley. Hopefully along here we will find a footpad of sorts which will help to make the trip a little more pleasurable. Eventually we will reach the bottom of Pretty Plain where we need to cross Pretty Plain Creek. There is still about 1 km to go before we get to the hut, which is situated on the other side of the small hill in front of us. There may be a vehicle track that loops around the hill and directly to the hut on the other side [GR 164 965 PPLNHUT] (3.5 kms).

DAY 2 (16 kms) Pretty Plain Hut to Strawberry Hill

An early rise in the morning to witness a frosty morning on Pretty Plain, there will be lots of good photo opportunities!

From Pretty Plain Hut, we head south along Bulls Head Creek, keeping to the west of the frigid water. Follow a faint foot pad along the creek until we start to climb slowly out of the valley. Eventually we will make it to the Strumbo Fire Trail [GR 156 940 STRMBPP], at which point we turn East to head up towards the notorious Ice Tree Hill. Hopefully the frost will have thawed from the trees by now, if not then it might be a good idea to pull out the rain coats before hitting the next hill.

The fire trail will continue up hill for about 1.5 kms until hitting the plateau for a well earned rest. From here, continue along the fire trail in a south easterly direction past Bulls Head Rock, and slightly bellow trig point SMA 0122. Shortly after the trail turns due south, we leave the trail and go cross country, due East towards Grey Mare Hut [GR 203 917 GREYMRHT]. This is our stop for lunch, after completing about 8 kms this morning.

After lunch, we head East along Valentine Fire Trail which follows the Black Flat Creek. After about 1.5 kms, there is a Y-junction at which we take the left fork to head North East, this takes us a couple more kms until we get to the Geehi River. The trail takes a strong turn to the South at which we leave the trail and head in the opposite direction [GR 237 923 VLTGEHI].

At this point, we are going cross country and heading for a large section of the Geehi River just bellow Strawberry Hill. Fill up with water here for the night and the following morning.

From the River, find the easiest way up the ridge line to the top of Strawberry Hill. From here we travel due North to our camping site about 1 km away [GR 242 951 STHCAMP]. Total for the afternoon is 8 kms.

DAY 3 (13 kms) Strawberry Hill to Farm Ridge

From our location across from Strawberry Hill, we head North East following the contours around the Strumbo Range. We then move North and directly towards Mount Jagungal. The main southerly path to the summit will be found further to the West, so we will keep making our way in a North Westerly direction which should be the easiest track possible.

Follow the trail to the summit, which should be achieved for a late morning tea [GR 248 987 JAGUNGL] after travelling about 5 kms.

Enjoy a leisurely time here at the summit as the afternoon is not going to contain any flat walking!

Follow the ridge and contours around to the North East, and then North heading down the ridge to Grey Mare Fire trail.

Continue following the Fire Trail around to the base of Farm Ridge Fire Trail [GR 270 034 GMFRJNC]. Start walking along the trail up the hill for a couple of kms. We are going to find a place to camp that overlooks Bogong Creek which will be about 2 kms along the trail, and about 0.5 kms off trail to the West [GR 263 052 FRMRCMP]. This is about 8 kms from the peak of Mount Jagungal.

DAY 4 (17 kms) Farm Ridge to Patons Hut

This morning, we rise to a damp but clear morning with a mist in the valley of Bogong Creek. Head back to Farm Ridge Fire Trail and follow it to the North West. Continue along the trail for 6 kms where we will need to traverse the knee deep Tumut River [GR 256 102 TMTCRS].

After drying off, head up the hill ahead of us for 2 kms until we reach Round Mountain Hut which will be our stop for lunch.

After lunch, we continue along the fire trail and instead of the usual right turn at the top of the hill, we are going to turn left and head DOWN heart break hill! We travel for about 1 km before piking up the faint indication of the Theiss Village Fire Trail which heads off to the West from the main trail [GR 233 095 THEISS].

Follow the faint trail across the Cool Plain which will cross a tributary to Ogilvies Creek just before the remains of the old Ogilvies Hut. (Note that we may find nothing here at all, so don’t spend too much time searching!).

After crossing the creek, the trail should continue to the west until it cuts the main Ogilvies Creek. Keeping Musical Hill to the South, continue to the East until the trail emerges on the Tolong Plain just a few hundred metres from Patons Hut which will be our stop for the night. [GR 166 085 PATONHUT]. Patons Hut is about 9 kms walking after lunch. If the day is getting late, a camp can be struck at any point along this trail, a good spot might be found near Ogilvies Creek.

DAY 5 (5 kms) Patons Hut to home

The final day we will be heading back along the trail to the main road from Patons Hut which is about 2 kms, and then back to the car which is about 3 kms down the road – hopefully a friendly passing car might help us here!