Another New Year in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Australia

Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) in open grasslands, Geehi Flats, Kosciuszko National Park AU

Roos on the Flats
Kangaroos love open grasslands – like those found near the campground at Geehi Flats in Australia’s Snowy Mountain region. (02January2016)

The New Year’s period is a time when we can look back over the recent past and start to make plans for the coming 12 months.

As regular visitors to these pages know, I usually escape to the mountains during this time, preferring some quiet contemplation over the noisy drunken revelry that is more common in the city – not that we don’t partake of a glass (or more) of champagne to commemorate the passing of another year!

The change-over from 2015 to 2016 was no exception.

My husband and I tucked ourselves into our tiny space in Jindabyne, on the outskirts of Kosciuszko National Park. Usually we plan at least one ambitious alpine walk (e.g.: Bookends on 2013, Alpine Bookends 2014, Illawong Lodge, Guthega, or Summer Walks in the High Country), but last summer we took it a bit easier. I was still recuperating from a broken knee and still hadn’t recovered my stamina and range of movement.

And, it rained … and rained, and rained some more.

As a consequence, we stayed indoors. A lot. When we did get out on foot or on bicycle, it was around Jindabyne and its lake, close to the Kosciuszko roadways after a drive, or on walks around the village of Thredbo, rather than more strenuous hikes further afield.

These meanderings still yielded some lovely sights – and plenty of time to dream big for the year to come.

Broad gum tree, Lake Jindabyne foreshore, Australia

Lake Jindabyne
There is a well-maintained shared path for walkers and cyclists along the foreshore of Lake Jindabyne. We make regular use of it. (01January2016 – iPhone6)

Granite rocks and spent snow daisies, Charlotte Pass , Kosciuszko National Park, Australia

Charlotte Pass
At the first opportunity, we always drive up to Charlotte Pass – …
(01January2016 – iPhone6)

Wet Snow Gum (Eucalyptus Pauciflora)
… – no matter what the weather – …
(01January2016 – iPhone6)

Silver Snow Daisies (Celmisia longifolia)
… to check out the state of the alpine flora. (01January2016 – iPhone6)

Roos on the Road
With a forecasted break in the clouds, we drove to the Geehi Flats Campground – starting point for the 5.5 km walk around the Old Geehi Huts. (02January2016)

Geehi Hut
Nankervis Hut, more commonly known as Geehi Hut, was originally built in 1952 as a outpost for graziers. (02January2016)

River Stones and Concrete
The five historic huts along the Old Geehi Hut bushwalking track were built out of the round river stones readily available from the Swampy Plain River. (02January2016)

Inside – Outside
(Geehi Hut – 02January2016)

The Swimming Hole
Outside Geehi Hut, the abundant river rocks have been sculpted to make a safe – though cold – swimming area in the Swampy Plain River. (02January2016)

“Our Country – Our Heritage”
Many of the sites here have cultural significance to Australia’s First Peoples. (02January2016)

Roos on the Flats
Plenty of eastern grey kangaroos (macropus giganteus) hang around the grassy flat plains. (02January2016)

Whispy Blossoms
Clouds of cream blossoms wave over our heads, and the hot summer air is delicately scented with the smells of the Australian bush. (02January2016)

Cricket on the Lawn
Across the river and up the track, families are playing holiday cricket outside Keebles Hut. (02January2016)

Inside Keeble’s Hut
Built in 1942 as a fishing lodge, Keeble’s Hut is quite cozy inside. (02January2016)

Crossing the Swampy Plains River
Keebles Hut is a popular campsite, accessible by four wheel drive. (02January2016)

Rider on the Golf Course Loop
The day after our walk around Geehi Flats, the rains returned. It was almost a week before we had clear enough weather to drive up the mountains to Thredbo, where we walked around the golf course. (08January2016)

Grass Trigger Plant (Stylidium Graminifolium)
An easy 4km loop leads through alpine forest …

Orange Everlasting (Bracteantha Subundulata)
… where the delicate alpine wildflowers are in bloom. (08January2016)

Thredbo River
The loop then follows the very pretty Thredbo River back to Thredbo Village. (08January2016)

Dead Horse Gap Walk
A week later we returned to the Snowy Mountains for the annual Thredbo Blues Festival (“Let’s Dance the Blues”) and a trek down the 10km Dead Horse Gap Walk. (16January2016)

Gum Trees on the Path
Finally! There were a few sunny days around Lake Jindabyne, … (19January2016 – iPhone6)

Sir Paweł Edmund Strzelecki
… where the Polish explorer Strzelecki pointed us back to Mount Kosciuszko, which he climbed and named in 1840. (18January2016 – iPhone6)

And what a year 2016 has been!

For much of the year, I have been feeling a sense of loss and shock. I can’t wait to get back to the mountains to recover.