Hopefully this weekend snowshoe trip in the Gungartan region of Kosciuszko National Park will be anything but a disappointment. Starting at Guthega Power Station (~1320m) we’ll head 11km up the Munyang Valley along the aqueduct trail past Horse Camp and Whites River Huts to Schlink Pass (~1800m) where we’ll decide where we’ll spend the night: either at Schlink Hut (the easy option) or, if the weather is good, camped high above Munyang Valley amongst a grove of gnarled old snow gums near the summit of Mt Gungartan (2068m) from where we can watch the sunset. On Sunday, following a short side trip to the summit of Mt Gungartan, we’ll return 9km, almost all of it downhill, to Munyang along the crest of Disappointment Ridge. This high exposed Ridge, a southern extension of The Kerries, has spectacular views of the wintry Australian Alps, easy off track walking, granite outcrops and beautiful stands mature unburnt snow gums. Most of the route is above 1800m, so there should be ample snow. Total distance: up to 23km (plus up to 950m vertical) depending on our route. This trip is suited to people with previous overnight bushwalking experience.
Saturday’s route to Schlink Pass is sheltered and entirely on track. Sunday’s preferred route across Disappointment Ridge is off track through mostly open country until we descend onto the aqueduct trail for the last 3.5km to the power station. If the weather is bad both Whites River Hut and Schlink Hut offer sheltered places to camp. The alternative easier and less exposed exit route on Sunday is entirely along the eastern aqueduct trail past Disappointment Hut.