Staying low

Mt Binser was the aim of today but it was never going to happen with the forecast. Instead we took a low-level trip skirting up and down along the Craigieburn Range from Parapet Rock to Castlehill Village.

It was unseasonably mild with just a light fleece and sometimes even just a t-shirt doable. It really was pleasant and good to be with a couple of blokes who are good company and knowledgeable.

We had plenty of time so had a play with emergency bothy bag shelters along the way. We also sharpened up our old school compass and map skills and checked gps with phone gps and tracking apps. They're pretty good. But all well and good until technology fails and then you do need to know your compass and map.

With retrospect we could have sneaked a trip up Tim Stream and onto a sheltered snowy plateau beneath the windy upper sloped of Mt Izzard but caution is always good.

I like this busted old beech tree. It's been here a long time presumably snapped in a mighty nor'westerly. Peering trough the branches on the left you look into Alan's Basin. Many moons ago I used to traipse up there in the snow and measure stuff and occasionally climbed Mt Hamilton on the right or the peak on left . Then I wrote a story with pictures and called it a thesis :-)

Today's gratitude: To be out in the hills going to places you can't get to in a car.