A tough but enjoyable run up and down Mt Alexander via the Great Divide Trail. 33.46 up to the cairn, pleasing time for the 5plus kms. Returned in 27mins. Bright, sunny, shirtless day of 25C. Sorry to rub it in Driske!
Spotted 2 red bellied black snakes and what was probably an eastern brown. Happily they were not too close. Also spotted 2 more mallards down the bottom near the water channel.
Finished the day with a quickish hour on the mtn bike through the south of One Eye Forest. Not a roo to be seen but spotted several wallabies and a fat, waddling echidna.
Yesterday was a solid paddle on the lake in quite windy and choppy conditions. Spotted a pair of mallards with some young. Numerous pelicans and cormorants and wood ducks. The dead trees protruding from the water were populated by many galahs. Also spotted a wedge tail eagle high in the sky.
Saturday is Mystic, day one of our 4 Peaks race. It is a terribly steep 11km loop passing a hang gliders launch pad.
Some sections are around 40% grade. It has one very notorious descent that has plenty of skin left behind on it.
Sunday is Mt Feathertop. This is an up only race to the top of our states 2d highest mountain. It should still have good snow. 12kms with a total climb of 1400m. It can be pretty woolly up there if the weather gets cranky. It was in the news recently when a prominent politician was lost on it (found alive). We have to walk the 12kms back to the start.
Monday is Mt Hotham. 16kms and 1300m. Also prone to some wild and woolly weather. I've seen runners blown off their feet on the Razorback. It finishes below the summit at a hut and fortunately we can be driven back.
Tuesday is Mt Buffalo. 10kms and about 1000m finishing at the famous Buffalo Chalet. A tricky course on a spectacular mountain.
This is my 25th year of doing this event. My son will also be doing it. It is the 8th year that he has tackled at least part of it. He did Buffalo at age 10!! I couldn't talk him out of it.