Schlink Hut Walk (Ngarigo Country)

7 h, 11 h to 2 days 4

22.2 km ↑ 801 m Hard track Return ↓ 801 m

This full day (or overnight) walk visits a series of interesting huts whilst exploring some open alpine country and parts of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Starting at the Guthega / Munyang Power station, you climb up the steep old road to find some great views down the valley. Optional side trips visit the Gate House, Horse Camp Hut and White's River Hut. The alternate exit via Disappointment Spur gives some variety on the return journey and the chance to visit another historic hut. Let us begin by acknowledging the Ngarigo people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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1,320 0 m 5 km 10 km 560 m 1.1 km 1.7 km 2.2 km 3.3 km 4.4 km 5.6 km 6.1 km 6.7 km 7.2 km 7.8 km 8.3 km 8.9 km 9.4 km 5x 2.8 km 3.9 km 10.5 km 11.1 km

Class 4 of 6 Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely

Quality of track Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)

Gradient Very steep (4/6)

Signage Minimal directional signs (4/6)

Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Experience Required Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)

Weather Foretasted & unexpected storms and severe weather may impact on navigation and safety (4/6)

Getting to the start: From Barry Way

Turn on to Kosciuszko Road then drive for 12.4 km Keep left and drive for another 255 m Turn slight left onto Kosciuszko Road and drive for another 8.9 km Turn right onto Guthega Road and drive for another 4.7 km Keep left onto Guthega Road and drive for another 8.3 km Turn right onto Guthega Powerstation Access and drive for another 285 m Keep right onto Guthega Powerstation Road and drive for another 65 m Turn right and drive for another 25 m

Before you start any journey ensure you; • Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are late returning • Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge to undertake this journey safely • Consider weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers • Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point • Are healthy and fit enough for this journey Share If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help. Bushwalk.com /j/49892B

Bushwalking is fun but also can be dangerous. All information here is general and your personal and specific situation needs to be considered. You need to be prepared to cope with all kinds of errors and/or omissions. Neither the authors nor publishers accept responsibility or liability for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained. © bushwalk.com. The maps and some text in this document are generated using Open Database Licenced data © OpenStreetMap contributors and other sources. 0 1 3 5 km 0 0.5 1 2 km 0 1 3 5 km

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P FORD Ford Ford Gate Gate Toilet Toilet Bridge Bridge Bridge Bridge Building Building Car park Car park

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1,320 0 m 0 m 5 km 5 km 10 km 560 m 10 km 560 m 3.9 km 1.7 km 2.2 km 3.3 km 4.4 km 5.6 km 6.1 km 6.7 km 7.2 km 7.8 km 8.9 km 1.1 km 2.8 km 8.3 km 9.4 km 2.2 km 3.9 km 6.1 km 7.2 km 7.8 km 8.3 km 8.9 km 1.7 km 2.8 km 3.3 km 1.1 km 4.4 km 5.6 km 6.7 km 5x 9.4 km 10.5 km 11.1 km 11.1 km 10.5 km Getting started: From the Munyang Start of an alternate route: Alternate route via After another 115 m find the "Disappointment Disappointment Spur Spur Hut" (15 m on your left). (Guthega Power Station) car park, this N walk heads along the short driveway and To take the alternate route continue across the large bridge over the Snowy To take the alternate route continue W straight here. Start heading along E straight here. Start heading along River, heading towards the power station. Disappointment Spur Trail. At the fence (on the other side of the

bridge), this walk turns left to head around S FORD to the other side of the power station. Just After 255 m cross the ford. past the concrete building, this walk Disappointment Spur Hut was built in the 1950's passes the two large feeder pipes and EE out of two standard accommodation modules, to support workers on the Snowy Mountains continues, soon finding an intersection N After another 25 m continue Scheme. The hut is in a small clearing on the with two management trails marked with a straight, to head along Disappointment Spur Trail. side of Disappointment Spur Trail (aka Aqueduct 'Schlink'Schlink Trail'Trail' sign.sign. SS track). There is a supply of water from the N WW nearby aqueduct and a flat area for camping (no After another 25 m head through/around the toilet). The hut is made from weatherboard with Start heading along Guthega gate. a flat tin roof, has a timber floor and three W W E Powerstation Road. N windows. There is a bunk bed and a table inside, and a fire circle outside. W After another 3.1 km veer left, to and a fire circle outside.

W S head along Disappointment Spur Trail. N After another 20 m cross the bridge (about 40 m After another 315 m continue long)long) E straight, to head along Disappointment S Spur Trail.

There is a toilet (about 70 m back from the S There is a toilet (about 70 m back from the After another 215 m continue straight, to After another 215 m continue straight, to E start)., not equiped with Handwashing basin. head along Disappointment Spur Trail.

After another 180 m continue straight, to W There is a car park (about 25 m back from the W head along Disappointment Spur Trail.

P start). S S After another 230 m continue N

After 135 m find the "Guthega Power Station straight, to head along Disappointment E N

N After another 750 m veer left, to (Munyang)" (25 m on your right). Spur Trail.

head along Disappointment Spur Trail.

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N After another 210 m continue straight, to head along Disappointment Spur Trail. This was the first power station of the Snow S Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme, completed in E 1955. It is also known as Munyang, as the After another 255 m continue straight, to station sits just west of the confluence of the head along Disappointment Spur Trail. Munyang and Snowy Rivers. The station boasts W two 30MW turbine and generator combinations, N two 30MW turbine and generator combinations, After another 1.1 km come to the end. providing peak power to the eastern states. The turbines are powered from the water in two

largelarge pipespipes thatthat formform partpart ofof thethe GuthegaGuthega S Pressure Tunnel, fed by Guthega Dam. The dam E isis aboutabout 260m260m higherhigher thanthan thethe powerpower station.station. N At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the After another 510 m come to "Horse Camp Hut". main route. After another 120 m come to the end. W The alternate route finishes here. Continue The alternate route finishes here. Continue E straight to rejoin the main route at the 6.8 km

waypoint. S Turn around and retrace your steps back the N 470 m to the main route. After another 7 m continue straight. Back at the main route turn sharp left and follow Horse Camp Hut is found beside a trail linking W Keep left. E the old Munyang-Geehi Rd with an aqueduct E Keep left. on from the 2.4 km waypoint. the old Munyang-Geehi Rd with an aqueduct trail on the western side of the valley. Still in good condition, this hut was built for surveyors

S S

S inin thethe 1950s1950s asas partpart ofof thethe SnowySnowy MountainsMountains W After another 140 m head through/around the W After another 2.2 km continue Scheme effort. The hut has a distinctive red gate. straight, to head along Schlink Pass door and two rooms. The smaller room contains

Road. bunk beds and a stove and the larger room has

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N Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip N a fire place, table and sitting area. The hut has a to Gate House.

FORD timber floor and the outer walls and roof are S

S After another 890 m cross the ford.

W W made of corrugated iron. There is a creek To start this optional side trip continue nearby for water and a pit toilet is available. The straight here. Start. grassy flat area around the hut makes for great

Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip camping. E E camping. N

N to Horse Camp Hut. "Horse Camp Hut".

N "Horse Camp Hut".

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S To start this optional side trip turn left After another 160 m veer left. W A toilet. here. at the intersection of Horse Camp A toilet.

E Hut Access & Schlink Pass Road Start

N N heading along Horse Camp Hut Access (a N

S W E E vehicle track). The end. After another 190 m find the "Gate House" (30 m on your left).

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 510 m to the main route. Back at the main route ERROR >360 and follow on from the 3.8 km waypoint. The gate house is a large concrete building, built intointo thethe sideside ofof thethe hillhill aboutabout 220m220m aboveabove N Guthega Power Station. This building joins the After another 470 m continue W underground Guthega pressure tunnel with the straight, to head along Schlink Pass longlong whitewhite pipepipe thatthat feedfeed thethe powerpower station.station. TheThe E Road. gate house regulates the flow of water from the dam to the power station. There is some limited S shelter and a great view along the pipe down to After another 920 m cross the bridge (about 55 Munyang. m long) WW The alternate route finishes here. Continue N straight to rejoin the main route at the 6.8 km After another 40 m come to the end. W After another 410 m continue straight to rejoin the main route at the 6.8 km N After another 40 m come to the end. After another 410 m continue N waypoint. straight, to head along Schlink Pass SS Road. E N S

EE W After another 2 km (at the intersection About 25 m past the end is "Whites River Hut". of Disappointment Spur Trail & Schlink W:www.kac.org.au N Pass Road) continue straight, to head W E About 25 m past the end is "White's River Hut". After another 3.1 km turn left. S along Schlink Pass Road. After another 160 m continue straight, to E head along Schlink Pass Road. S

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W After another 640 m (at the Continue another 30 m to find the intersectionintersection ofof SchlinkSchlink PassPass RoadRoad && At this site, there are a few buildings - the main end. Then turn around here and retrace

E Horse Camp Aquaduct Trail) continue the main route for 11.1 km to get back

hut is believed to have been built in by Bill N E straight, to head along Schlink Pass Napthali and Fred Clarke in 1935 to house them E to the start. S S Road. as they grazed cattle. It is also possible that the About 15 m past the end is a toilet. hut was built by Edward Haslingdon and his sons Start of an optional side trip: An optional side trip inin 1933.1933. TheThe KosciuskoKosciusko AlpineAlpine ClubClub hashas aa longlong to White's River Hut. About 15 m past the end is "Schlink Hilton". N history with the hut and has made many About 15 m past the end is "Schlink Hilton". changes over the years - they are now the W changes over the years - they are now the To start this optional side trip veer left primary caretakers. This hut has two main here. Start. About 15 m past the end is "Schlink Hut". rooms plus an entry woodpile annex. The

E second hut is behind the main hut - the SMA hut S (aka the Kelvinator). This second hut is not as

W N well maintained as the main one. There is also a After another 75 m continue pit toilet beside the hut. A large, flat, grassy straight. area makes a great place to camp and the nearby creek is a source of water. NOTE: On

S E 27th July 2010 an accidental fire has done This is a large Snowy Mountain Scheme hut built

FORD significant damage to this hut, it is now fenced inin 1961.1961. TheThe huthut sitssits betweenbetween thethe maintenancemaintenance After another 15 m cross the ford. off and accessing the hut is unsafe. A plan is road and a set of high tension power lines which likleylikley toto bebe putput intointo placeplace toto restorerestore thethe hut.hut. run along the valley. The hut was built to house N About 35 m past the end is a toilet., not equiped the staff who were building and maintaining the

W After another 30 m continue with Handwashing basin. infrastructureinfrastructure inin thethe area.area. Today,Today, partpart ofof thethe huthut straight. is left unlocked for public use. There is a pump- Turn around and retrace your steps back the is left unlocked for public use. There is a pump- E out toilet, flat grassy area and creek nearby for 240 m to the main route. out toilet, flat grassy area and creek nearby for water. The hut has several rooms, beds, a fire S FORD Back at the main route ERROR >360 and follow place and a table. The hut is named after Sir After another 80 m cross the ford. on from the 8 km waypoint. Herbert Henry Schlink (1883-1962), a medical doctor and xc skier. Dr Schlink made the first winter crossing from Kiandra to Kosciusko. The hut is often called the Schlink Hilton, due to its size.