Mission Accomplished!
Last Sunday afternoon, 52 days since the journey began, I could finally take off my pack and put down my poles. Fittingly the end of my journey was at the historic former ski area of Mt Franklin Chalet, high above Canberra in the Brindabella Mountains and, fittingly again, I enjoyed fresh snow to serenade me to the finish line.
Thus Alpine Odyssey for Our Yarning was complete, a 700km skiing and walking journey following the length of the Australian Alpine country with 3 days of MTB thrown in too. A journey through 9 traditional owner lands, 3 States and Territories, and one with the added twist of skiing at each of mainland Australia's 12 snow resorts. I had also set a target of raising $50,000 for Save the Children Australia Our Yarning, an Indigenous literacy project. Today the total stands at over $63,000.
The last week of my journey saw long days on and then off the skis in a mixed bag of weather, a symphony of rain, snow and wind, to remind me of the power of the alpine country. It is always so special to wander on skis through the Jagungal area of northern Kosciuszko NP. Then, coinciding with running out of snow, I walked into country torched by the Black Summer. It will be many decades before that landscape recovers.
Then, as the sun lowered late one afternoon, renewal in the form of Selwyn Snow Resort - brand spanking new ski lifts, buildings and more. Risen from the ashes of its destruction in those fires in January 2020, Selwyn will reopen in winter 2023.
It was, as you know, my intention to ski at each of the dozen resorts. Indeed I had done so at the eleven so far. But, as I approached Selwyn, it seemed trite to find a patch of snow just to say I'd skied there. Far better to ski it under a blanket of snow, with lifts cranking and people enjoying it. I resolved to do so next winter, to celebrate Selwyn's return next winter.
I continued into the last days of my journey, on through the northern reaches of Kosciuszko NP, on toward the ACT. The occasional old stockman's hut gave shelter from the changeable weather. Outside my little world, the big one had just one focus it seemed; the passing of, and funeral for, a grand old lady. A funeral that would coincide with my finish. Coincidentally, for the first 18 days of my 1997 winter traverse I didn’t see another soul until I arrived at a snow clearing depot below Mount Hotham late into the night. Classical music was playing and the road crew were glued to the TV. ‘If you haven’t seen anyone, you wouldn’t know about Princess Diana.’ said one burly bloke, can of VB in hand. ‘That’s her funeral we’re watching.’ I didn’t have a mobile or any communications back then. In 2022 I did hear a bit about her mother in law's passing.
Walking through fresh snow across Murrays Gap, I crossed from NSW into the ACT, perhaps not as dramatic as when I jumped across the Murray River a couple of weeks earlier, to transition from VIC to NSW. One last camp, my first and last in the ACT.
One last day, 20km to Mt Franklin, and there to finish my Alpine Odyssey. To finish into the arms of my beautiful wife Wendy who walked the last couple of kilometres with me. It is always so very special to see Wendy at the finish of a long journey, but this one had extra meaning. It's a long story...........
Like with so many of my other extended journeys, I was just amazed to have reached the end. There are so many variables in such journeys that can conspire to halt progress. My battered body held together despite breaking a rib early on and suffering a badly bruised coccyx after falling during a 40km XC ski race I did as a sideshow to my main event. I also got through some hairy moments along the way.
Alpine Odyssey was everything I wanted it to be. Trekking on ski and foot through the mountains with long days and cold camps was so much of it. But equally my journey was a celebration of the Alpine communities and warm welcomes and much fun was had at the dozen snow resorts I visited en route.
Beyond the celebrations of Alpine Odyssey, it also highlighted the threats to our unique Alpine ecosystem, one that makes up just 1% of the Australian landmass. Threats from climate change, feral animals, plant diseases and fire to name a few.
So many individuals and organisations helped in so many ways, dozens and dozens of you. THANK YOU!! Donors, sponsors, resorts, companions and more. And, despite the best efforts of many when I did come in from the cold from the tent and freeze dried dinners to a warm bed and dining table, I still managed to lose 7kg.
My finish coincided with a week of activities being held in Canberra for Our Yarning, the beneficiary of my fundraising. The Alpine Odyssey Banking Corporation was very happy to hand over a big cheque (remember them?) for $63,000 to the wonderful Julie Owen, Cultural Lead for the Our Yarning project, during our yarn at a public talk we gave together. It was excellent also to sit in on a workshop for 10 budding Indigenous authors earlier that same day.
Literacy is key, storytelling hugely important. Respect and recognition for our First Nations people beyond doubt and beyond the time. Our Yarning was the perfect partner for Alpine Odyssey in the same way the children impacted by the tragedy of Syria were for my year-long Mediterranean journey for Save the Children also.
My fundraising continues so if you were waiting to see if my journey would succeed 😊 then the link is here.
Now it's time to write the stories, sort the footage and images. And of course to enjoy the Spring skiing in the backcountry!
Thanks again for your interest and support of another wonderful journey.
Cheers,
Huw
Photo credit: Mark Watson
