Tuesday 6 March 2018 Snowy River - Willis Campground to McKillops Bridge Part 1

To celebrate the 60th birthday of the youngest member of the CKC four of us decided to undertake a daring and adventurous trip down the Snowy River with Alpine River Adventures. After a flurry of emails and a couple of phone calls to Richard Swain and his partner Alison explaining our desires (as little white water as possible) and decrepitude Richard tailored what turned out to be a perfect trip to suit four geriatric (with a combined list of infirmities as long as your arm) flat water paddlers.

Due to unexpected low water levels our planned put in point down the Paupong Track into the lower portion of the Byadbo Wilderness was changed to the Willis Campground.  We met up with Richard, Alison and fellow guide and man about camp, Christian at the Dalgety garage at 7.30am  on Tuesday. Due to a blown bearing in the trailer we had a delay during which we repacked our gear into dry bags supplied by the company and Richard decided L&I could take our own chairs (phew). Richard gave  a safety talk and informed us of potential hazards of white water kayaking. We then retired to Iona's Cafe to await the arrival of the replacement trailer and over a coffee and something to eat we got to know Richard and he us.

When the trailer arrived it was quickly packed with a mountain of gear and we climbed aboard the Troopie and our adventure began.  From Dalgety we took the back road across to the Barry Way and soon began our descent down to the Snowy River. After stopping at Wallace Craigie Lookout to take in the amazing view we continued our steep descent to the Jacobs River. After driving for sometime along the Snowy we stopped again and Richard led us into the bush to show us an Aboriginal message tree. What looked like to us a some very old graffiti, if we'd even noticed it, when explained by Richard, our eyes opened and the meaning of the message stood out as plain as day.

We reached the Willis Camping Ground about 12.45pm and Richard, Christian and Alison immediately set about unpacking the trailer. Unrolling the boats

Alison laying out lunch. All that gear on the ground has to go into the boats!

Our boats, packed and ready to go

But not half as loaded as those of Richard and Christian

 We said goodbye to Alison and took to the water about 2.15pm,  and the birthday girl was keen as mustard

Richard Swain, our gifted river guide and whose knowledge of Aboriginal history and culture of the area allowed us to see the land through which we paddled in a wholly new way.

 Christian on the left and Richard guide S&V down our first? gravel race.

We're all through and a lovely long pool beckons us on

The terrain through which we paddled was ever changing

A water dragon hardly disturbed by our passing

Cropped rushes, just part of the damage the brumbies are inflicting on the countryside

Stopped for a quick break about 3.50pm

A traffic jam on this gravel race

We pulled up at the end of Day 1 at 5.15pm.

In no time at all the boats were unpacked and Christian had found a secluded corner of our camping area, had dug a hole for the loo, positioned the seat and erected the toilet tent - the whole carefully positioned to take in the view and turn what is normally an awkward necessity when camping into a comfortable pleasure. Meanwhile Richard collected wood, lit the fire, and had the billy on while we were still standing around deciding where to pitch our tents. In no time at all they had unpacked the food, had the pre dinner nibblies ready and Christian was starting to prepare dinner as we lolled in our chairs dissecting the day, with me especially still trying to work out how upon one rapid I found myself suddenly out of my boat and sitting on my bum in waist deep water.

Distance paddled: Approx 6.56km
Time: 3 hrs