Deddick Trail trek.

Deddick Trail Trek.

Spot map of our trip. From Moe on the very left, through to Bairnsdale and up to Bruthen, Buchan, Gelantipy, across McKillops bridge, over the Deddick track and back via Orbost.

The Deddick Trail is an amazing track through the Wilderness Zone of the Snowy River National Park in Victoria. It offers a rewarding 4wdriving adventure for the adequately prepared vehicle with an experienced driver who is in the company of at least two other vehicles. The track itself is a succession of generally low range ascents over rocky and rutted terrain followed by steep and rough descents to beautiful secluded valleys often hundreds of meters below. One of these adrenalin rush ascents is called the Staircase (Joan's Staircase) and requires extreme care as accidents have occurred here in the past. You can check out the track via a 3D map of the trip at: http://www.4x4earth.com.au/tracks.html?site=172_Deddick-Trail. You can view the actual map of the trip (with ability to zoom in etc) at: www.spotadventures.com/trip/view?trip_id=289805">Deddick Trail Trek

After leaving home on the Friday morning we stopped off for lunch at Buchan, petrol at Bruthen then stopped off for a look at Little River Falls on McKillops Road, which was a short walk to a lookout with a good view of the falls.

A little further on a detour to the right leads to a short walking track to the Little River Gorge lookout which is a sight to behold. This is the deepest gorge in Victoria and is over 4 km long and up to 500 metres deep.

Not much further along a left hairpin turn reveals a track on the right which descends to Little River Junction (with the Snowy River). This was the place for us to camp for the night and the track into the camp is of moderate difficulty and was a good opportunity to test both me and Ska before the big next day.

We were camped above the junction of the Snowy and Little River, we snacked and ate and drank...

...visited the rivers for some water and a swim for Milani and eventually cooked some tea, before some star and satellite gazing and an early night to bed (about 10.30) ready for the big drive.

Next morning we planned for a relaxed start, but were up and ready by 9.30 ready for the real drive for the trip the Deddick Trail. Before breaky I took a short walk to the junction for some photos.

After backtracking to McKillops Road, I felt more confident going back up the River track road, after yesterdays run in along the Little River Track .

We then headed east along McKillops road...

...to cross McKillops Bridge over the once mighty Snowy River. We stopped here for several photos and the last opportunity for a toilet stop.

Just east of the bridge is the turn off to the Deddick Trail,which is a bout 49km long, it is slow going with many opportunities to stop for photos of the view, as the landscape/vegetation changes several times along the way.

View back to the Snowy

For approximately 10 km the Deddick Trail climbs continuously from the 200 meter elevation of McKillops Bridge to 1000 meters, hence some steep climbs and descents.

Naked lady - unopened.

a moss covered tree, while waiting off the trail for uncoming traffic.

For the next 8 km The Deddick Trail continues south at elevations all over 1000 meters up to 1200 meters at Mount Gelantipy before descending 500 meters to Compressor Corner. After around 2km the Campbells Knob Track intersection is reached and the Deddick Trail turns east for about 7 km, following New Country Creek and crossing many of its side creeks. When these crossings end the track turns south again and starts to climb steeply.

Somewhere along here we passed through some amazing stands of trees, both burnt and unburnt, mountain ash I think. We also found a spot for a bite of lunch. There was a lizard and some violets that caught my camera.

and a creek crossing or two.

Just when I had been lulled into a false sense of security we came across the signs for Joan's Staircase...

Somewhere along here I was waiting for an oncoming vehicle, which stopped and looked Ska up and down and proceeded to tell me that the staircase was difficult and steep with a large ledge towards the top, he doubted that my vehicle would get up. I answered that I was with friends who could tow/winch up if that was the case.

Steve pulled over and we put a bow shackle on my tow hook...just in case. The plan was for Steve to tackle a bit and stop on a breach if he could, then I would follow, if I got in trouble then he wouldn't be too far away.

Steve started off and all I could hear was slipping and sliding and lots of dust...not exactly what you need to build confidence.

While Steve and I were getting prepared, Stef had also stopped to chat with the oncoming vehicle...his name was Bob, and he stated he would 'eat his hat' if I made it up the staircase.

Steve was very comforting and suggested that he thought that Ska could do it, given what we had already tackled during the day.

So off we went, there was a steep flat rocky bit, that was a bit tricky and I sure created some dust etc, but it seemed to be going OK, a few hundred metres up, I was able to look at the view and make a comment, Bob was now on our channel and listening. To give him his dues his next comment was the he was spreading the vegemite on his hat to make it a bit more palatable.

Anyway, we did make it...sure got the adrenalin pumping...we had been prepared to have to winch up...given some of the articles on the track, but no need thank goodness.

By the end of the 50 or so km's we were already to stop and camp, it was about 4.30 when we hit the end of the track. Finding a campsite took some time...the first one was full and finally 90 minutes later after following Yalmy Track and Varneys track we found Hicks campsite...Hicks camping area is in the south of Snowy River National Park, beside the Yalmy River. It’s accessed off Varney’s Track, which runs off Yalmy Rd.

amazing HUGE tree standing above the canopy above the Yalmy River

They all reckon it was a bit cold.

That HUGE tree

Heading back to camp to get organised for NYE.

There was a young couple with two children camped at Hicks, Milani made friends with Matilda. They were a German couple, Tim is a marine biologist carrying out some research at UNSW. He is researching why some particular seaweed is dying. After getting the little one (Frieda) off to bed they came around for a drink with us.

Tea and drinks.

and the glow sticks for NYE.

Sparklers for NYE

Funny? Meg and Stef...

Tim, Ariane, Matilda and Milani

Sparkler into the bottle, which is holding the mozzie coil. great effect.

Steve using his glowstick to light the pouring of the next cowboy...is that a cup FULL?

Tim, Ariane, Matilda and Milani

More sparklers in mozzie coil holding bottles.

lightning in the smoke.

sparklers

The camp bar.

the last sausage.

Sparkler highlighting the pepsi and food.

some smokey stargazing or was it a satellite?

Steve at the bar...he is now onto the water...

We had determined we would celebrate NYE early and go to bed, our first celebration was probably 11.00, which enabled the kids to go to bed, we then surprised ourselves by lasting till midnight.

Then off to tents for a well earned sleep after an 'adrenalin' filled days driving.

The next morning was a slow start, quite warm early so lots of rest needed between packing up.

We eventually got away about 11am and went to look at Jackson's crossing - which is a vehicle crossing of the Snowy

It looked like a long bit of water...we weren't sure all the tracks would be open on the other side, so we elected not to try...phew!!!

a bit of a gorge wall on the Snowy at the Jackson's crossing campground.

amazing what the river can do.

We came back home via Varney's track, which seemed much more interesting and picturesque on the way out...I think we were all too tired to notice on the way in last night.