Richmond - Starvall hut

7.34km 5hrs 900m of up, patchy sun. The sign was the warning... the first hour was just crossing the same river over and over. But the following 4 was mostly just up. There are some highlights though.. pyramid peak was pretty nice, as was my delicious guacamole wrap for lunch. A robin was in the tree next to the path tweeting all his tweets at us. In one of the flatter parts we came across a whole load of rifleman congregating around a little glade. They stayed just long enough to entice us to have a break but no sooner did we sit down than they all disappeared. We were first to the hut and I had been fantasizing about washing my clothes (and myself) all day so I got straight to it in a little basin as there was no one else around... of course Murphys law, as soon as I was in my undies a lovely young girl showed up and greeted me. She assures me she wasn't scarred for life but only time will tell. She has a quick meal and left for the next hut soon after. I'm sure it wasn't me... 4 young chaps turned up quite late for the night but none of them were that keen to brave the old lady's in the hut so all camped outside. One sleeping on the table. Quite funny really. They were all really neat guys and up for a chat.

After dinner I was hunting for my toothbrush and it occurred to me the my rainjacket was not in the pocket I usually keep it so I went through my entire pack looking for it. I must have left it at browning hut! I fessed up to Karen and Patrece knowing that it would likely spell the end of my time in the Richmond ranges. We brainstormed solutions, leaving most of the gear my pack at the hut and attempting to get down, get my rainjacket (assuming it was still there) and get back in a day while K&P twiddled their thumbs. Or taking all my gear, getting the jacket if possible and bugging out at hacket hut. I was fighting back frustrated tears when I found the damn thing under my sleeping bag. Crisis averted! I think we were almost all equally relieved That I didn't end up breaking up the three musketeers.Read more