Anyone that knows me well, understands that Mt Bogong (Victoria's highest 1986m) holds a very special place in my heart. I have lost count of the trips I have taken to this incredible mountain, in all seasons. With that in mind, I was extremely keen to approach Mt Bogong from a new angle. Today would see me climb the last tracked approach to the beautiful mountain, that I had yet to climb. This was the very well named Long Spur. It was 15kms in total and was one of those walks that just kept going and going. It was not without reward, affording stunning views of the ever receding blue of the mountains I had crossed in the previous weeks. Sal and I, it must be said, definitely enjoyed this days walk in hindsight, for it was a relentless day. As you reached the top of a knoll you were confronted with the next and so it went for hours at a time. This was truly a long spur!! Finally after many hours I recognised some of the terrain. We were approaching the final (and steepest) section. This was the most sensational section. The ground dropped away to our right for hundreds of metres, plunging into the Big River Valley. Sally was at this point not interested in the view, she had camp on her mind!! And so we topped out on the final crest of the spur and bounded down the hill. I was excited for we were to stay at a campsite I had always prized and never stayed at. Either I had daywalked or splitboard toured past, or had been heading north and the 2pm to the very beautiful Cleve Cole Hut was too tempting. This was to be it, the reason had arrived. Exhausted legs and parched lips put us just in the right place. Sadly, it was not to be. The spot was taken, as was the two flatish spots at Maddisons Hut Site 10 metres away. We 'settled' for a beautiful spot next to a very old campfire scar that had started to grow over, complete with rusted frying pan full of rain water. It had been a long day. I felt I could now, finally say with authority something I had believed to be true for a long time- there is no easy way up Bogong.

A quick and sad side-note: both aforementioned parties decided to have an illegal campfire tonight. Mt Bogong and all it's approaches are fuelstove only areas. I spoke to both parties. One was ignorant but compliant. The other; arrogant and non. Disappointing to say the least.