So having spent one of the last couple of days as a rest day, today was the big day that had to happen to catch up. A very solid undertaking of 18km undulating over the last few of the Great Divide's peaks I would wander over. The track left the more popular Bluffs-Howitt area and immediately it was noticeably less travelled. Strolling through open snowgrass plains and snowgum forested slopes I gradually made my way to the first big climb of the day. Mt Clear is a steep-sided but flat-topped mountain that rises straight up from the surrounding relatively flat uplands. The climb followed a faint trail through several broken cliffs till the lofty summit was gained. The view from this untreed summit was incredible. From the Bogong High Plains and Feathertop to the Baw Baws and the other peaks of Gippsland, well worth the effort. The track from here followed the ridgeline of the Divide in a right-tending arc to the final peak for the day known as The Nobs. It's a funny feeling being able to see almost the entire way to be walked for the day, the 'oh it's not that far' thought is almost inevitable, but the realist in my brain reminded me there was a lot of up and down before the distant peak. I set off.

Probably the most frustrating thing to occur today was leaving a saddle before Square Top to take a sidling track that would avoid such an up and down, only led to ground that was untracked and had MANY trees down making the going nearly impossibly slow. I cut my losses and climbed seriously steeply to the summit plateau which was off track, through some cliffs and fallen timber. This was taxing walking. I found (somehow) the amazingly faint track up top and followed it to the next saddle. The track turned south and spent the next few kilometres forcing much stepping over the literally hundreds of fallen burnt trees. Eventually I arrived at the inspiring start of The Nobs climb. It was obviously to follow a knife edge ridge to the summit and as I climbed I was rewarded with breathtaking views. In the back of my mind I thought this was a worthy final summit, for tomorrow's plans were already afoot.

As I sit here tonight my mind begins to wander forward. The trip is nearing it's end and I have just started to think about the things (rather than people, they've been a constant) I miss from home. Funnily, there isn't much. I think to a certain extent that's the magic of such a journey- you are self sufficient, everything you carry is all you need and if anything else arises, improvise you must. The list amounts to about three things: a decent coffee, a doona and a couch!!