CITF - Huts of the High Country

Dear colleagues and friends,

Each year Cranbrook students trek through 

Kosciuszko National park, through rain or shine. Fantastic landscapes come at a price as the weather can turn around dramatically in less than an hour. The only refuges available to visitors are huts, often derelict, sometimes just a pile of rumble on the ground.

Last year our group experienced a sudden turn of weather, and within a few hours we were drenched, crawling our way through heavy rain and strong winds. Then lightning hit us! Our only hope was a tiny red dot on the map: Huntsman's Hut. After an hour of unfruitful, demoralising search, and with the night falling, we resigned and set up our tents, drenched and quite miserable.

We found the hut the next day, or what was left of it: it had burnt down to the ground a few years back, and only the fireplace remained!

Boys in our group boys started discussing the possibility of restoring these huts as part of the community service that Outward Bound promotes. This is the result of their effort.

We will be abseiling Furber building at Cranbrook this Sunday. Please join me in supporting them as they strive to maintain decent shelters for travellers in Kosciuszko National Park. Any donation is appreciated!

Sincerely,

Jean-Baptiste