The Mount Stillwell walk is hands down the best short walk in the Australian Alps. It is an easy to moderate 3.8km round trip and offers spectacular views while you meander along the ridgeline with a short climb heading to the summit. The head of the trail begins with a short, steep, natural style granite staircase and is rewarded with an easy stroll to the Lookout where you will see the Main Range in all its glory. This section of the trail is only 800m, so if you feel fit enough, I encourage you to take the walk to the summit and bask in the 360 degree views.
On Christmas Eve i took my visiting family and two young children for a walk here and we all had a great walk. From the carpark at Charlottes Pass you walk through the treeline among the Snow Gums (Eucalyptus paucilflora subs. nivalis) and Alpine mint bush (Prostanthera cuneata) past carpets of Yellow Kunzea (Kunzea muelleri), up the short steep section and onto the top of the ridge.
Here the Daisies were a burst of happiness. Whole Daisy fields dancing in the warm sun as the slopes dropped off toward the village of Charlottes Pass below. Adding colour to the brilliant white of the Celmisia sp. were the glorious mauve Brachyscomes (Brachyscome sp.) and the orange and sunlight yellow Billy Buttons (Craspedia sp).
Amongst the protection of boulders and SnowGums we were lucky to find the Kosciusko Rose(Pimelia ligustrina subs. ciliata) looking spectacular. We spent some time clambering over the boulders and were rewarded with a Mountain Plum Pine (Podocarpus lawrencei), covered in tiny pink male pine cones. The Gums were also in flower and made for some great photos with the Main Range as a backdrop. Also among the boulders and in full bloom were the delightful Eyebrights (Euphrasia collina subs. diversicolor) ranging from pale pink to purple and white.
At the lookout we came across some late blooming Epacris shrubs hiding under the lookout itself, nearby were some Alpine Shaggy Peas (Oxylobium ellipticum) still in flower.
The next section of the trail is fantastic, you pass right through some wet seepage areas which always have an abundance of blooms for the adventurous to discover. We were not disappointed! My Favorite alpine bloom of all time is the tiny Alpine Sundew (Drosera arcturi), the only carnivorous plant in the Alps and it was in bloom, Lucky Me! we also discovered two Endemic plants in bloom the smallest Brachyscome of all, Gwendas Daisy (Brachyscome stolonifera), and the, ever so hairy, Dwarf FleaBane (Erigeron setosus) . Also on show were the distinctive Candle Heath (Richea continentis) and the both of the Alpine Celery Species with the Alpine Celery (Aciphylla glacialis) preferring wet soils and the Mountain Aciphyll (Aciphylla simplicifolia) preferring drier locales.
It was sad to see evidence of feral horses on the track, with Horse poo scattered around and hoof prints damaging the track and soft soils in the seepage areas. I love horses but the fragile Alpine is no place for a heavy hard hoofed animal.
Continuing along we found a glorious and sweet smelling Alpine Stackhousia (Stackhousia pulvinaris). These 5 pointed star shape flowers cloak the carpet heath upon which they grow and are an absolute delight to see and smell in full bloom. Hiding in the shadows were some Showy Violets (Viola betonicifolia subs. betonicifolia) (its a funny name for such a shy little bloom) and a Star Plantain (Plantago muelleri) with its inconspicuous flowers at the base of the somewhat ‘rabbit chewed’ leaves.
Some of our group turned back here which left just my five year old and I to attempt the summit, However we discovered the March Flies were particularly vicious in the lee of the mountain breeze and he decided we should head back before we got bitten again. Alas, we didn’t summit this time but having been before i can say with confidence the view is worth the climb.
And so with the wind in your face and the flies on your back i wish you all happy wanderings and a Happy New Year.
Marion.
alpinebloom.me 