Not quite Australia Day 2009 (we pre-empted the event by 24 hours) but nonetheless close enough to be carrying Australian flags. The expedition involved trekking to Base Camp on the shores of Lake Jindabyne, where we immediately set about planning the route, ensuring that provisions were sufficient, and that our equipment was in order...

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Are you sure that this is the right way? It's uphill!
Are you sure that this is the right way? It's uphill!		 Sue considers a daring off-track saunter
Sue considers a daring off-track saunter		 Sue still contemplating the move, Alex poses for the media
Sue still contemplating the move, Alex poses for the media		 Sue still unsure, but this gives time for the Mike to be photographed
Sue still unsure, but this gives time for the Mike to be photographed
At the Ramsheads, enjoying the view
At the Ramsheads, enjoying the view		 In the knowledge that it's all downhill from here...
In the knowledge that it's all downhill from here...		 ...the crew poses for photos with an impressive backdrop
...the crew poses for photos with an impressive backdrop		 Not quite tip-toeing through the tulips
Not quite tip-toeing through the tulips
Meanwhile, above the clouds, a blind man and his guide trek upwards
Meanwhile, above the clouds, a blind man and his guide trek upwards		 Below the treeline, the advance party scouts for shade
Below the treeline, the advance party scouts for shade		 The crack ascent team encountering difficult conditions at the top
The crack ascent team encountering difficult conditions at the top		 The sherpas were sent ahead to locate the summit
The sherpas were sent ahead to locate the summit
It was vitally important to record the ascent
It was vitally important to record the ascent		 Our sherpas began to lose interest, so we battled on without them
Our sherpas began to lose interest, so we battled on without them		 Conditions were grim. Our only protection was an Australian flag.
Conditions were grim. Our only protection was an Australian flag.		 Geoff scouts for a suitable summit flag location
Geoff scouts for a suitable summit flag location
Brian discovers the summit at last
Brian discovers the summit at last		 Geoff's patriotism shone, though oxygen levels were dropping
Geoff's patriotism shone, though oxygen levels were dropping		 Being the most photogenic of all, Geoff was in high demand for poses
Being the most photogenic of all, Geoff was in high demand for poses		 Geoff contemplates further instructions over tea
Geoff contemplates further instructions over tea
The lack of oxygen bottles forced a retreat, and casual attire
The lack of oxygen bottles forced a retreat, and casual attire		 Ravenous birds pick off the slow movers, and the weak
Ravenous birds pick off the slow movers, and the weak		 Despite avian marauders, we were able to continue
Despite avian marauders, we were able to continue		 Cloud cover increased dramatically on the descent
Cloud cover increased dramatically on the descent
Meanwhile, below the treeline, lunch is served for the low-level trekkers
Meanwhile, below the treeline, lunch is served for the low-level trekkers		 In the shadow of the mighty Ramshead, the high-altitude team rests in sight of the snowline
In the shadow of the mighty Ramshead, the high-altitude team rests in sight of the snowline		 It was good to rest in sight of Cootapatamba Hut
It was good to rest in sight of Cootapatamba Hut		 The almost impassible terrain gave little resistance to the crack traversing team
The almost impassible terrain gave little resistance to the crack traversing team
The Dead Horse Gap team arrives at the Cascade trail head
The Dead Horse Gap team arrives at the Cascade trail head		 It was at this point that the yabbie claw gave us sustenance
It was at this point that the yabbie claw gave us sustenance		 The blind man with the stick being assisted across treacherous terrain
The blind man with the stick being assisted across treacherous terrain		 Rob is clearly attracted to trees
Rob is clearly attracted to trees
Only four kilometres to go!
Only four kilometres to go!		 Crossing the mighty Thredbo River
Crossing the mighty Thredbo River		 The river snaking its way back to Base Camp
The river snaking its way back to Base Camp		 One final lookout, before trekking back to civilisation
One final lookout, before trekking back to civilisation
Alex contemplates a triple-axle, but thinks better of it
Alex contemplates a triple-axle, but thinks better of it		 Rob, Alex and Jenny puzzle over the reason for a surf ski at Thredbo
Rob, Alex and Jenny puzzle over the reason for a surf ski at Thredbo

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