THE BAW BAW TRIP.
By ' Eucalypt.'
That the young men of Sandringham are energetic and not without that disposition that augurs well for the future of the.nation is evidenced from the fact that some six local young men, in three separate parties, ventured the Baw Baw trip during the early part of the new year. ' Jack ' Jones, with a party of University students (Messrs. Norm. Brown and Goswinkle), as well as two Wesley College lads {Brie Watson and Fred. Tadgell), made the journey. Whether impelled by the superb scenery or the effort raised by the hope of ascending 5000 feet, or the ambition fraught, of being outside civilisation and without the comforts other than can be carried for four or five days, with the possibility of being held up by snow at a high level, each party decides for itself. A walk of 20 miles from Warburton brings the traveller at nightfall to McVeigh's — a home-like hostelry at the junction of the Yarra and Walsh's creek close by a future source of our metropolitan water supply. Now the foot padding commences in earnest, and the Yarra Falls are reached at the first shelter house. 15 miles along the track, on the second evening. A stiff mountain climb of 1.5 miles takes as long in hours to accomplish and then a beautiful beech forest makes the journey agreeable till the second .est house at 28 miles, becomes a fait accompli? Excelsior still, till the highest point, Mt. Philack, 5140 feet, and the Baw Baw, 5130 feet from the elevation of the now lofty plateau seem as but hills. Talbot Peak and the 5000 feet peak of Mt Erica, on which rests the shelter house, is welcomed at 36 miles at the end of another day. The traveller "humping his bluey" gladly seeks the shelter on the exposed position, and soon finds his fire and billy. Some idea of the bleak aspect can be gathered from the fact that but 12 months before a party of eight, travelling from the opposite direction, left Walhalla, 15 miles distant, on Boxing Day, with a temperature of 106 deg and reached Mt Erica. Meantime the glass had fallen, and for three days they were snowed in, gladly using one only of the two rooms in their endeavour to keep themselves and their one lady companion warm, the while shoveling out the snow as it slowly found its way inside. At this place the incident recorded by. the Walhalla Chronicle 'of, the week occurred and which we reprint. From here the descent is very sharp. Necessitating; almost a jog trot,' willy nilly. Right glad is the traveller to reach a comfortable house at Walhalla, and enjoy society, creature comforts, and look on his fellow-man. Notwithstanding, the exhilarating conditions are such and the air so delightfully rarified that our travellers speak of the enjoyment as the trip of their lives.it.