This little piggy...

The weather looks stable (before the chaos of the weekend hits) for Thursday night. However, it is forecast to be cool and we will be out of bush cover for a decent period, so come prepared for cold conditions. The route this week takes in two tough tracks with respect to conditions underfoot and, of course, there is plenty of ups and downs to battle. It will be a two hour outing, but it'll be fun as always! Meeting at the top of the motorway out of town (Leith Saddle - see location), we'll head up the Leith Saddle Track, making a change from our frequent descents. It is excellent underfoot for the majority but is more challenging as we approach the top. Relatively easy travel follows along the Swampy Ridge Track before a rapid descent down Porkies Track to the now familiar Possum Busters Track. Turning right we follow Possum Busters to the base of Swine Spur Track - plenty of boggy and tricky sections over this 1.5 km route. Swine Spur starts out easy enough, but soon climbs steeply. Nearing the top the track often resembles a cascading stream. Soon enough we'll pop out onto Swampy Ridge Track by an aircraft navigation station. We then have a short, easy run along to the top of Leith Saddle Track. You guessed it, down the same track we climbed to complete the circuit. Estimated distance of 12 km and total ascent around 650-700 metres. Don't be fooled, it is a tough outing in the dark and, like last week, contains two ascents and descents. However, it is the last chance (for a month) to explore the tracks on the western side of Swampy before trapping operations begin. Headlamp essential as always!