A third of the way through a 650-kilometre trek through the Australian Alps to show solidarity with asylum seekers, Yass woman Isabel Brown is becoming addicted to the high country's natural beauty.
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Ms Brown aims to finish the alps walking track, which follows crests through four national parks in the ACT, NSW and Victoria, by Christmas. She has been joined at times by her mother, Mary, and brother, Nic.
"The air and sounds and feeling of calm, just being with nature is amazing," she wrote on her blog after coming through the Orroral Valley in Namadgi National Park. "Then there is also the wild, unpredictable, untamed nature that is just as exiting."
Her father, James, said last weekend his daughter walked from Guthega Power Station to Charlottes Pass with Mary. "Apart from needing to do some serious back tracking, their only problem was a howling wild dog during the night," he said.
"Isabel needed to put in her ear plugs and has taken a cap gun on her next section just in case. We thought of a slingshot but they attract a heavy fine if discovered," Mr Brown said.
Author Tim Winton inspired Ms Brown, helping her to understand how hard it must be for the tens of thousands of refugees walking across Europe in search of a new life. In his widely publicised Palm Sunday address Winton says Australians are losing their way because of poor leadership, hardening their hearts and devaluing the currency of mercy.
A friend and supporter, Murray Thomas joined the trek for five days to the Mt Kosciusko summit, through Dead Horse Gap to the Cowombat Flat area, in Victoria.
"The initial weather forecast looked pretty dreadful with thunder storms and winds up to 50km/h, so Mary and I were getting rather concerned," Mr Brown said.
Because of the conditions, the walkers decided to try and reach Cascade Hut, some 20 kilometres from the previous night's accommodation at Seaman's Hut. The Browns lost contact with their daughter overnight, and were relieved to receive a text message the next day.
"They had arrived at the site of Cascade Hut in the dark after wading across the Cascade River. Had it not been so dark, they would have seen the foot bridge," Mr Brown said.
"It was minus 4 degrees and raining. The hut is set back from the trail some 50 metres so they searched for over an hour for it and almost gave up, but after saying several Hail-Marys they finally found it and were ecstatic. Soon they had a roaring fire and were able to relax safe from the wild weather outside."
For donation details go to isabelbrown.com.au or facebook.com/Awareness.Refugee.Walk
