Craigs Hut, Mt Stirling, Victoria, Australia

First built purely for the classic Australian drama film "The Man From Snowy River", Craig's Hut resides high in Victoria's Alpine regions on Mt Stirling. Inaccessible during winter due to harsh conditions and gates locked by the National Parks authority, it represents a worthy challenge for hikers used to donning snow shoes or X-country skis and big packs. Lugging heavy camera gear in there also adds to the adventure!

Summer sees four wheel drive enthusiasts teeming to the poplar locale, but so far winter retains the remote and isolated high country cattle-man feel of the place which hopefully is captured in these images. The hut itself has burned down on several occasions owing to Australia's rigorous bush fire season. It was lost again in late 2006 a few short months after the shots shown here were taken, perhaps adding to their uniqueness.

It used to be a common occurrence to see cattle grazing the alpine meadow right beside the hut (as seen here), greatly adding to the authenticity of the scene. With a little imagination one could almost hear the bull-whip crack as sturdy legged horses carried weathered cattle-men, a scent of leather, the creak of saddle packs. Now I believe the cattle have be banned with new alpine grazing laws and you're more likely to hear the rev of motorbikes, and the smell of diesel as a bus load of tourists departs. However the solution to this is winter which removes the crowds and returns to the land its mystic presence.