http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/541092425

It wasn't that cold, I was (almost) always on the move and had a few layers to keep me warm (short-sleeve wool jersey, Marmot Dri-Clime vest, Patagonia puffy jacket). Those buildings in the photos aren't huts unfortunately - there's the fire tower itself, the dunny, some communications equipment building and what looks like accommodation for the fire lookout dude maybe? Anyway, they were all locked up except the loo.

Marathon Road is a great climb, would def ride again. Wonangatta Valley is rad - met some deer hunters on their way home after being out there for a week. Heaps of sambar deer round there, and lots of wild dogs apparently, though I've never actually seen one - those tracks in the snow are the only sign I've seen of them. Freestone Creek Road back into Briagolong is awesome too, I'd love to ride that in daylight one day. Can't go wrong out that way.

I used to do wordy writeups of my rides but I've got out of the habit lately. Here's an old ride report from last year that covers a similar area :

http://therewillbedirt.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/traralgon-to-bright-day-1.html

afie - that stratford to wangaratta route you linked to looks really interesting, just wanting to ask if you've ridden it yourself? Avon wilderness park is pretty remote from what I understand, just wondering if it's navigable, if there's water available etc.?? Also, how long did that route take you? cheers!

Just thought I'd chime in to point out that afie's route doesn't go through Avon Wilderness Park (which is a designated wilderness area, no tracks, no vehicles of any kind), it takes Marathon Road up to the Alpine National Park. I can personally vouch for afie's route as far as about 103km (arbuckle junction). Awesome, awesome riding. I was up there a week or two ago and it was one of the best rides of my life. Here's some pics :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21493482@N04/sets/72157645739978523/

Oh, and no need to melt snow, there's plenty of creeks and rivers up there, just check your maps.

Brian Pal, is my assumption, since he just finished 6th place earlier this evening, approx 4 hours behind the "3amigos"

It's Kerrin Walker, ITT rider.

Jesse and Kerrin are here. Kerrin arrived first, and I expected Jesse about 30 minutes later.

We had a major electrical storm, thunder, lightening, a little bit of moisture, Kerrin just missed it. What we think happened is that half way down Boreas Jesse had a flat, he was running tubeless and put a tube in. Coming into Como it is pretty open, he was found on the town limits dazed and confused cycling with a totally flat tire saying he was looking for a guy called Como. We sat him down, got some water and coke into him, we thought he had major concussion. He had obviously come down on his right side, knee and wrist hurt but no cuts or major abrasions.

Now he is now lucid, but it took him sometime to come around, he was insisting he was third in the race, all he rembers was the thunder and lightening.

We think he was near a lightening hit and was blown off his bike.

Whoa! Not good. Is he back on the bike? Stopping for the night? Have you been able to work out more of what happened?

Clearly he was pacing himself to stay in front of JayP's splits - I hope these alleged lightning bolts aren't enough to knock him off track!

Go Jesse!