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7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 24 Sep, 2018 11:24 am
by Zapruda
Hey all,

I have a bit of leave in mid November and I'm looking at spending some time in the VIC High Country. I was hoping I could get some recommendations from the experts for a 7 night loop?

A bit about me - I walk / ski / snowshoe most weekends in the NSW and ACT alps and I am very comfortable in alpine environments, above and below the tree line. I enjoy off track walking and I am a confident navigator. A decent day of walking for me is 40-50km with around 2500m elevation gain. I love big climbs!

Do I stick to the AAWT and make something from that with extensions and side trips? I don't mind back tracking either. I have the SV maps for that part of the world as well.

I really want to get solid feel for the VIC alpine on this trip and any and all help would be greatly appreciated. What shouldn't I miss?

Also does anything similar to this http://maps.ozultimate.com exist for VIC?

Cheers!

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 24 Sep, 2018 1:25 pm
by north-north-west
The best part of the AAWT in Vic is the stretch north and east of MacDonald up to the Viking, but forming a loop from there could be difficult.
Otherwise, you could start at Mountain Creek, up Bogong via whichever track you want, down Quartz Spur, Grey Hills, Spion Kopje or Little Arthur, across to the Fainter fire trail via Bogong Jack's, Fainters, Jaithmathang, down via Westons, up Diamantina, sidetrip to Feathertop, back along the Razorback, over Hotham, then the AAWT back to Cleve Cole and down via a different track. If that's not long enough you can do a few out and back sidetrips (St Bernard and Twins, for instance) that will stretch it out. Peaks like Jim, Bundara, Cope and the Nelses are short sidetrips or detours along the way.

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 24 Sep, 2018 1:36 pm
by Zapruda
north-north-west wrote:The best part of the AAWT in Vic is the stretch north and east of MacDonald up to the Viking, but forming a loop from there could be difficult.
Otherwise, you could start at Mountain Creek, up Bogong via whichever track you want, down Quartz Spur, Grey Hills, Spion Kopje or Little Arthur, across to the Fainter fire trail via Bogong Jack's, Fainters, Jaithmathang, down via Westons, up Diamantina, sidetrip to Feathertop, back along the Razorback, over Hotham, then the AAWT back to Cleve Cole and down via a different track. If that's not long enough you can do a few out and back sidetrips (St Bernard and Twins, for instance) that will stretch it out. Peaks like Jim, Bundara, Cope and the Nelses are short sidetrips or detours along the way.


Thanks NNW, this is a great starting point. Is there anywhere that shouldn't be missed? Your favourite places?

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 24 Sep, 2018 2:19 pm
by north-north-west
In Victoria, my favourite is the bit of the AAWT I mentioned as the best: MacDonald to the Viking. This includes the King Billies, Magdala, Howitt, the Crosscut and Speculation.

But the country I've mentioned in my last post is second favourite and is none too shabby. You'll like it - very similar to parts of KNP.

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 24 Sep, 2018 2:24 pm
by Zapruda
north-north-west wrote:In Victoria, my favourite is the bit of the AAWT I mentioned as the best: MacDonald to the Viking. This includes the King Billies, Magdala, Howitt, the Crosscut and Speculation.

But the country I've mentioned in my last post is second favourite and is none too shabby. You'll like it - very similar to parts of KNP.


Perfect! Hugely appreciated.

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 24 Sep, 2018 2:46 pm
by Uncle Rumple
Here is a link to a 7 day walk I did a few years ago which might fit

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20823&p=284185&hilit=Cobbler#p284185

Cheers

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 24 Sep, 2018 2:55 pm
by Zapruda
Uncle Rumple wrote:Here is a link to a 7 day walk I did a few years ago which might fit

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20823&p=284185&hilit=Cobbler#p284185

Cheers


That's terrific, Uncle Rumple. Thanks!

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Tue 25 Sep, 2018 7:44 am
by Xplora
I concur with NNW. Given you have done Hannels spur then you are well accustomed to big climbs. As an alternate start to Mountain Creek and the Staircase you could do Mt. Wills and then the Long Spur into Cleve Cole or just the Long Spur starting at the Mulhauser Track or the Long Spur track of Big River Log road. Mt. Wills hut is 3km from the locked gate and there are spectacular views. Ideal for a drive down from NSW and short walk to start. You would back track about 1km to the AAWT turnoff then down to Big River Log road. The Long Spur is a very nice rolling up with great views. Quartz ridge and the Grey Hills are a must but I would continue to Spione Kopje instead of Little Mt. Arthur (very overgrown to the firetrail), heading west to Howmans Gap and then up to the Fainters. I like the walk because there are so many options if you want to take detours, cut it short or change the plan on a whim. Heading back to the car means you do Duane spur and T spur to Cleve Cole and then back to Mountain Creek or the Long Spur. Water is good and everywhere. If you did the Long Spur and ran out of time then there is an option for you to head down from Fitzgeralds of Kellys huts via track 107 or the Lanes. I would be able to get you back to your car from the Omeo Hwy and a PM with the phone number would suffice. There is also a guest house in Glen Wills that can put you up for the night and if you provide your own bedding it is pretty cheap. You can even get a cold beer and a big steak then a 15 minute ride up to your car the next day. Phone reception is available most places of this route also.

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Tue 25 Sep, 2018 10:03 am
by Zapruda
Xplora wrote:I concur with NNW. Given you have done Hannels spur then you are well accustomed to big climbs. As an alternate start to Mountain Creek and the Staircase you could do Mt. Wills and then the Long Spur into Cleve Cole or just the Long Spur starting at the Mulhauser Track or the Long Spur track of Big River Log road. Mt. Wills hut is 3km from the locked gate and there are spectacular views. Ideal for a drive down from NSW and short walk to start. You would back track about 1km to the AAWT turnoff then down to Big River Log road. The Long Spur is a very nice rolling up with great views. Quartz ridge and the Grey Hills are a must but I would continue to Spione Kopje instead of Little Mt. Arthur (very overgrown to the firetrail), heading west to Howmans Gap and then up to the Fainters. I like the walk because there are so many options if you want to take detours, cut it short or change the plan on a whim. Heading back to the car means you do Duane spur and T spur to Cleve Cole and then back to Mountain Creek or the Long Spur. Water is good and everywhere. If you did the Long Spur and ran out of time then there is an option for you to head down from Fitzgeralds of Kellys huts via track 107 or the Lanes. I would be able to get you back to your car from the Omeo Hwy and a PM with the phone number would suffice. There is also a guest house in Glen Wills that can put you up for the night and if you provide your own bedding it is pretty cheap. You can even get a cold beer and a big steak then a 15 minute ride up to your car the next day. Phone reception is available most places of this route also.


Thank you for all the advice and suggestions, Xplora. And I might just take you up on that generous lift if my plans work out that way.

All these new names and places are making me very keen for this walk. It seems that VIC actually has walking tracks as opposed to just management trails like NSW.

Cheers!

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Tue 25 Sep, 2018 12:02 pm
by Xplora
It will be a bit of both but mostly walking tracks. There will be some hard slogs but worth it for some great views. I am also keen on the Howitt area. Roads into there should open Melbourne cup weekend. Keep me posted on your plans and PM if you need more detailed advice on the BHP area. My only concern about doing Duanne Spur and up T spur would be the river crossing (Big River). There is a chain but I have tried to cross in November and got washed off my feet. Depends how the snow melt goes. If it is slow then that crossing will be high for a longer period. The Grey Hills avoids any river crossing and you can return to Quartz Ridge via Timms Spur which is a management road and very boring. The river crossing will be easier there though. Track 107 (from Kellys hut) is pretty good and if you want to walk back to your car then it can be done with a river crossing and then a bit of firetrail otherwise follow it all the way back to Mittagundi and the Omeo Highway.

Re: 7 night High Country loop - November

PostPosted: Mon 29 Oct, 2018 7:18 pm
by paidal_chalne_vala
The whole region that Explora is describing is excellent and in white season it has some good XC skiing too. The Mt. Howitt region is also a cracker and has some scrambles and cliffy bits which gets the heart pumping.