3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Trip reports, stories, track notes. Multiple/large photos are OK in this forum.
Forum rules
Posting large/multiple images in this forum is OK. Please start topic titles with the name of the location or track.

For topics focussed on photos rather than the trip, please consider posting in the 'Gallery' forum instead.

This forum is for posting information about trips you have done, not for requesting information about a track or area.

3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby andrewbish » Mon 07 Jan, 2013 10:31 pm

I did a 3 day circuit of Mounts Cobbler, Speculation and Koonika just after Xmas. I camped at Lake Cobbler the first night, having a look at the Dandongadale Falls. On the second night I had gusty winds on Mt Speculation, which created a few problems for my pyramid tent.

Scrambling down the crags off Mt Koonika is fun; however there is some very thick vegetation around the mid section of the spur and travel through this section was excruciating. My GPS was taking me below the main spur in these sections; whereas I found the top of the spur was generally much easier going.

There is more info in my blog post of the trip.

craggypeaks-094.jpg


.
Twitter: @andrewbishxplor Blog: Trails & tracks
User avatar
andrewbish
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 802
Joined: Mon 03 Jan, 2011 7:08 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby eggs » Tue 08 Jan, 2013 9:53 am

Great report.
Might get there one day....
User avatar
eggs
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 10440
Joined: Fri 23 May, 2008 2:58 pm
Location: Para Vista, South Australia
Region: South Australia

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby trickos » Tue 08 Jan, 2013 1:11 pm

Enjoyable reading, Andrew.
I am interested in your SPOT sattelite doovelacky as I am looking for something similar although had not heard of this particular brand.
Could you give me some pro's or con's about the product? ease of use...etc?
I too have a concerned family every time I undertake a serious solo walking project.

Thanks, Dale.
User avatar
trickos
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Mon 08 Feb, 2010 2:55 pm
Location: Geelong
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby neilmny » Tue 08 Jan, 2013 2:44 pm

Which way did you go in to King Hut Andrew?
I was up that way a couple of weeks before Xmas at Pineapple Flat and the roads to King Hut were still closed for repairs.
I also think that while you were on Cobbler we were on Stirling on our inaugural test out the gear overnighter.
It was a bit windy but magic all the same and great to finally get out for a trial overnighter.

Neil.
User avatar
neilmny
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2604
Joined: Fri 03 Aug, 2012 11:19 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby andrewbish » Tue 08 Jan, 2013 5:24 pm

neilmny wrote:Which way did you go in to King Hut Andrew?
I was up that way a couple of weeks before Xmas at Pineapple Flat and the roads to King Hut were still closed for repairs.
I also think that while you were on Cobbler we were on Stirling on our inaugural test out the gear overnighter.
It was a bit windy but magic all the same and great to finally get out for a trial overnighter.

Neil.


Hi Neil

I went in via Telephone Box Junction, Circuit Road and Speculation Road.

Mt Stirling is another top spot!
Twitter: @andrewbishxplor Blog: Trails & tracks
User avatar
andrewbish
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 802
Joined: Mon 03 Jan, 2011 7:08 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby andrewbish » Tue 08 Jan, 2013 8:38 pm

trickos wrote:Enjoyable reading, Andrew.
I am interested in your SPOT sattelite doovelacky as I am looking for something similar although had not heard of this particular brand.
Could you give me some pro's or con's about the product? ease of use...etc?
I too have a concerned family every time I undertake a serious solo walking project.

Thanks, Dale.


Hi Dale

I wanted a device that could serve as both EPIRB (for when TSHTF) and remote comms tool (to let the family know I am ok). For a little extra weight (160gm) if gives me and mine peace of mind for when I head into the back-country for a solo man adventure. I bought it for $170 from http://www.skyshop.com.au about 18 months ago. I also pay $115 a year for the "I'm ok" service, which lets me send an sms and/or email to nominated addresses and/or facebook update, with text and a link to map with my position. See below. For an additional fee you can get a service which tracks your position regularly on a map similar the the one below.

There has been some extensive discussion on this forum in relation to SPOT devices and how they compare to EPIRBs:
- Emergency Help Devices - EPIRB/PLB, Sat Phone, SPOT, etc [sp
- SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger


SPOT.jpg
Twitter: @andrewbishxplor Blog: Trails & tracks
User avatar
andrewbish
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 802
Joined: Mon 03 Jan, 2011 7:08 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby north-north-west » Wed 09 Jan, 2013 6:04 pm

andrewbish wrote:Scrambling down the crags off Mt Koonika is fun; however there is some very thick vegetation around the mid section of the spur and travel through this section was excruciating.


?????
I did this circuit the other way around at the end of October and, while there were some sections of scrub, nothing difficult, and nothing that couldn't be avoided by just detouring around it by some ten or twenty metres.
You don't have to travel in a straight line, you know/
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby andrewbish » Wed 09 Jan, 2013 9:10 pm

north-north-west wrote:?????
I did this circuit the other way around at the end of October and, while there were some sections of scrub, nothing difficult, and nothing that couldn't be avoided by just detouring around it by some ten or twenty metres.
You don't have to travel in a straight line, you know/


Thanks for that, NNW. I did try a bit of zigging and zagging and eventually found a easier route, but it certainly wasn't something I would describe as 'nothing difficult'. I met a couple on the spur who'd spent 6 hours bashing their way up through this section. I met another couple on the road at the bottom who'd tried to walk up but found the scrub too challenging.

Happy to acknowledge your route finding ability and all-round hardiness :) , but I reckon it's worth letting other people know that this particular section of the high country is more challenging that most.

A
Twitter: @andrewbishxplor Blog: Trails & tracks
User avatar
andrewbish
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 802
Joined: Mon 03 Jan, 2011 7:08 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby north-north-west » Wed 09 Jan, 2013 9:38 pm

Maybe I just lucked out and stumbled on the easiest line by accident. Stranger things have been known to happen (although not often).
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby andrewbish » Wed 09 Jan, 2013 9:59 pm

north-north-west wrote:Maybe I just lucked out and stumbled on the easiest line by accident. Stranger things have been known to happen (although not often).


Hmmm I think you have a habit of being lucky. Ever thought about carrying some pink ribbon on your walks..?
Twitter: @andrewbishxplor Blog: Trails & tracks
User avatar
andrewbish
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 802
Joined: Mon 03 Jan, 2011 7:08 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby north-north-west » Thu 10 Jan, 2013 5:21 pm

I don't do pink. Not for anyone.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby MitchMiller » Wed 23 Jan, 2013 12:00 pm

Great report, great pictures - thanks for posting, gives me inspiration to get back out there. I've been using the Dunlop KT26 runners for years. After trying many different and expensive walking shoes i found them to be by far the most comfortable for my wide feet. I rarely get blisters and they are cheap! Unfortunately they don't last long. I normally only get 2 or 3 long overnight walks from a pair, they then become junk shoes for around the house and garden.
Cheers Mitch
MitchMiller
Nothofagus cunninghamii
Nothofagus cunninghamii
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon 08 Oct, 2012 1:51 pm
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby Drew » Mon 12 Jan, 2015 9:49 am

Howdy,

I'm thinking of doing this circuit over Australia Day weekend (if it's not too hot).

2 Things I'm wondering:

Will my Golf make it to Kings Hut okay?

How's the scrub?

Thanks.
Drew
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 777
Joined: Fri 13 Jan, 2012 11:16 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby andrewp » Mon 12 Jan, 2015 12:16 pm

Hi,

I last went up King Spur a year ago and like NNW didn't encounter any difficult/thick scrub. I don't remember there being any evidence of track, but just followed the path of least resistance up the spur. It's really a delightful spur. However Queens Spur is a different story...

Cheers
Andrew
User avatar
andrewp
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 274
Joined: Mon 29 Aug, 2011 10:34 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby Drew » Wed 14 Jan, 2015 10:40 am

Thanks Andrew, good to hear. Any thoughts on the road condition?

Cheers,

Drew
Drew
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 777
Joined: Fri 13 Jan, 2012 11:16 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: 3 Craggy Peaks circuit (Cobbler, Spec, Koonika)

Postby Drew » Tue 10 Mar, 2015 4:00 pm

Thanks for that, NNW. I did try a bit of zigging and zagging and eventually found a easier route, but it certainly wasn't something I would describe as 'nothing difficult'. I met a couple on the spur who'd spent 6 hours bashing their way up through this section. I met another couple on the road at the bottom who'd tried to walk up but found the scrub too challenging.

Happy to acknowledge your route finding ability and all-round hardiness :) , but I reckon it's worth letting other people know that this particular section of the high country is more challenging that most.


I'm with Andrewbish on this one! I did this walk over the long weekend, descending King Spur on the last day. The scrambling descent was a little more adventurous than I'd expected (good fun for me, less so for others in the group), and there was definitely plenty of this scrub to be bashed through. We had trouble finding the track/spur from where it swings north-west from the 1427 knoll, so there was a lot of bushbashing in that area before getting on the right track. Once on the spur there was actually a track, but thick daviesia scrub growing over it and lots of fallen trees, so it came and went. It turned into a bit of an epic day, taking 6 hours or so from Koonika to the road. At least there were blackberries at the end! :D

The way that the walk is described in Glenn van der Knijff is a funny one. Obviously it was written before the fire that caused all that regrowth, but still, he suggests one day of tough climbing up a rugged spur, followed by two days mostly road bashing on 4WD tracks. We went up Muesli Spur instead of taking the road - definitely a better option.
Drew
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 777
Joined: Fri 13 Jan, 2012 11:16 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male


Return to VIC Trip Reports & Track Notes

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests