Vallejo Gantner/Crosscut Saw, Easter 2016 [images]

[fairman]

Hi all,

First post on this forum - just wanted to contribute. Hope this is in the right place!

Took a few friends out to the Howitt area over Easter, basecamping at Vallejo Gantner and doing day trips along the Crosscut to Buggery and Howitt. First time I have been out this way - has instantly gone to the top of my list as a favourite place, and I will be returning. The lack of 4WDs and dirtbikes certainly made it a lovely spot to head over the busy Easter break, and the piercing blue sky on Saturday certainly helped, that's for sure...

Anyway, enjoy a selection of my photos that I got on my iphone.


Vallejo Gantner Hut. It really is the best hut.


What's the collective noun for a flock of ravens? Whatever it is, here they are flying in front of the Viking


One of the best things about the high country - snow gum bark.


Hiking the crosscut saw.


View on Easter Monday from near the Vallejo campsite. As special as it gets!


A decisively less cloudy vista across to the terrible hollow, buggery, speculation...


Peaks of the Razor and Viking


Best views from a drop dunny in the world, i think it's safe to say...


Obligatory alpine daisies shot


Heading out to West Peak up on Mt. Howitt.

[neilmny]

Well done fairman, really nice photos. Thanks for posting.
Don't know about Ravens but it would be a murder of crows.

[north-north-west]

What's the collective noun for a flock of ravens?

I think it's an 'unkindness'. Crows are obviously a lot worse than ravens.

[neilmny]

What's the collective noun for a flock of ravens?

I think it's an 'unkindness'. Crows are obviously a lot worse than ravens.

[peregrinator]

Well done fairman, really nice photos. Thanks for posting.
Don't know about Ravens but it would be a murder of crows.

Yes, it's a fine contribution with some very nice shots. I liked your line:

The lack of 4WDs and dirtbikes certainly made it a lovely spot

That's one of the key factors in making such locations great.

Glad to see you've identified them as ravens, when most people incorrectly call them crows. As for a collective noun; a rapacity of ravens? No, not right, but just sometimes you wonder about their motives!?!

[fairman]

I have often told people who call them crows "we don't have crows in Australia!" before learning about the Torresian and Little Crow... But I think they usually occur outside of Victoria.

RE: dirt bikes and 4WDs - upon leaving we stopped by Howitt hut. A dull roar came up the road and we were suddenly surrounded by five obnoxious Nissan Patrols and we realised how great the silence of the past few days had been...

[peregrinator]

And did each vehicle have but one person therein?

You are right about crows habituating other parts of Australia.

[fairman]

And did each vehicle have but one person therein?

The multiple generators they had in their cars meant that at best each car had two people in it - so you're close. I was careful not to mention Vallejo hut to them so they didn't go looking for it - they didn't look the sort that would willingly walk 5km, if you catch my drift.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I think the Mac Springs car park should be 10 kms from the road so that all mongers ,rev heads and knuckle draggers will be 101% forced to stay away from what is a very special place indeed.

[cherryw]

Was also up there at Easter. Hiked from Howqua camping area to Mac Springs and back. Bit of a wet and misty day Thursday and Friday morning.
I think you were standing on the same spot when I took this photo.

By the way which one is Speculation?

Wayne

[icefest]

By the way which one is Speculation?

[cherryw]

Thanks icefest, thought that was the one and is that Mt Buggery to the left?

[icefest]

Yep:

[cherryw]

Thanks for that, now it gives me a better perspective of what is where.

Wayne

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I go up there every year around Boxing day. It never gets old or ho hum at all . I would love to see the Cross cut saw cloaked in snow.

Another memorable day walk from Mac. Springs you can do is over to Hell's window and back taking in the upper trail over Mt. Magdala and the lower trail on the way back looking up at the Gap. If there is water flowing in Hellfire creek then the campsite in the saddle there is just super , but Hell fire creek was as good as dry when my friend and I were up there during the week after Xmas day. Another way to get up there which is on my list is to ascend via Stanely name spur from the Upper Howqua.
Some of the old snow gums on the south side of Mt Howitt on the AAWT heading for Hellfire Creek are as old and stately as you will see anywhere in the high country. The campsite on the south side of Mt Howitt on the AAWT is also a good one but miles from any water supply.

[icefest]

I would love to see the Cross cut saw cloaked in snow.

Here you go:

[paidal_chalne_vala]

That is using a zoom lens as seen from Mt. Stirling. I see that view every year in July. I mean as seen from Mac. Springs .

[icefest]

It's only actually a 70mm lens, and it's from Mt Magdala, just above Hells window.

I'll try to get three days this season to get a trip along the entire razorback (or at least up to Mt Buggery)

[sim1oz]

All the photos are amazing. Want to get there soon!

@icefest, hope you get that three days together and bring back some more winter photos to share.

[Mark_O]

Hi Simone,

If you would like to see Howitt and the Crosscut in winter then you might appreciate this video I made a number of years ago (although you may have already seen it). Although a dodgy video - because it is simply a collection of stills put together - it does at least give you a good idea of what the area looks like under a decent amount of snow.

https://vimeo.com/72133923



Hope to catch up with you back in Tassie sometime.

Cheers, Mark

P.S. Stunning photos Fairman - thanks for posting them! Good to be reminded of just how beautiful a place that area is.

[Snowzone]

These two photos were taken last July when Walkon and I crossed the Great Divide.

[Snowzone]

Nice photo's Fairman, glad you enjoyed. Easter brought us some fabulous weather this year.

[north-north-west]

*sigh*
I always wanted to do Howitt/Crosscut in winter. Somehow never found the time. Oh well,there are compensations.

[sim1oz]

@nnw, are you living in Tassie now? That should certainly be compensation for not getting to this area of Vic in Winter.

@mark.o, thanks for the video link. I hope it is ok to admit I've watched all your videos, but I had forgotten about that one. Howitt/Crosscutsaw is magnificent under snow! (Doing the OLT in December with our oldest daughter but hoping to get to Tassie again before then. Found some new people to packraft with in Melbourne so looking forward to this weekend )

@snowzone, beautiful photos!

Going to see if we can get to VG Hut and Howitt before the roads close. Then could try a snowshoeing trip in August. Thanks for the inspiration everyone!

[north-north-west]

@nnw, are you living in Tassie now? That should certainly be compensation for not getting to this area of Vic in Winter.

Yep.
And definitely yep.

[MartyGwynne]

I know of two blokes who tried to cycle in during winter, the silly duffers only nearly got to the airfield there was so much snow.
They kept falling off into snowdrifts once we got a bit of pace up. Um I mean once they got some pace up on the bikes.