Mt Buggery/Crosscut Saw/Mt Howitt

[andrewbish]

This weekend I headed out to the Upper Howqua area to do another of the walks from 'Bushwalks in the Australian Alps' (The last one was Moroka Gorge - see the post here). This was Walk 26.

A few comments:

• There are 5-6 fords to do in the first 4km of the track - if you're in the dry-boots brigade, be prepared for spending a fair amount of time getting your boots on/off.
• Lots of snakes in the lower parts of the trail.
• The track near Stanley Name Spur is very littered with fallen trees and is a bit slow going.
• The track up to Queens Spur is overgrown and/or non-existent - it's basically a bush bash with a frequent check on the GPS. (Snakes and bushbashing - I gotta get myself some gaiters)

I didn't actually get to Mt Speculation, which is the recommended camp spot as, after delays due to fords, snakes, trees and no-track, I ran out of daylight and spent the night on Mt Buggery. Was a bit breezy overnight - will have to work on the configuration of my tarp.

The rest of the walk - to Mt Howitt via the Crosscut Saw, then back to the start - includes sections of the AAWT, with stunning vistas across the surrounding high country.

[north-north-west]

If it was breezy on Buggery it would have been worse on Speculation, although you can drop down past the summit and get a little shelter if you don't mind missing the best of the views.
Yer, it's a nice little walk, apart from the ruddy leeches at King River headwaters . . .

Did you use the bridge over the . . . err, third (I think) crossing? Neat, eh?

[andrewbish]

Hi NNW

No leeches, thankfully.

Don't recall a usable bridge. Wish I'd seen it - would've saved me one session of boots off/on.

A bit disappointed I didn't get to Mt Spec. Will have another go soon, but coming from the north.

Cheers

[mitch]

Was up there a couple of weeks ago and never got any views at all. I suspect a few bridges were washed away about six weeks ago. Agree with the snacks, everywhere!

[andrewbish]

Hi Mitch

From another thread I have found out that it was Copperheads that I saw up there. Same for you?

[andrewbish]

I have done a blog with more details and pics of the trip I did to this area in February. You will find it here.

[rsser]

Fords?!

Bring back the dought! ;-}

[north-north-west]

Even at the height of the drought the crossings were ankle deep or more. Butt here are only four or five of them and one did have a nice little bridge, even if it was a trifle lopsided . . . it's great on a summer arvo after you've come down from up top.