Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

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.

Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby Zapruda » Sun 08 Apr, 2018 3:51 pm

After hearing about the recent track clearing I finally decided to give Hannels Spur a crack. And before they put a metal walkway to the top :P

I left work on Friday afternoon and arrived at the Geehi flats campground at around 7pm. I woke up at 6 and after a breakfast of donuts and coffee I packed up and headed out. I arrived at the start of the track at around 7:30am and started the climb.

It was definitely type 2 fun until about 300m before Moiras flat (not so flat) when it became type 1 fun with stunning views and a nice cleared track as you are coming out above the treeline.

The scrub was very thick in places but if you paid attention there was always a pink ribbon to guide you. If you can't handle thick scrub do not attempt this walk! I lost the track once but quickly found it again. You cant go too wrong, just head uphill... I don't think anyone should attempt this unless they know how to read a map and orientate with a compass.

The Parks employees and volunteers who cut the top section of the track are legends! It was clear and easy going apart from the steepness.

Once I got above the treeline I was in familiar territory and made it through Wilkinsons valley quickly. I arrived at the top of Mt Kosciuszko after about 6 and a 1/2 hours of walking.

From Mt K I decided to climb up toward Abbott peak and set up the tent near Byatts Camp where I had found some good water earlier in the day. I was treated to a great sunset and a warm and still night. Total elevation gain was about 2150m and 20km of distance covered. I was pretty happy to say the least.

I woke up early today and headed back down the spur reaching the car in about 3 hours.

I wont bore you all with too much detail but I took some rough notes at certain elevations.

450m – Easy going
550m - Steep and scrub
700m – Steep
815m – Thick scrub
850m – Scrub thins and track levels out
900m – Thick scrub
950m – Drop into nice fern gully
1100m – Steep
1150m - Scrub thick lots of pink tape
1400m – Cut track
1500m – Moiras flat
1650m – Steep cut path
1750m – Scrub thins a track levels out
1865m – Good water and waist high scrub uphill
Open walking through Wilkinsons valley.

Very boring album of the walk but it should give you an idea of the track - https://imgur.com/gallery/ROz42

Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers
Attachments
994455C1-0E80-4BBC-9F3E-FEAD2CC882CF.jpeg
42E023B0-FFD6-4172-BBB1-DCDBC8254DAB.jpeg
User avatar
Zapruda
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1690
Joined: Thu 07 Apr, 2016 10:46 am
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby kanangra » Sun 08 Apr, 2018 5:10 pm

Great work!

K.
kanangra
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1335
Joined: Sun 25 May, 2008 3:52 pm

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby crollsurf » Sun 08 Apr, 2018 6:37 pm

Thanks Zapurda, loved the photos and hope you withheld a few for the "Where am I (Aussie)" comp!

It's good to see they didn't totally sanitise the walk, they have done a good job.
User avatar
crollsurf
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2216
Joined: Tue 07 Mar, 2017 10:07 am
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby wildwanderer » Sun 08 Apr, 2018 6:50 pm

Good stuff! Thanks for the report
User avatar
wildwanderer
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1640
Joined: Tue 02 May, 2017 8:42 am
Location: Out of lockdown \o/
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby Zapruda » Mon 09 Apr, 2018 5:58 am

crollsurf wrote:Thanks Zapurda, loved the photos and hope you withheld a few for the "Where am I (Aussie)" comp!

It's good to see they didn't totally sanitise the walk, they have done a good job.


I didn’t even think of the game! Damn I shouldn’t have posted so many pics.

Yep agreed, I think it’s a great mix of scrub and track now.
User avatar
Zapruda
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1690
Joined: Thu 07 Apr, 2016 10:46 am
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby mikethepike » Sun 30 Sep, 2018 10:02 pm

I'm in a small party doing that walk in March so thanks a lot Zapruda for such a helpful report! I had hoped the whole track was cleared as we plan to go up and back in a day but with good fitness, an early start and provided not too much time is spent being bushed, it would seem to be possible. And yes we will take our torches! It would also be interesting to hear from people who have been up and down from Geehi Flats in a day.
User avatar
mikethepike
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue 11 Nov, 2008 4:31 pm

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby Zapruda » Mon 01 Oct, 2018 3:39 pm

Hi Mike,

I’m glad the report could be of some help.

I chose to camp but could have easily gone back down the same day. The descent only took 3 hours from Byatts if I recall correctly. I stayed the night at Byatts for the views.

I think March will be a great time to attempt it.

Good luck!
User avatar
Zapruda
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1690
Joined: Thu 07 Apr, 2016 10:46 am
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby mikethepike » Mon 01 Oct, 2018 7:41 pm

Thanks Zapruda. Yes,an out and back is now sounding very doable. I'll leave a short report on this thread once it's done. cheers, Mike
User avatar
mikethepike
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 363
Joined: Tue 11 Nov, 2008 4:31 pm

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby rcaffin » Tue 23 Apr, 2019 10:16 am

Hannels Spur track is 'OK'. It has certainly been cleared, although I suspect it will need another pass with chain saws in a year or two. Stuff is still coming down.

The upward direction is probably OK for footing, but the section going downhill from Moiras Flat to the saddle and gully at 1000 m is deadly. The track is covered with lots of bark and gum leaf. Slides are very easy, but you generally end up sitting on your bum, with a thump. Elsewhere is OK.

Cheers
Roger
User avatar
rcaffin
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1223
Joined: Thu 17 Jul, 2008 3:46 pm

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby andrewa » Sun 28 Apr, 2019 7:35 pm

Just returned. It’s quite “relentless” in both directions, isn’t it?

Some challenging cairn finding up the top, but the route is otherwise well marked.

Coming down actually took longer than expected. Bryant’s to Moira’s was 30 mins, but then Moira’s to Dr Forbes took us 2hrs 45m (3hrs 45m up) albeit with sore joints. Very glad to arrive at Dr Forbes last night at 7pm.

A
andrewa
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1426
Joined: Sat 05 Mar, 2011 5:55 pm
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: None
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby paidal_chalne_vala » Sun 28 Apr, 2019 11:46 pm

I did it during Easter 2019. It was relentless.

Never again!

:-0

I was glad to not go down it. We did a car shuttle and walked out to Dead Horse Gap. It already needs another big chain saw run over it properly the whole way to Byatt's camp . The track is passable but it is not the Bungalow spur standard of walking track.
paidal_chalne_vala
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2439
Joined: Sun 22 Jan, 2012 10:30 pm
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: VNPA.BTAC.Friends of Baw Baw.
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

Postby JohnR » Mon 29 Apr, 2019 1:13 pm

Went up and down Hannels Spur over the ANZAC long weekend.

The track is in very good condition and easy to follow up until around 500m past Byatt's Camp. From there route finding can be a bit difficult in cloudy conditions.

Thanks to those that have done all the clearing. They have done a great job to open up a challenging and enjoyable walk.

I hope any resulting increased traffic does not have an impact on the upper alpine vegetation beyond Byatt's.
JohnR
Atherosperma moschatum
Atherosperma moschatum
 
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue 26 Nov, 2013 8:07 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male


Return to NSW & ACT Trip Reports & Track Notes

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests