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| Clouds roll over the Crosscut into the Wonnangatta |
Having visited the area earlier in the year on a hot January weekend and cutting the trip short as it was too bloody hot for walking, thought early June now is the perfect time to return to the Howitt area and tackle Mt Spec and Muesli Spurs this time.
Lacking motivation to drive up Friday night I sucked it up and left Melbourne around 5:30am to arrive at the trailhead, was a foggy morning in some parts nearing Mansfield thicker I switched to high beams to be seen!
After a coffee and breakfast in Mansfield I made way way to the Buller Mt Stirling gates, declared snow season opening weekend the gates were manned with resort officials, expecting to pay a resort entry fee surprisingly only asking me where I am going they waved me thru free of charge, fair enough as there is no snow and the circuit rd gates don't shut for the season for a another 3 days.
Made the slow windy 1 hour drive to the Muesli Spur trailhead no one else here but lonesome self.
Was soon off walking a little after 10am making my way up the spur was pleasant and soon was stripping of layers as I was on all fours scrambling up some rocky steep sections , found a headlamp along the way also and soon after the track is blocked by fallen tree and scrub with no way around but over, the tree branches were slippy and wet so caution was taken.
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Some 2 hours later I popped out of the bush onto Speculation Rd, a rough rocky 4wd track and quite tedious to walk on I turned right heading east. The plan was to fit in a side trip to Mt Koonika a cairn marks the start point up on Spec Rd, low on water and none on the way via this route I decided I would return via Koonika the next day so I could collect water further up at a water source.
A couple collecting firewood further up the road didn't see me coming up , with arm load of tinder in her hands she screamed and jumped out of her skin throwing all the timber in the air , her bf thought it was helerious after small chit chat I was on my way, arrived at Camp Creek and loaded up on water for tonight and tomorrow and made my way up the steep slope to Mt Speculation.
Got up on Mt Spec around 3ish great views all around to surrounding peaks and into the Wonnangatta Valley, top place to spend the night after settling in faffing around with my tent I thought I had the place myself , 3 walkers come up from the other side around 5 pm they walked from Upper Howqua up Helicopter Spur a solid days walk I gave them kudos and chatted before dinner.
Cooked up a vegetable stir fry with tuna and settled in for the night the temperature dropped to around 5 degree and dropping into the evening.
Had an ok sleep I set the alarm for 6am as I wanted to check sunset out, so I rolled out of the tent for natures television show of sunrise and clouds hovering over the valley and moving over like a waterfall on the Crosscutsaw and Mt Buggery , was sublime.
Was packed up after a coffee and muesli bar and walking by 8 , headed up the true summit of Mt Spec and started the walk on the ridge that leads to Mt Koonika I picked up a very faint pad the walking was straight forward in some parts the track would disappear but just kept on the middle of the spur , arrived at the summit cairn of Mt Koonika no views as the cloud and fog rolled in , I dropped down a km on the other side and rejoined Mt Spec Rd and made my way to Muesli Spur. The ridge walk to Koonika took approx 1 and a half and 4kms was beautiful walking thru this section.
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| Heading towards Mt Koonika |
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| My tent on Mt Speculation |
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| Sunset |
Headed down Muesli Spur by this stage light rain started to fall , I stowed the poles and bum slid down the steep rocky parts was down at the car a little after 1pm, change of fresh clothes and headed off and stopped down the bottom in Mirimbah for a bucket of hot chips and almond latte , surprisingly the coffee was good 👍🏼. A great overnighter with special views covered approx 24kms of mostly moderate walking.
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| Looking down from Koonika |
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| Muesli spur scramble |
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| One of the bum slide sections |
Great photos and track notes. Enjoyed this and tempted to try it. Did a walk from Mac Springs with 4.5L water over Crosscut to Spec and back and ran out of water on way back. The results were a lesson. Very hard to lift legs & move up hill and it took a day to rehydrate. This area is DRY. Take plenty of water and if doing a return trip it pays to drop water off along the way for later.
ReplyDeleteThanks , its a great area and challenging in summer as you said its dry.
DeleteTyrone