107 Track and Patons rd Glen Wills - seeking information

[Mortar Art]

Hi everyone! I'm trying to see if it's possible to do a loop hike from the junction of the AAWT and Big River Rd near Mt. Wills. Google Maps tells me that there's a "107 track" going down from near Fitzgerald Hut, to Glen Valley, and a Patons Rd that crosses Big River, and joins the Kangaroo Ck Track heading North back to my starting point. The 107 track has a vague page on Parks Vic, and I can't find much else about these tracks and roads. Has anyone explored these areas before?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Hi
Yes . Kangaroo Creek Track joins the Big River Logging road near Big River saddle on the AAWT. Big River Saddle is accessible by 2 WD from
the Omeo Hwy.
Follow Kangaroo Ck. tk. down to where it almost reaches the Mitta Mitta River. There is a ford point which connects with a foot track that takes you up
Track 107 .
Once you are on track 107 then you should reach the crossing in a frost hollow with Wild Horse creek and a hut ruin just up the hill.
If you have found these points on the map in real life then keep ascending until you reach Kelly Hut.
Continue to Fitzgerald Hut.
Camp there.
The return route takes you down Kelly's track.
It is now locked from the Bottom rather than half way up where the burnt snow gum forest becomes obvious in the change of
plant communities from Alpine Ash and Woolly Butt trees.
There is also a gate at that point.
The navigation on this MVO track is quite easy .
The last section takes in a road bash to Big River Camping area and Mittagundi outdoor education centre .
You need to follow the river back to where the track intersects with Track 107. Then you need to retrace your steps.
Fording Mitta Miita / Big River after heavy rain might be sketchy.
Take a map , compass and GPS. Check them often because sign posting is not obvious or non existent in places.

[Mortar Art]

Hi paidal! My plan is actually go go to Mt. Bogong, Quartz Knob and then Fitzgerald Hut. I've along the AAWT to Big River and to Fitzgerald separately over the years, but the plan this time is to do West Bogong, and Glen Wills in this loop.

How obvious is this ford point you mention? Is it something like a 4wd ford? Do you know of any GPX or similar info on this foot track you mention? If I'm coming down Track 107 is there any markers pointing to it? Is this something the people at Mittagundi are likely to have info on if I gave them a call?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

If you are descending track 107 then instead of taking the South (?) bound turn towards Mittagundi/ Big River
camping area you go straight until you reach the ford at Mitta Mitta/ Big River. The ford is obvious and the continuation of the route is clearly
evident on the other side of the the river.
Yes a proper 4 WD could drive on that track.
It was a boots off river crossing.
Continue on and you should hit the Kangaroo Creek track .
When I did this I was bit geographically embarrassed and had missed the turn which takes you to Mittagundi/ Big River bridge camping area,
but I knew where I was once I reached the Kangaroo Creek track. Then I turned right which led me to the Omeo Hwy.
Then I was delivered from my semi ordeal !

Regarding markers/ signage: There is nothing to help you find your way.
You need to be self reliant and be able to navigate the preferred route.

[Mortar Art]

Hi! Aha, so your intention was to head South, not to the Highway. I'm guessing that fording the river there was not a part of your original plan then? Do you think you'd be able to ID where you forded on satellite maps?

[Xplora]

If you are descending track 107 then instead of taking the South (?) bound turn towards Mittagundi/ Big River
camping area you go straight until you reach the ford at Mitta Mitta/ Big River. The ford is obvious and the continuation of the route is clearly
evident on the other side of the the river.
Yes a proper 4 WD could drive on that track.
It was a boots off river crossing.
Continue on and you should hit the Kangaroo Creek track .
When I did this I was bit geographically embarrassed and had missed the turn which takes you to Mittagundi/ Big River bridge camping area,
but I knew where I was once I reached the Kangaroo Creek track. Then I turned right which led me to the Omeo Hwy.
Then I was delivered from my semi ordeal !

Regarding markers/ signage: There is nothing to help you find your way.
You need to be self reliant and be able to navigate the preferred route.

IGNORE THIS!

This is not the crossing you should take as it will lead you onto private property. It would be obvious within 200m that you have taken a wrong turn because you come to the river and if the map was consulted at this point a simple turn around would have put you back on track in a few minutes instead of climbing over locked gates. Obviously trespassing doesn't bother you because you are telling others to do the same. No matter. It will be sorted.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I never climbed over locked gates.
NOT ONCE.
I was tired and emotional and should have consulted the map.
I suggest people do not enter private property .
I am contrite .
Yes , it was a few years ago but I do not suggest people take the wrong route or enter private property.
The Kangaroo creek track is not that far away from the general scheme of things at the bottom of Track 107.

[Xplora]

Yes , it was a few years ago but I do not suggest people take the wrong route or enter private property.
The Kangaroo creek track is not that far away from the general scheme of things at the bottom of Track 107.

But that is what you just did as there is no access to Kangaroo Creek Track the way you described without going through private property. My mistake about climbing the locked gates. Seems they were not locked and you opened them. I can understand people making poor decisions when fatigued and confused but this is a pretty straight forward, easy downhill walk that year 9 girls and boys do and was maybe 10km from the start of your day which would take a reasonably fit walker about 3 hours. The kids do it a bit slower.

On a sad note, the very kind man from Glen Valley who gave you water and a lift to the campground died a little while ago.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The gates were all left open. I did not touch any gates , open any gates or climb over any gates. aaaaaargh!

Evidently my mistakes have made me forever a lesser bushwalker than some year nine school kids in the pedantic, didactic
and most annoyingly tiresome school master's eyes. I do recall that the weather was H O T and my brain was cooked.
I am sorry to hear that the very helpful man who gave me some water and a ride in his vehicle to the camp ground has expired. This country needs more people like him.
I will go back and do this walk in the reverse order at some stage so that I can correct my errors and see different scenery going the other way.

Now I have worked out how to put people on IGNORE on this web site as well as the ski web site that is where EXPLORER shall remain .
I have my reasons and will not get into finger pointing and name calling or listing the reasons why.

[Xplora]

The gates were all left open. I did not touch any gates , open any gates or climb over any gates. aaaaaargh!

Evidently my mistakes have made me forever a lesser bushwalker than some year nine school kids in the school master's eyes. I do recall that the weather was H O T and my brain was cooked.
I am sorry to hear that the very helpful man who gave me some water and a ride in his vehicle to the camp ground has expired. This country needs more people like him.
I will go back and do this walk in the reverse order at some stage so that I can correct my errors and see different scenery going the other way.

Now I have worked out how to put people on IGNORE on this web site as well as the ski web site that is where EXPLORER shall remain .
I have my reasons and will not get into finger pointing and name calling or listing the reasons why.

I have only brought this up again because you provided advice contrary to the forum rules (#26) by knowingly posting directions that would encourage someone to trespass. I accept the mistake you made when you did the work but the excuses for the mistake are another thing. It was not hot when you did that walk. On the contrary it was quite mild as shown in the historic data below.