Choosing between a couple of options for Labour day weekend

[lachlanf]

Hey guys,

I'm tossing up between a couple of options for the long weekend up in the high country; either the Three Craggy Peaks from Bushwalks in the Victorian Alps or the longer Feathertop circuit described in the same book (which takes in Bon Accord). The Feathertop walk is only a 2 day walk in the book, but I'd probably blow it out to 3 by also camping on Bon Accord spur allowing us to make a quick run out on the Monday.

I've done Feathertop before, so the Craggy Peaks is at least new, and probably a bit more remote, but I'm not super keen on the bush bashing up and scrambling up to Mount Koonika, especially if the weather forecast holds out and it's wet. The forecast may also stop us camping right on top of Speculation, which seems like the main reason to do the track to me . I also worry it's too much road walking.

Downside to the Feathertop walk is the razorback is exposed if it does turn out to being bad weather and while my girlfriend and I are not stressed our other hiking companion is a bit less well equipped and I don't have rain paints to loan him

Anyone got a point of view?

Also happy to hear other recommendations in the area. Would like to avoid too much bush bashing through shrub...

[north-north-west]

Agreed that the road walking in the Craggy Peaks walk is not the best - and you'll also be dodging more 4wders on a long weekend, which would make it worse. I didn't find the scrub an issue on the climb up Koonika, but other people who did it around the same time did. Feathertop does have the advantage of being on walking tracks and MVOs, but it will also be more crowded.
If you're set on the high country your mate will just have to suck up the bad weather if it eventuates.

There are other options, such as Howitt to Speculation with a sidetrip to Koonika (and even Cobbler, depending on ascent and descent routes). You can go up and/or down either Helicopter, Howitt or Stanleys Name Spurs, or even Queens Spur directly to Buggery - all of these are accessed from the Upper Howqua campsite. More options for lower routes or exiting early if the weather's even worse than expected.

[lachlanf]

Good tip - that looks like a good route, hadn't see that in the book. There's a good 32km option in there for a Howitt to Spec loop, which could be extended out to probably 45km by looping in Helicopter Spur..

Weather forecast is definitely going south... Will have to play it by ear about when we go over the Crosscut Saw - probably not a great place to be if there is lightning