Walks in mountains 2night/3 day victoria

[EPICEXPLORER]

Hi, I was going to do the SNS up to mt howitt and XCUT, but my family and I reasonless that we didn’t want to do a lot of bushbashing and walking through rivers and blackberries. The other option was the gar and Wer dug GPT hike, but a few people recommended not to do the Grampians in November. I’m now looking for a few more options for hikes, thanks.

[north-north-west]

Bogong circuit? There's a variation that minimses water crossings.

[Baeng72]

Hi, the half-dozen or so crossings of the Howqua in November are calf deep, and the blackberries, so far, have not been an issue on Queen Spur road (even less so walking beside Howqua). The Queen Spur road had more than a few logs over it, so that was a PITA last time....

A different place.. take a look at the Mt. Feathertop/Mt. Hotham/Bogong High Plains/Mt. Bogong area.

You can put together a bespoke multi-day hike as hard or easy as you fancy.

Mt. Bogong has hard walks to access, Staircase, Eskdale, T-Spur, and Granite Ridge (did I get that right PCV)?
You can join up to Bogong High Plains crossing the Big River at bottom of Granite Ridge and T-Spur.
Water at the huts, or take extra.

The High plains have lots of huts and view and all that. Probably more easy options than a half-day slog up a steep spur.

Mt Feathertop has some good access walks, some easy, some not so. Easiest is to walk across the Razorback from Mt. Hotham. Next I'd say is Bungalow Spur starting from Harrietville, then in no particular order of difficulty, are North West Spur (I havent' made it up yet), Bon Accord Spur (I've only been down, but imagine it's hard), and requires a long walk to Feathertop, as top is next to Mt. Hotham, and Diamantina Spur which is hard going down, I think going up is probably not a pleasurable experience. (There's Champion Spur, which deposits you, maybe still alive, halfway along the razorback).
There are huts on Feathertop, as well as some bush camps. Water is found, a spring is on way up Bungalow Spur, tank at Fed. Hut on Bungalow Spur and on North West Spur track.

From Mount Hotham you can go Mt. Feathertop (as mentioned), or the Bogong High plains down the pretty steep Swindlers Spur, past Derrick and DIbbins Hut, across Cobungra river and up a spur I can't remember past Basalt Temple and onto the High Plains, but you have to go back, unless you have a car shuttle. Basically this is the Falls to Hotham Alpine crossing in reverse, but you don't need to book campsites to do same walk.

There's also Weston Spur and Hut as another access way/hut on/off high plains which can be helpful making a loop.
Anyway, there are a lot of huts up that way, and lots of walks like the Fainters, and so much more that I'm ignorant of and others can inform you off if that seems like it's interesting.

[Baeng72]

Bogong circuit? There's a variation that minimses water crossings.

Is this Falls to Bogong loop? So, Falls, Duane Spur, T-Spur, Bogong, Granite Ridge Spur, BIg River firetrail or Gray Hills and back to Falls? Or change accordingly if starting from Mountain Creek?

[north-north-west]

Bogong circuit? There's a variation that minimses water crossings.

Is this Falls to Bogong loop? So, Falls, Duane Spur, T-Spur, Bogong, Granite Ridge Spur, BIg River firetrail or Gray Hills and back to Falls? Or change accordingly if starting from Mountain Creek?

From Falls or Mountain Creek. Use Timms FireTrail to avoid the river crossing if there's a chance it may be a problem.

[EPICEXPLORER]

Bogong circuit? There's a variation that minimses water crossings.

Isn’t that Victoria’s hardest hike? I also am doing a hike near falls in April 2025 (most probably) so maybe some stuff other places

[EPICEXPLORER]

I also still want to do mt howwit, wondering if there’s a way to connect it to the bluff in a 3 day loop

[Baeng72]

Bogong circuit? There's a variation that minimses water crossings.

Isn’t that Victoria’s hardest hike? I also am doing a hike near falls in April 2025 (most probably) so maybe some stuff other places

It can't be, at least the version I did from Watchbed creek, Duane Spur, T-Spur, Mt. Bogong, Quartz Ridge Spur, Big River Fire trail, back to Watchbed creek.
Simply because I completed it in 2 days, so can't be that hard. Not bragging, I suck, I found T-Spur hard, but have been told by denizens it's just a steady uphill.
If you start at Mountain Creek, you're chucking in a nice long slog up Mt. Bogong, but an extra day more walking.

[Baeng72]

I also still want to do mt howwit, wondering if there’s a way to connect it to the bluff in a 3 day loop

If you have 4WD or it's dry, drive along past Sheepyard Flats, up to 8 mile gap, then onto Refrigerator gap.
Climb up onto Bluff, along past Mt. Eadly Stoney, to Bluff Hutt, then along to Lovicks Hut, Picture Point, Mt. Magdala, Big Hill and Mount Howitt. Camps at Hellfire Creek (saddle between Mt. Magdala & Big Hill), Lovicks Hut, Bluff Hut, Gantner Hut). I've camped near the summit of Mt. Howitt, but wind picked up early morning and was quite blowy before dawn, so maybe not a good spot.

The return can be the way in, or if you want to walk along the Howqua, down Howitt Spur, might be blackberries in places along Howqua, so maybe stay up high.

If you want added difficulty, part at 8 mile flat, walk up 8-mile Spur to Refrigerator Gap, then continue as above, and on the way back, you can go down 16 mile track (I think) and the last half a dozen kms along the Howqua.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Granite Flat spur and the Quartz Ridge are not the same routes on Mt. Bogong. The Walk from Mt. Wills summit hut to Cleve Cole Hut on Mt. Bogong and back is a solid hike and the track
has been cleared by BTAC.

You can walk up the Bluff from 8 Mile flat to the Bluff summit . I have done it. The scramble up the Bluff to the summit is steep and involves crab crawling.
Then walk towards the Bluff hut and camp there. The next day walk to Mt. Magdala and camp near Hellfire creek .
Day three walk over Mt. Howitt and down the Howitt spur.
You will have to follow the Howqua feeder track downstream to meet up with your car. This could add a fourth day to the hike.
Ritchie's hut is a great spot to camp at just 2-3 hours away from 8 Mile Flat .

[Bill P]

Can't see a problem with Gariwerd (Grampians) in November. I wonder what the perceived problem is? The GPT watertanks with road access are reliable.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The Grampians in Nov. would be like a BBQ. The sun is hot in Nov. and the rocks beam that radiant heat right back at you . It would be IMHO less than enjoyable.
I won't say where I would hike in the Grampians but chances are it is not on the user pays cash cow trail
or whatever they are calling it this week.

[EPICEXPLORER]

Would GPT be that bad, the max temp says 23 degrees.

[Baeng72]

November can be hot, it can be cool.
I did an overnighter from Roses Gap, up onto Mt. Difficult range, looping through Long Point East and West Camp, past the then new GPT camp and sleeping at Mud Hut creek, and return next morning in November 21 and it was not hot, was pretty much perfect. There was water flowing near Long Point East, tank had water at Long Point West, and Mud Hut creek had a trickle. But was a La Niña year, so....

[scroggin]

I also still want to do mt howwit, wondering if there’s a way to connect it to the bluff in a 3 day loop

The obvious walk, which was in Tyrone T Thomas's old books, is to start at the Upper Howqua Camp area at the end of Bindaree Rd, walk to Bluff Hut Via Bluff Link Rd to camp. Climb The Bluff without packs. Next day following Bluff Track over Mount Lovick, which is worth leaving the track for for views south. Turn off at the AAWT, over Mt Magdala to Macalister Springs. On the last day walk back to the car, over Mt Howitt and down via Howitt Spur. Finding water at Bluff Hut shouldn't be a problem that time of year, but there's a lot walking on 4WD tracks, still a worthwhile walk.

[Camminata]

Would GPT be that bad, the max temp says 23 degrees.

I reckon at the end of the day check forecasts and pick your days to go , and start trying all these routes suggested over time, including sns spur up to xcut..etc..

sounds like your schedule is not flexible and limited to time frames /dates..?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

In Mid Nov. you should be able to drive up to The Howitt Plains car park from Licola ( not in a Lamborghini sports car ) . The Mac. Springs hut is an easy walk from there.Make that a base camp. Mt. Howitt , Mt. Magdala and Mt. Buggery are all day walks from Mac. Springs.
You can even watch the sun set from Mt. Howitt west peak and walk back to camp at Mac. Springs in the twilight with a head torch.

[Xplora]

The Walk from Mt. Wills summit hut to Cleve Cole Hut on Mt. Bogong and back is a solid hike and the track
has been cleared by BTAC.

Not sure what you mean by a solid hike. Once on the Long Spur (from Mulhauser spur junction) the track is a series of rolling hills and not overly difficult. It was cleared, after much insistence on your part, so you could have better winter access to Cleve Cole hut. It will probably need clearing again before you get around to doing that.

[Xplora]

Hi, I was going to do the SNS up to mt howitt and XCUT, but my family and I reasonless that we didn’t want to do a lot of bushbashing and walking through rivers and blackberries. The other option was the gar and Wer dug GPT hike, but a few people recommended not to do the Grampians in November. I’m now looking for a few more options for hikes, thanks.

Personally I find it difficult to give viable options without knowing more about the people. I don't want to assume the groups experience, ability or fitness and then give advice that would lead you into trouble. I could suggest you fill in a few blanks about the groups expectations (apart from no bushbashing etc). How far per day are they comfortable doing when there are some hills to climb? Do you have suitable gear for mountains? Do you need marked tracks or are happy with some navigation? What sort of vehicle do you have? and I could go on but if you get where I am going then I am sure the members here will be able to help you better with a bit more background info.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

There was not enough snow by the time my schedule opened up in early August 2023 for a Mt. Bogong - Long Spur trip.
This year looks much better.I was up there over Easter and
that route is still good.
This year
I have not invested $$$$ in VIC. resort skiing for one thing.I will review the situation in September once I return from skiing in
N.Z.
I would say many bushwalkers have since the BTAC working bee in Dec. 2022, enjoyed the clearer tracks on Long Spur and Mulhauser spur.

[Xplora]

There was not enough snow by the time my schedule opened up in early August 2023 for a Mt. Bogong - Long Spur trip.
This year looks much better.I was up there over Easter and
that route is still good.
This year
I have not invested $$$$ in VIC. resort skiing for one thing.I will review the situation in September once I return from skiing in
N.Z.
I would say many bushwalkers have since the BTAC working bee in Dec. 2022, enjoyed the clearer tracks on Long Spur and Mulhauser spur.

You have been procrastinating about this winter access for at least 7 years to my knowledge and no doubt many have benefited from the work done on the track. I know there has been good snow on it since 2017. My point was about your insistence to get it cleared for your winter access and you have not used it for that purpose. I know first hand the many people you petitioned to get it cleared and I applaud your commitment and involvement but you at least owe it to the rest of the team to pony up and try a winter assent that way. It was a consider effort by many. Either that or you should stop talking about it (especially telling others how good the winter access is) until you have.

[Camminata]

Cant count the covid years to to be fair IMO we were all in jail. : )

[Xplora]

Cant count the covid years to to be fair IMO we were all in jail. : )

True enough but not all. I skied Mt Wills during COVID lockdown. Some regionals were not lockdown when Melbourne was also. What a great term though. The COVID years. Something to tell the grandchildren. Not the same as the depression or WW1 or 2 but relevant to present times.

[Camminata]

Cant count the covid years to to be fair IMO we were all in jail. : )

True enough but not all. I skied Mt Wills during COVID lockdown. Some regionals were not lockdown when Melbourne was also. What a great term though. The COVID years. Something to tell the grandchildren. Not the same as the depression or WW1 or 2 but relevant to present times.

I said to my housemate at the time living in a awesome Art Deco apartment in Nth Carlton the similar or same thing "something to look back on and tell the grandchildren' We all adapted in different ways and slowed down during this period I didn't mind it.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

A winter ascent. I will never get the winter assent of EXPLORER.

[highercountry]

I will never get the winter assent of EXPLORER.

Don't worry PVC.
I find his nitpicking a little tiresome too.

[north-north-west]

I will never get the winter assent of EXPLORER.

Don't worry PVC.
I find his nitpicking a little tiresome too.

I don't.

[Baeng72]

Now, now. We should unite against our common enemy.
Me!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I help get tracks cleared and I can spell. Make of it what you will !

[Camminata]

We all procrastinate we are only human there is no timeframe "rulebook" on these things.