I started a few hundred metres upstream crossing the river and following a clear(ish) track on the other side for approx 200m. The pic below of the sawn logs was my starting point and it just seemed like the least steep part of the spur. I was pleasantly surprised to find the initial going much better than anticipated. Lower down the vegetation was probably medium to light thickness and I could kind of make a path between the shrubs quite easily. It was nothing like the vegetation on and around the slopes of Bogong! Naturally it was steep and there were pockets of thick vegetation requiring some grunt work. It was a relief to top out on the first knoll at spot height 844m. From here I knew I just had to follow the ridge line east for several k's. There was a pad for most of the ridge line making travel a little easier as I pushed through with my knees. Given the pad followed the crest of the ridge consistently, I would have to say the track seemed more man-made than animal!?! (Anyone know?) (Although there was plenty of evidence of deer activity). The ridgeline felt isolated and remote and I guess that is much of the attraction of off-track walking. I caught occasional glimpses of the the Buller summit and it wasn't getting any closer! Navigation was ok, following the ridgeline and checking the phone topo occasionally for reassurance was the routine, making sure the vegetation falls away on both sides. (I was happy not to be navigating down the spur). Swinging north and the ridge became steeper and I hit a lot of re-growth along here, slowing progress. I did see the occasional evidence of saplings having been cut so someone did some pruning here years ago.
Then I left the treeline and hit the rocks. There were perhaps 7-8 bands or clumps of rocky ridge to climb over. This is similar topography to so many other mountains in the high plains. The poles went away as it became a hands on job and required 100% concentration. There were a couple of nervous moments where a little bouldering is required. It reminded me a little of Helicopter Spur but has sharper rock, is more exposed, narrower, steeper and longer!
After 4 hours I staggered up to greet the Trig marker that marks the top of Little Buller - what a view! It took me another hour to trudge up to the summit of Buller from here making it 5 hours from the river. The plan was to walk back down Four Mile but it was late in the day and I had run out of water and fatigue had kicked in. After descending to the village and filling up on icy cold drinks the motivation for a climb back up the mount for a descent down Four Mile had evaporated and I arranged for a lift home down the bitumen. I tend to be a fastish walker, carry a light pack with only the essentials and tend not to stop for long on route so I guess am constantly pushing on so perhaps set aside 6+ hours for a more enjoyable experience. I use a Suunto watch which tends to exaggerate distance so I think the 12.3Km would be more like 11.5Km - 11.8Km in total. I carried 2L of water and was lucky it wasn't a hot day. A tough but really rewarding day walk. Happy New Year to all and happy hiking in 2025!
- Topo map of route up Six Mile Spur
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- starting point from Howqua River.
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- Looking up to the summit from about the half way point.
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- View looking 'down' the spur
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- View looking south from Little Buller
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- Mt Buller Summit
- IMG_8931.jpg (133.76 KiB) Viewed 449 times
