Stanley Name Spur condition

[Drew]

I'm planning to do the Viking Circuit over 4 days from Sunday, starting from Upper Howqua, up Stanley Name Spur and then clockwise, finishing with a descent down Howitt Spur.

I've just read some comments from the last couple of years about Stanley having become quite overgrown. Just wondering if anyone has recent experience of it? Not sure I'm in the mood for a lot of scrub-bashing so I might reconsider the route if it's become nasty.

Thanks.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Why Not start from Lake Cobbler or the Howitt Plains Car park?

[Drew]

Why Not start from Lake Cobbler or the Howitt Plains Car park?

Because a start from Lake Cobbler means a long road walk to get to/from Speculation. And I'm not sure about getting my 2WD to Cobbler (only been there once, and we walked up Muesli Spur that time, then Speculation Rd to Spec, then a nightmare descent down an extremely overgrown King Spur).

And not Howitt Plains because I hate that drive, especially solo. That's partly why I got the idea in my head to do the circuit from Upper Howqua - more interesting route, less driving.

I didn't leave this morning as I'd planned - was feeling a bit off yesterday and didn't think this was a walk to do solo if I was coming down with something. Feeling better today so I think I'll go tomorrow morning and take my chance on SNS. One other option that I hadn't thought of until now was to use Howitt Spur for both the ascent and descent. I'd assumed that it would be a much longer route to get to Speculation than SNS, but it actually looks like it's about the same distance and elevation gain/loss. Less variation in the walk of course but maybe worth it to save scrub bashing.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The Approach from Lake Buffalo & Abbeyard to the West Buffalo road where it meets the 4 x 4 standard Harry Sheppard track
gets you quite close to Barry Saddle on the AAWT. From there the Viking, Viking saddle and Viking South are within one day on foot.
I have not done this route but it looks feasible.

[Baeng72]

I'd assumed that it would be a much longer route to get to Speculation than SNS, but it actually looks like it's about the same distance and elevation gain/loss. Less variation in the walk of course but maybe worth it to save scrub bashing.

I think it's about 12km from Upper Howqua to Crosscut via SNS and about the same to the intersection of Howitt Spur/Crosscut/Ganter Hut track via Howit Spur/West Peak. And there's only a KM between the to end points.
I think Howitt Spur is easier, it's a long grind, but clear track (or was clear) and no scrambling.
The best thing about SNS is the campsite and access to King River just before the last KM of scrambly steep bit. If you start later, you can get to SNS campsite, rest up, and then first thing in the morning, load up on water, scramble up to Crosscut and off to Mt. Spec. If you go up Howitt Spur, probably camp and get water at Gantner Hut and then head in anti clockwise maybe....??

I've driven to Lake Cobbler (too) many times in a 2WD, last time in June. If you have a bit of clearance and don't go screaming over the rocks, it's fine.
The 12km walk to Camp Creek is pretty cruisey, after the first 4km anyway. But I've never done it with the 4WD track open, so might be more annoying, dusty if those convoys of 4WDs pass by?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Starting from the Circuit road on Mt. Stirling and climbing Muesli spur from the King Basin road/ Spec. road intersection gets
you reasonably close to Camp Creek at Mt. Speculation.That route is all 2 WD standard.

[Baeng72]

Muelsi Spur, no! A real bushwalker would go up King Spur.....
I think I'd rather do Queen Spur track with dead trees than Muesli Spur when I've got decent sized pack on.

[Camminata]

Hopefully fellow member "Guybie" on the below topic (Howitt vs Grampians) will chime in and can answer this question.

[Dutch bush girl]

Hi,

I just walked it today, so definitely a recent experience! I walked it from the crosscut saw to the queen spur, and found it a pretty harsh though descent. There were lots of down trees on the track, which made it hard to follow the track. I think I used my gps maybe 5 times to get me back on the track again. The whole track did take me +- 2 hours. Unsure aboiut water on the track (could not easily see the track to the water, so decided to walk further). Although there was definitely a bit of bushbashing, it was not too high (did not get smashed in my face).

If you have any questions, let me know!

[Willwillywilliams]

Hey mate, I walked this exact route over the long weekend the other week.
Stanley name spur is fine to walk and you'll have no troubles navigating through it.
The hike up from the Wonagatta River via Zeka Spur is the more challenging section to navigate. Once you leave Zeka Spur it can be a bit of a guessing game of following the pad with the least resistance to overgrown vegetation. Further up the spur it gets fairly grown and slow going but not for too much distance before easing up.
Have fun!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Muesli spur is cleared every spring by one of the Private secondary schools that drag their pupils up and down those hills in that region.
It is doable with a heavy overnight pack going uphill.
Queen spur road past the SNS junction
is no longer included on the SV maps and the Rooftops Map person has given up on mapping that route.
AFAIK The GGS Timbertop school no
longer uses that route for trekking either.

[Baeng72]

So, don't need bow-saw and machete? I might take a stroll up there one of these weekends...

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I walked up Muesli spur with a full pack in Dec. 2023.
I have never walked up or down Queen spur or King spur so I need to do that before I get too old and soft !

[Baeng72]

I walked up Muesli spur with a full pack in Dec. 2023.
I have never walked up or down Queen spur or King spur so I need to do that before I get too old and soft !

Muesli Spur seems like type 2 fun with a full pack. I can't see it being unmanageable having gone down it last summer with a day pack.
King Spur is probably not that bad, if you keep your eye out for the route up.
I think I have a little PTSD about that one, as the route I took makes me think 'no! no way!' with a decent pack.
Going down seems ill-advised, but I've read an account of someone doing so with a full pack. http://trailsandtracks.blogspot.com/201 ... ation.html
As for Queen Spur, I want to give that crack too. But need to bash through as the track fairies haven't visited past the intersection with Mt. Thorn/SNS Spur track.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Take a GPS with the actual route marked on the software map for any walking along the old disused bench cut logging track which was once Queen spur road. If it is badly overgrown and littered with fallen logs from the Howqua River to SNS Junction then it will be type 4 fun the whole way to Queen spur and the Cross Cut saw.
Don't do it when it is a hot day!
https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/trip- ... ion.94195/

[Drew]

Thanks for the replies. I ended up taking Howitt Spur to begin and end the circuit. My timing wasn't great as the area was overrun with private school kids. I spoke to some teachers/leaders about SNS and it sounds like Timbertop regularly use that spur, but they generally access it from Circuit Rd, walking the length of SNS rather than going up the Howqua to Queens Spur Rd. That would explain why the Queens Spur Rd bit might be a bit overgrown. Anyway, I got plenty of rough stuff on my walk! I'll post some comments in this Viking thread: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=41052

[Baeng72]

Some legends have been up Queen Spur rd to SNS turnoff. Mostly clear. After that Queen Spur rd is a lot of logs, scratchy stuff and type 3 fun. Need to drive a dozer along it. Queen Spur climb up to Mt Buggery is of a piece with King Spur or SNS. But I’m so tired, it would have been hard if it was a nice track. Anybody know if there’s water flowing on Mt Howitt? Need to pick some up tomorrow before heading down. The king river branches and other stream were flowing well, so not out of question.

[Camminata]

Some legends have been up Queen Spur rd to SNS turnoff. Mostly clear. After that Queen Spur rd is a lot of logs, scratchy stuff and type 3 fun. Need to drive a dozer along it. Queen Spur climb up to Mt Buggery is of a piece with King Spur or SNS. But I’m so tired, it would have been hard if it was a nice track. Anybody know if there’s water flowing on Mt Howitt? Need to pick some up tomorrow before heading down. The king river branches and other stream were flowing well, so not out of question.

Ill get the popcorn out for this one

[paidal_chalne_vala]

BAENG72: Have you gone up Queen's spur?. If you have then I am fascinated and almost ready to salute you !
The video on You Tube will be most interesting.

[Baeng72]

The video will be a lot of me saying ‘I hope this is the last bluff, because I don’t want another that is too hard and I don’t want to down climb’ or some variation of that grovelling. In the end, the scrambling wasn’t that bad, but on a hot day when your a bit frazzled. If only I’d listened to pcv and not gone on a hot day.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I am impressed . You have upped the ante. I will have to grovel up King Spur and Queen spur or be labelled too sane, too sensible or just plain soft , old and slow !!

[Camminata]

The video will be a lot of me saying ‘I hope this is the last bluff, because I don’t want another that is too hard and I don’t want to down climb’ or some variation of that grovelling. In the end, the scrambling wasn’t that bad, but on a hot day when your a bit frazzled. If only I’d listened to pcv and not gone on a hot day.

Redeemed yourself from the "missed adventures'

[Baeng72]

The video will be a lot of me saying ‘I hope this is the last bluff, because I don’t want another that is too hard and I don’t want to down climb’ or some variation of that grovelling. In the end, the scrambling wasn’t that bad, but on a hot day when your a bit frazzled. If only I’d listened to pcv and not gone on a hot day.

Redeemed yourself from the "missed adventures'

It's boom or bust with me, mostly bust.
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=41940

[Camminata]

Great video and top effort very enjoyable report!

[Avatar]

Awesome thread. Well done Baeng and Drew.