High Country Huts Tour Trip Report

A High Country Huts Tour was on again for the Melbourne Cup weekend. Deciding to do this trip backwards to previous trips just to make things a bit different and different it was. We had our major track closures, as Dargo High Plains rd was closed due to roadworks and we also had rain and snow which changed a lot of tracks as well.

We had a total of 10 vehicles all meeting at Camp Flat Buckland Valley, 4 vehicles went up on the Friday night and 6 vehicles travelled up Saturday morning. I caught up with family on the Friday night making it a fairly late night getting to bed at 2.20am.

Saturday

In the morning we awoke having breakfast then the others came through the river into Camp Flat,we had a quick briefing on the change to the trip and we were ready to go. We headed off at 9.00am heading out of camp on the Camp Flat Track through the river and onto Buckland Valley rd,going for about 500m we turned right onto Scotchmans Creek Track,a very easy 2wd Track,until you reach the end and we engaged Low Range,then turned left onto Buffalo Range Track stopping at Buffalo Range Hill at 1352m. Just down the track we had a break on a fairly flat area to fit us all in. We headed off again then turning right down Schultz Track,this track is just straight down the whole way with only one incline. At the bottom we got pulled up by the Fisheries just asking where we were going,they also were looking for a arsonist that maybe hanging around. Then through a couple of river crossings and right onto East Buffalo rd for a short bit then a left onto West Buffalo rd,we went down a little to a camp and stopped for lunch. We continued along this track,it’s easy at the start then the track starts to climb,then it changes into Harry Shepherds Track climbing up to the Helipad,then left onto East Riley Track and we stopped at Riley Hut for a look,rebuilt in 2002 after it was burnt down. Then it started to rain not to heavy but enough to make the tracks slippery,then we turned onto Humfrey Track were we had river crossings and steep sections,really great track to drive. At the end of Humfrey Track we decided that we weren’t going to make it to Eaglevale Camping area so we headed for Wonnangatta Valley instead. So we got onto Wonnangatta Track taking the lower track looking for a camp,then it started to rain pretty hard,so Paul led the way to a camp In Wonnangatta Valley just past the old Homestead and the Orchard. We set up camp in the rain and we headed for Andrew’s awning for a beer or two,the rain eased up a little so we lit the fire and had a wet night around the fire. Some took off to bed that night earlier than others being so wet. At 11.30pm my horn in the Toyota just went off by itself,I jumped up out of bed,when I got to the Bullbar it stopped so I went back to bed and it went off again,so I ran back to the Bullbar again and it stopped again,I moved to go back to bed and it went off again so I ran to the drivers door opened the bonnet and just pulled out the wires to the horn. Then off to bed for a good night sleep.

Sunday

In the morning we woke and it was still raining,I was telling everyone the story on my horn going off all by itself and we said it was the ghost of Jim Barclay the manager of Wonnangatta Station who was murdered late 1917,sitting in the front seat pushing on the horn. We had breakfast and packed up camp,then we decided to head towards Mansfield way instead instead of Dargo due to the weather and the tracks would have been steep and slippery. So we had a look around Wonnangatta Station and the Cemetery. Then we headed up and out of the Valley and onto Wonnangatta Track,this track is the easy track for access into the Wonnangatta Valley. Then back onto Harry Shepherds Track then it changes to West Buffalo rd then left onto East Buffalo rd,we then got to Abbeyard and turned left up Abbeyard Lake Cobbler Track as we turned in the sign said Dry Weather rd only,as I knew it was going to be slippery at the start because it’s red clay the track was really good ,heaps of traction,we reached the Helipad and we stopped for lunch for about 30mins. Heading off again fairly steep section from the Helipad the track is up and down to the last section which is very steep with rock steps. Getting down to the bottom onto Cobbler rd taking us around to Lake Cobbler and The Hut,as we arrived it started to rain again so we ran to the Hut for cover,then it stopped and we were able to get our photos of the Hut and the Lake. Off again around the Lake and onto Cobbler Lake Track over the Staircase which was fairly rough then into King Hut and the Campsite,we set up camp,lit the fire and had a really good night with a lot of Singing then off to bed.

Monday

In the morning we woke to a cold but sunny morning,with the fire going some of us cooked up breakfast,bacon and eggs,omelette good way to start the day. We packed up camp and headed off at 9.00am heading along King Basin Road,through the river crossings then the track become very slippery with the amount of traffic it had over it on the weekend,made things very interesting,having to take it very slow and easy we continued along till we got to the Circuit rd and turned right,then at the top turned onto Razorback Track up to the Razorback Hut,which was well occupied by a Horse Trail riders club. We had a look around before getting back onto the Circuit rd down to Mt Stirling and Telephone Box Junction,taking a hard left still on the Circuit rd to Howqua Gap then a look at Howqau Gap Hut,we wanted to take Clear Hills Track over Mt Stirling Summit but the track was closed until 30 November so we continued along Circuit rd,until we got to Monument Track,turning left we headed up,getting up about halfway the Police were coming down the other way and informed us that they were looking for a missing bush walker and gave me information on him. We continued up to Clear Hills Track and turned right towards Craig’s Hut. We got there and had a good look around. We then headed back down Clear Hills Track.left onto Monument Track down to the Circuit rd and then straight across and down Bindaree rd,we stopped at Bindaree Falls for a look with a short 10 minute walk up to the falls,you can stand underneath the falls as well. We had lunch here and had more Police pull up and ask questions,what Huts’s we have been to and where we are headed,seeing if we have seen the missing bush walker. Off again down Bindaree rd through the river crossings and stopped at Bindaree Hut,staying here for about 15mins we headed along 16 Mile Jeep Track,was easy at first then you pass Pikes Flat and through the river crossing,then the track just climbs straight up,really good climb heaps of traction could be slippery in the wet. This takes you to Bluff Link Track then we turned left up Bluff Track,stopping at Bluff Hut for a look. We continued along Bluff Track through the Snow gums seeing bits of snow up on the near mountains,we got to Lovicks Hut for a look,we continued along Bluff Track towards Picture Point,this section of Track was really rough but has been graded,still rough but not as bad with heaps of rocks to climb over. We made it to Picture Point at 1585m and it started to rain again so we set up camp and got the fire going ,as it got really cold,then at about 5.00pm it started snowing,with the snow flakes coming through the snow gums was pretty impressive. Standing around the fire for most of the night,we all had a early night due to the cold.

Tuesday

In the morning we woke to a blanket of snow over the whole camp,the mountains covered in fog with the sun trying to shine through,it was cold but an amazing scene,we took as many photos as we could. I lit the fire to keep us warm. We had breakfast,trying to pack up very slowly as the ice was stuck to the awnings and awning walls. Some vehicles started and some didn’t due to diesel freeze in their fuel lines,we pushed the ones that didn’t start into the sun to thaw out. By 10.00am we managed to get going with Andrew and Chris’s vehicles playing up still stopping and starting. We continued along Bluff Track and with the snow covering everything made the drive picturesque. We made it to King Billy at 1690m,we waited there for a while,waiting for Paul,Chris and Dale to turn up as Chris still had problems stalling. We then got on our way down Brocks rd heading towards Sheepyard Flat,I decided to go and have a look at Upper Jamieson Hut so we turned left down Upper Jamieson Track through the river crossing ,where we had a lot of SES workers looking for the bush walker, we had a quick look around,then back through the river up to Brocks rd back into 2wd all the way to Sheepyard Flat. At Sheepyard we aired up and everyone headed for home. I stayed for a while,had lunch and sat by the river having a rest before I headed for home myself.