Spicers the steep route

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Spicers the steep route

Postby Ranger-Jules 1 » Wed 11 Jun, 2014 4:23 pm

We have just completed the Spicers to Teviot walk, our 20 year anniversary. One son with us was only 8 when we first took him 20 years ago.
We always do it the long way, across Spicers from off the Main road. We have avoided doing this via the steep route via governors chair!
Any clues as to just how steep and slippery this is? I Have heard tales of woe and of death shoots etc.
Still would like to give it a go and save a couple of hours. In saying this, we really do enjoy the longer route, as the views and scenery are spectacular and the walk very very enjoyable in any case. Just wondering if it is worth doing it the shorter way.
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Re: Spicers the steep route

Postby tomh » Wed 11 Jun, 2014 8:37 pm

Well worth it. Great airy views.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mika_kumpulainen/4715730298
If you have done Spicers to Teviot you should be ok - there are steep slopes to contour across but only what you would expect on the Main Range - just proceed carefully and stay on track.
Starting from Governor's Chair carpark take the short walk to the lookout then continue on towards the peak keeping near the top of the cliffline which is on your left. There is a track. More description here
http://www.southee.com/Bushwalking/Ch14-MainRange.html#label019 and scroll down to Spicers Peak, North-East Ridge
Scramble through a two-meter cliffline on the way up
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mika_kumpulainen/7666913090 (this is not the cliffline, but near)
As you approach the eastern summit cliffline base contour right
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchingbushwalker/2652094372
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mika_kumpulainen/4715733004
climb over the boulder blocking the path
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mika_kumpulainen/4715728778 (you can drop below the boulder to get around it but it is steep and full of weed)
and go up a steep gully through the cliffline.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/21625419@N06/3018650535
AT the top of the gully go left a short distance to the peak lookout.
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Re: Spicers the steep route

Postby gbagua » Fri 13 Jun, 2014 2:47 pm

Ranger-Jules 1 wrote:We have just completed the Spicers to Teviot walk, our 20 year anniversary. One son with us was only 8 when we first took him 20 years ago.
We always do it the long way, across Spicers from off the Main road. We have avoided doing this via the steep route via governors chair!
Any clues as to just how steep and slippery this is? I Have heard tales of woe and of death shoots etc.


You should be OK (a bit similar to Mt Barney's top part of the SE Ridge but without the feeling of being in middle-sized mountain, I hope this comparison helps a bit...a bit silly I know). I think the people who died in there is because of attempting a direct route on the face side (sorry not sure about its exact direction):

Image
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Re: Spicers the steep route

Postby Nungulba » Mon 18 Aug, 2014 8:23 pm

Gawd!!! If you get this far (see previous photo) I reckon you've come TOO far. Last time I did Spicer's Peak was about 40+ years ago. At night! We started from Spicer's Gap and walked up the approach ridge to a point where it seemed easier to contour around to the right. Although 'steep and slippery' the climb was managed without much drama.
We sidled into the saddle a few hundred metres back from the peak itself. Camped in the saddle (if my memory is reliable) and continued south the next day.
That was the last time I did the Main Range traverse, it was a big deal in those days, I would expect that the western approach is still trafficable (and accessible - in these legalistic times in which we live!), and would be easier if you are catching the bus from Brisbane through Cunningham's Gap to avoid a long car shuffle? (We hitch-hiked from Teviot Gap - but, of course, that is a bit risky nowadays).
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