Hannels Spur to Mt Kosciuszko - 7 and 8th April 2018

[Zapruda]

After hearing about the recent track clearing I finally decided to give Hannels Spur a crack. And before they put a metal walkway to the top

I left work on Friday afternoon and arrived at the Geehi flats campground at around 7pm. I woke up at 6 and after a breakfast of donuts and coffee I packed up and headed out. I arrived at the start of the track at around 7:30am and started the climb.

It was definitely type 2 fun until about 300m before Moiras flat (not so flat) when it became type 1 fun with stunning views and a nice cleared track as you are coming out above the treeline.

The scrub was very thick in places but if you paid attention there was always a pink ribbon to guide you. If you can't handle thick scrub do not attempt this walk! I lost the track once but quickly found it again. You cant go too wrong, just head uphill... I don't think anyone should attempt this unless they know how to read a map and orientate with a compass.

The Parks employees and volunteers who cut the top section of the track are legends! It was clear and easy going apart from the steepness.

Once I got above the treeline I was in familiar territory and made it through Wilkinsons valley quickly. I arrived at the top of Mt Kosciuszko after about 6 and a 1/2 hours of walking.

From Mt K I decided to climb up toward Abbott peak and set up the tent near Byatts Camp where I had found some good water earlier in the day. I was treated to a great sunset and a warm and still night. Total elevation gain was about 2150m and 20km of distance covered. I was pretty happy to say the least.

I woke up early today and headed back down the spur reaching the car in about 3 hours.

I wont bore you all with too much detail but I took some rough notes at certain elevations.

450m – Easy going
550m - Steep and scrub
700m – Steep
815m – Thick scrub
850m – Scrub thins and track levels out
900m – Thick scrub
950m – Drop into nice fern gully
1100m – Steep
1150m - Scrub thick lots of pink tape
1400m – Cut track
1500m – Moiras flat
1650m – Steep cut path
1750m – Scrub thins a track levels out
1865m – Good water and waist high scrub uphill
Open walking through Wilkinsons valley.

Very boring album of the walk but it should give you an idea of the track - https://imgur.com/gallery/ROz42

Let me know if you have any questions.
Cheers

[kanangra]

Great work!

K.

[crollsurf]

Thanks Zapurda, loved the photos and hope you withheld a few for the "Where am I (Aussie)" comp!

It's good to see they didn't totally sanitise the walk, they have done a good job.

[wildwanderer]

Good stuff! Thanks for the report

[Zapruda]

Thanks Zapurda, loved the photos and hope you withheld a few for the "Where am I (Aussie)" comp!

It's good to see they didn't totally sanitise the walk, they have done a good job.

I didn’t even think of the game! Damn I shouldn’t have posted so many pics.

Yep agreed, I think it’s a great mix of scrub and track now.

[mikethepike]

I'm in a small party doing that walk in March so thanks a lot Zapruda for such a helpful report! I had hoped the whole track was cleared as we plan to go up and back in a day but with good fitness, an early start and provided not too much time is spent being bushed, it would seem to be possible. And yes we will take our torches! It would also be interesting to hear from people who have been up and down from Geehi Flats in a day.

[Zapruda]

Hi Mike,

I’m glad the report could be of some help.

I chose to camp but could have easily gone back down the same day. The descent only took 3 hours from Byatts if I recall correctly. I stayed the night at Byatts for the views.

I think March will be a great time to attempt it.

Good luck!

[mikethepike]

Thanks Zapruda. Yes,an out and back is now sounding very doable. I'll leave a short report on this thread once it's done. cheers, Mike

[rcaffin]

Hannels Spur track is 'OK'. It has certainly been cleared, although I suspect it will need another pass with chain saws in a year or two. Stuff is still coming down.

The upward direction is probably OK for footing, but the section going downhill from Moiras Flat to the saddle and gully at 1000 m is deadly. The track is covered with lots of bark and gum leaf. Slides are very easy, but you generally end up sitting on your bum, with a thump. Elsewhere is OK.

Cheers
Roger

[andrewa]

Just returned. It’s quite “relentless” in both directions, isn’t it?

Some challenging cairn finding up the top, but the route is otherwise well marked.

Coming down actually took longer than expected. Bryant’s to Moira’s was 30 mins, but then Moira’s to Dr Forbes took us 2hrs 45m (3hrs 45m up) albeit with sore joints. Very glad to arrive at Dr Forbes last night at 7pm.

A

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I did it during Easter 2019. It was relentless.

Never again!

:-0

I was glad to not go down it. We did a car shuttle and walked out to Dead Horse Gap. It already needs another big chain saw run over it properly the whole way to Byatt's camp . The track is passable but it is not the Bungalow spur standard of walking track.

[JohnR]

Went up and down Hannels Spur over the ANZAC long weekend.

The track is in very good condition and easy to follow up until around 500m past Byatt's Camp. From there route finding can be a bit difficult in cloudy conditions.

Thanks to those that have done all the clearing. They have done a great job to open up a challenging and enjoyable walk.

I hope any resulting increased traffic does not have an impact on the upper alpine vegetation beyond Byatt's.