2016 October - day trip
Climb Mt Bogong in snow
Vic, Australia
Up The Staircase Spur
Down Eskdale Spur
Mt Bogong
Mt Bogong
1986 meters
highest mountain in Victoria
Mountain Creek Canpground is 585 meters
above sea level, hence if you start the climb
from the campground, it is about 1400 meters
in elevation to the summit.
Our group
2 of us:
- Martin Sass(?) ... Marty is the preferred name.
- Paul (me)
Prolog
The recent heavy rain made a misery
for the residents of Victoria.
But it is good news for MS and I,
because it dumped an unprecedented amount
of snow in the Victorian Alpine regions.
And so today, we go to Mt Bogong
to check out the snow.
Both of us had climbed the mountain
a few times already, but a walk in the snow
is always an exhilarating experience,
and worth the effort to come here
to climb it again.
(MS is from Melbourne.
I'm from Sydney ...
A looong drive for both of us.)
Before the climb, MS asked
whether snowshoes are required.
I said "No" as it is already mid-spring, not winter.
Well, it turns out at some places the snow
is up to knee deep. Without snowshoes,
at some sections, the climb is a struggle.
But we make it to the summit
without much hassle 😊
Previous Mt Bogong climbs
Photos & trip reports of my previous 2 climbs:
- 2011-03
Mt Bogong & West Peak
Up and down The Staircase Spur
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/bogong-vic-australia-west-peak.html
- 2006-01
Plain vanila climb of Mt Bogong
Up and down The Staircase Spur
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/bogong-vic-australia.html
Today, MS and I will go up The Staircase Spur.
But coming down will be along Eskdale Spur.
Map
Survey and Mapping Victoria issued
a series of maps called "Outdoor leisure Map".
They are very useful for hikers,
full of interesting information.
The one for the Mt Bogong area is the 1:50,000
scaled map called "Bogong Alpine Area".
Below is the relevant part
of the 1:50,000 scaled map.
- 2 small blue dots near upper left corner,
left to right:
1 Mountain Creek Campground
2 Start of our walk
GPS tracklog file & Route
The GPX tracklog file of our walk
can be downloaded from:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B877-h5SCJaSYU9BNTdrNHJFVFk/view?usp=sharing
Below is our tracklog in brown colour.
- 4 small blue dots, left to right:
1 Mountain Creek Campground
2 Start of our walk
3 Bivouac Hut
4 Michell Hut
- 2 red arrows, left to right:
1 Little Bogong
2 Mount Bogong
Summary of our route:
- Start at a small parking area (for 2 or 3 cars)
700 meters east of Mountain Creek Campground.
- Walk along firetrail by the side of Mountain Creek.
- Up The Staircase Spur track.
- Pass Bivouac Hut.
- Pass Castor & Pollux Outcrops.
- Pass Memorial Cairn.
- At Mt Bogong summit for lunch.
- Descend via Eskdale Spur track.
- Pass Michell Hut.
- Down to Mountain Creek.
- Along Mountain Creek back to the car.
Timeline & Distance
Park MS' car at 0.7 km east of
Mountain Creek Campground.
08:01 0.0 km Start walking
08:22 1.4 km At start of
The Staircase Spur walking track
08:24 1.4 km Start walking up
The Staircase walking track
08:58 2.7 km Stop to take off a layer of clothes
Take off a layer of clothes
09:06 2.7 km Resume walking
10:22 4.7 km At Bivouac Hut
Morning Tea
10:42 4.8 km Resume walking
11:59 6.8 km At Castor & Pollux Outcrops
Explore around
12:03 6.9 km Resume walking
12:38 7.5 km At Mt Bogong summit
Lunch & explore around
13:40 7.8 km Leave summit
13:54 8.3 km At sign marking the start of
Eskdale Spur trail
14:00 8.3 km Start descending down
Eskdale Spur trail
14:59 9.9 km At Michell Hut
Afternoon Tea
15:20 10.0 km Resume walking
16:16 12.3 km At bottom of Eskdale Spur trail
17:35 16.8 km At start of
The Staircase Spur walking track
17:53 18.2 km End at MS' car
============================================
Total: 9 hrs 52 mins
18.2 km Distance is from Google Earth
21.2 km Distance is from Garmin GPS
Weather
The weather is as forecasted:
- Cloudy in the morning
- After Bivouac Hut,
half of the clouds are burnt off.
- At Mt Bogong summit,
perfect deep blue sky with hardly any wind.
Pictures:
Mountain Creek Campground
Mountain Creek Campground is located
by the side of Mountain Creek Road.
Near the town of Tawonga,
from Kiewa Valley Highway to here is about
10.5 km on the sealed Mountain Creek Road.
1) I camped here the previous night.
- For many people, this is the starting point
of their hike to climb Mt Bogong.
- As MS has a 4-wheel-drive car,
he is able to drive us about 700 meters
east of this camping area;
and we start our walk from there ...
See photo #2.
Starting point of our hike
2) Start of our hike ... 700 meters east of
Mountain Creek Campground.
- It has a small parking area by the side of
the firetrail for about 2 or 3 cars.
- And a metal box with a register book inside
for logging one's walk.
Firetrail along Mountain Creek
The initial part of the walk is on a firetrail
along the south bank of Mountain Creek.
The terrain is quite flat,
and the firetrail crosses a few side creeks ...
3) ... This one for example !
- The large amount of water is due to
melting snow.
- Fortunately there are footbridges over the creeks,
so our shoes won't get wet.
- This pic is taken from such a footbridge ...
You can see the firetrail crossing the creek
at the centre of the pic.
Junction - The Staircase Spur trail
4) We reach this junction about 2.1 km from
Mountain Creek Campground.
- The firetrail keeps going east.
- But here we turn right, south-ish,
into The Staircase Spur trail.
The Staircase Spur trail to Bivouac Hut
5) Typical track condition up The Staircase Spur ...
Quite good.
- Lower pic: Paul
Photo by MS
6) There must have been a powerful weather
event recently to snapped this tree in half.
Bivouac Hut
7) We come to Bivouac Hut.
- White stuff in front of the hut:
Snow not yet melted
8) Inside Bivouac Hut.
- Only one room inside
9) Plants around Bivouac Hut.
- Does anyone know the name of this plant
on the ground ?
The Staircase Spur trail to Memorial Cairn
10) On The Staircase Spur trail.
- The higher we go, the more snow on the ground.
- Lower pic: MS taking photos
11) Beautiful scenery from edge of the treeline.
- Yellow arrows: Our route to here ... roughly
- Dead trees:
Due to a devastating bushfire some years ago
- Green valley: Kiewa Valley
- Bivouac Hut can't be seen from here.
It is well behind the hill with the dead trees.
12) Further up The Staircase Spur trail,
we get a glimpse of Mt Bogong summit.
- Left arrow: Mt Bogong summit ... directly south
- Right arrow:
West Peak ... south-west-ish
In 2011-03, I climbed Mt Bogong & West Peak
... photos and trip report are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/bogong-vic-australia-west-peak.html
13) View from north to north-east.
- Yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ... In the afternoon,
our return route will be along top of the spur.
- Red dot:
Michell Hut on Eskdale Spur ...
Refer to photos #53 and #54.
14) Further up the slope ...
and looking towards north-east.
- Yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ... In the afternoon,
our return route is along top of the spur.
- Red dot:
Michell Hut on Eskdale Spur ...
Refer to photos #53 and #54.
15) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
Climbing further up the slope,
we can see Mt Bogong clearly now.
- Red arrow near upper-right corner:
Mt Bogong summit
- Small red dot: Memorial Cairn ... Photo #22
- 2 upward pointing yellow arrows on the right:
Our route to Mt Bogong summit
- The other 2 yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ... In the afternoon,
our return route will be along top of the spur.
- Michell Hut on Eskdale Spur:
Just outside the left edge and
just miss out to be in this pic
The snow becomes deeper the further up we go.
We are half-regretting we don't have
snowshoes with us.
16) In some places, like in the lower pic,
the snow is knee deep.
- Fortunately both of us are wearing gaiters
which keep the snow at bay.
17) This view is centred towards west.
- Red arrow on the left edge:
Mt Bogong summit ... towards south
- Red arrow in the middle:
Little Bogong ... towards west
- Red oval: Pollux Outcrop
- Small red circle:
Me ... going to investigate Pollux Outcrop
- Large red circle on the right: Castor Outcrop
- View to Mountain Creek Campground:
Blocked by Castor Outcrop
- Green valley to the right of Little Bogong:
Kiewa Valley
Walking a little higher up the slope ...
18) This view is centred towards north-west.
- Red arrow: Little Bogong ... towards west
- Red dot:
Mountain Creek Campground, ... north-west
- 2 red ovals, left to right:
Pollux Outcrop and Castor Outcrop ...
See previous pic.
- Yellow arrow in middle of the pic:
Our route along Mountain Creek
in the early morning
- Yellow arrows on the right:
Our route along The Staircase Spur ...
towards north-ish
- Green valley to the right of Little Bogong:
Kiewa Valley.
19) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Yellow oval: (North-ish)
You can just make out our track on the snow
along The Staircase Spur.
- Yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ...
Our return route in the afternoon will be
along the top of the spur.
- Red dot:
Michell Hut on Eskdale Spur ...
north-north-east ... Photos #53 and #54.
20) Higher up the slope again
(from west to north-north-east).
- This view is photos #18 and #19 joined together.
- The Staircase Spur dominates the centre
of the pic.
- Doorway Creek flows on the left (west) side
of The Staircase Spur.
21) Mt Bogong summit ... the round mountain top.
- Direction we are heading is the snow pole.
Keep going in that direction to the rocky tip.
The Memorial Cairn is just over the tip.
Memorial Cairn
22) Arrive at the Memorial Cairn.
- The words are:
Sacred to the memory
- of -
Georgine Gadsden
Edward Neave Welch
John J. McRae
Who perished here during a blizzard
About August 2nd 1943.
Looking back at
The Staircase & Eskdale Spurs
23) Compared to photo #19, we are higher here.
Otherwise, the views in both pics are similar.
- Smaller red Oval:
Memorial Cairn of the previous pic
- Larger red oval:
A section of The Staircase Spur ...
We walked along its top earlier on.
The Staircase Spur continues on to
the Memorial Cairn.
- Downward pointing yellow arrow on the left:
Our route along The Staircase Spur
- The other 2 Yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ... In the afternoon
return route will be along the top of the spur.
- Small red dot on the left:
Bivouac Hut on The Staircase Spur ...
Photos #7 and #8
- Small red dot near centre of the pic:
Michell Hut on Eskdale Spur,
towards north-east ... Photos #53 and #54
Memory of 2011-03 climb with Ricky
Scenery of the previous pic reminds me
of the Mt Bogong climb Ricky and I did
5 and a half years ago in 2011-03 ...
24) ... We reached the same place
and Ricky took this picture of me:
- Upper pic, red oval: Memorial Cairn
- Lower pic:
Few year later, Glenn Van Der Knijff
used this photo as the cover of his book
"Victoria's Bogong High Plains" !
Photos and trip report of the 2011-03 climb
that I did with Ricky are in this link:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/bogong-vic-australia-west-peak.html
To Mt Bogong summit
25) Not far to go now to Mt Bogong summit.
- Red arrow in both pics below:
Mt Bogong summit is behind the rocks.
- Yellow arrows in both pics below:
After summitting, along the arrows
to Eskdale Spur
- Lower pic:
This one is taken in the direction
of the summit after we reach the red arrow
of the upper pic.
26) Looking back at MS climbing up the slope.
- This view is similar to photos #20 and #23,
but obviously we are now even higher up.
- Small red oval: Memorial Cairn ... photo #22
- Left red oval:
The Staircase Spur ...
We walked along its top all the way to here.
- Right red oval:
Eskdale Spur ...
In the afternoon, our return route
will be along the top of the spur.
27) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Rounded top at centre of the pic:
Top of Eskdale Spur
- Yellow arrows:
In the afternoon, our return route
will be along Eskdale Spur.
Mt Bogong summit
1986 meters, highest peak in the State of Victoria.
28) This is it ... Mt Bogong summit.
- You just have to love the virgin snow
we are going to walk on towards
the summit cairn !
- Very flat at the top ... as can be seen from the pic
- Red arrow: Top of Eskdale Spur
- Yellow arrows:
After lunch at the summit,
we'll walk along the arrows ...
First to the top of Eskdale Spur.
Then descend along its ridge.
29) Mt Bogong summit cairn ... 1986 meters.
- Upper pic: Paul
- Lower pic: MS
30) 360-degree panorama from the summit.
- Upper pic ... south-west to north:
• Red arrow on the left edge:
Mt Feathertop ... towards south-west
• The other red arrow:
West Peak ... west-south-west-ish
• Red circle: Hooker Plateau
• Photo #31 zooms into Mt Feathertop,
West Peak and Hooker Plateau.
- Middle pic ... north to east:
• Continuation to the right of the upper pic
• Red oval: Towards east-north-east
White stuff in the red oval is not cloud.
It is the central part of the snow-covered
Kosciuszko National Park.
Refer to photo #32.
• Yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ... After lunch,
our return route is along top of the spur.
• Red arrow: Towards east-ish
Highest point of Eskdale Spur ...
We'll walk towards there after lunch.
- Lower pic ... east to south-west:
• Continuation to the right of middle pic.
• Hiking sticks at the bottom of pic:
They are mine.
Without them, it would be almost
impossible to walk on the snow.
• Red arrow: towards south-west
Mt Feathertop (photo #31),
same as the one in the upper pic
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic
is the upper pic, completing a 360 panorama.
31) Zooming in the direction of Mt Feathertop
(also see previous pic).
- Upper pic (south to west):
• Left red arrow:
Mt Feathertop ... south-west ...
I climbed it 2 years ago in 2014-10.
Photos and trip report are in this link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/mt-feathertop-vic-australia.html
• Right red arrow:
West Peak ... west-south-west-ish ...
I climbed it together with Mt Bogong
5 and a half years ago in 2011-03.
Photos and trip report are in this link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/bogong-vic-australia-west-peak.html
• Red circle:
Hooker Plateau ... from here to West Peak,
you walk over this plateau.
- Lower pic: Zooming into Mt Feathertop
32) Zooming in the direction of Kosciuszko Nat Pk
(red oval in the middle pic of photo #30).
- Upper pic
• Red rectangle: East-north-east ...
Central part of the snow-covered
Kosciuszko Nat Pk ... See lower pic.
• Yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ... After lunch,
our return route is along top of the spur.
• Red arrow, middle of the pic:
Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak
• The other red arrow: East-ish ...
Highest point of Eskdale Spur
• Small red dot:
After lunch, we'll follow the snow poles
to this red dot, then turn left towards
the red arrow and follow the yellow arrows
down Eskdale Spur.
- Lower pic:
• Zooming into the red square of upper pic,
ie central part of Kosciuszko Nat Pk
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Twynam
(inside the clouds and not visible)
Australia's 3rd highest peak
2 Alice Rawson Peak,
northern most peak of Abbott Ridge
4 Mt Townsend (also inside a cloud),
Australia's 2nd highest peak, as well as
being the highest peak of Abbott Ridge
4 Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak
5 Highest peak (unnamed)
in Etheridge Ridge
A few Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moths) are
blown off course and end up here at the summit.
33) Here is a Agrotis infusa (Bogong Moth).
- I think it is a Bogong Moth.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
To Eskdale Spur
34) We have lunch at Mt Bogong summit,
then it is off to Eskdale Spur.
- Upper pic:
• Yellow arrows:
Eskdale Spur ...
Our return route down Mt Bogong
is along the top of the spur.
• Small red dot:
We are following the snow poles
to this red dot.
Then we'll turn left and follow
the yellow arrows down Eskdale Spur.
• Red oval:
The sign says "Staircase Spur Tk" ...
See the lower pic.
- Lower pic:
• Zooming onto the red oval of the upper pic.
• We won't be going down the Staircase Spur.
We'll go along the yellow arrow
to Eskdale Spur.
35) Now at the small red dot of photos #32, #34.
- MS (upper pic) and Paul (lower pic)
- Here, we turn left (north), follow the direction
of the sign to Eskdale Spur.
- But the snow poles go to the right ... to:
• Audax Point
• Lendenfeld Point
• Tadgell Point
• and then to Cleve Cole Memorial Hut.
36) From where the previous pic was taken ...
- Looking back at the snow poles going back
all the way to Mt Bogong's summit cairn ...
the tiny black dot at centre of the pic.
Top of Eskdale Spur
37) Now at the top of Eskdale Spur ...
We are looking down the spur.
- Small red dot: Michell Hut
- We'll walk on top of the spur:
• First to Michell Hut
• And from there down to Mountain Creek.
Down Eskdale Spur to Michell Hut
On the way up The Staircase Spur,
we met one guy going down.
He must have got up really early
to climb Mt Bogong.
Now on our way down we meet a couple
climbing up (photo #38).
Otherwise we have the entire mountain
to ourselves for the whole day.
Hi Victorians, don't you like snow climbing ?!?!?
You miss all these beautiful white scenery !
38) We meet this couple climbing up.
This couple carry all the overnight camping gears
plus skis/snowboard.
They said they'll camp around the summit,
then ski down ... a super fit couple !!!
I'll find it difficult to carry all these weight
up such a steep high mountain like Mt Bogong.
Oh, and they climb up in ski boots ...
not an easy feat !
39) Now descending along the top of the spur.
- Small red dot:
Michell Hut ...
We are heading towards there ...
Follow the snow poles.
40) The snow-covered Staircase Spur
dominates this pic ...
- This morning, we walked up along its top
to Mt Bogong.
41) Looking back at the top of Eskdale Spur ...
- We've been descending along the snow poles.
42) Further down the slop of Eskdale Spur
and looking back up along the spur.
- Red arrow:
Mt Bogong summit is just beyond
the right edge of the pic.
43) Looking down the mountain.
(I'm at the same place as where
the previous pic was taken.)
- Small red dot:
Michell Hut (on Eskdale Spur) ...
We are heading there now.
- Red oval: Granite Flat Spur
- Snow-covered spur on the left:
The Staircase Spur ...
This morning, we walked up along its top
to Mt Bogong.
- Spur on the right:
Eskdale Spur ...
We are walking along its top
down to Michell Hut
- Valley/river in middle of the pic ...
between The Staircase & Eskdale Spurs:
Unnamed ... in the maps I have access to.
44) Panning to the right of the previous pic.
- Small red dot on left edge:
Michell Hut (on Eskdale Spur) ...
We are heading there now.
- 3 red dashes: Granite Flat Spur
- Snow covered ridge on the left
together with Michell Hut:
Eskdale Spur
- Red Oval: East-north-east
The white stuff in it is not cloud.
It is the central part of snow-covered
Kosciuszko National Park.
45) The Staircase Spur on the left,
and Eskdale Spur on the right.
- The scene is similar to photo #43;
and also continuation to the left of previous pic.
- But this pic is taken a little more down the slope.
46) Much further down the slope now
and towards the right of previous pic.
- Left red oval: Eskdale Spur
- Smaller red oval on the horizon:
East-north-east ...
The white stuff in it is not cloud.
It is the central part of snow-covered
Kosciuszko National Park.
- Right red oval: Adax Ridge
- Spur in the middle of the pic: Granite Flat Spur
- Between Granite Flat Spur and Audax Ridge
flows Snowy Creek Bogong Branch.
47) Looking back up at:
• Eskdale Spur
• Mt Bogong (red arrow)
48) Further down the slope and looking back
at the panorama of:
• Eskdale Spur
• Mt Bogong
• The Staircase Spur
- Red arrow: Mt Bogong summit
- Red oval: The green Kiewa Valley
- Small red dot: Bivouac Hut
- Spur left of Mt Bogong: Eskdale Spur
- Spur between Mt Bogong and Bivouac Hut:
The Staircase Spur ... Earlier this morning,
we walked along the top of this spur
to Mt Bogong summit.
49) Zooming onto the right side of prev pic ...
at the green Kiewa Valley.
- Mountain range across bottom of pic:
The Staircase Spur
- Small red dot: Bivouac Hut
50) Me and a dead snow gum.
Photo by MS
51) Before we dip under the treeline,
a final look towards Kosciuszko Nat Pk.
- Upper pic:
• Red oval: Central part of Kosciuszko Nat Pk
• Red arrow: Direction of Granite Flat Spur
- Lower pic: Zooming into Kosciuszko Nat Pk
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Twynam, Australia's 3rd highest peak
2 Alice Rawson Peak,
northern most peak of Abbott Ridge
3 Mt Townsend,
Australia's 2nd highest peak, as well as
being the highest peak of Abbott Ridge
4 Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak
5 Highest peak (unnamed)
in Etheridge Ridge
52) Shortly after the previous pic was taken,
we dip below the treeline.
- Snow here is quite deep, knee-deep at places.
Michell Hut
53) We arrive at Michell Hut.
54) Inside Michell Hut - just one room inside.
55) Colourful tents near the hut.
Down Eskdale Spur to Mountain Creek
56) Going down Eskdale Spur.
- Upper pic:
Water from melting snow flowing
on the track down the Esdale Spur
57) We come to an area full of fallen trees.
- What happened here ?
- Why were so many trees fallen ?
58) More fallen trees further down the track.
- What caused such a big tree to be uprooted ?
Looks like it is a recent event.
Photo by MS
59) A dead tree with a hole on the ground.
Foot track to Mountain Creek
60) Now at the end of Eskdale Spur track.
- This is also a junction.
Going further forward is to a firetrail
that goes to somewhere.
We turn left into a foot track which
will take us to the bank of Mountain Creek.
61) Along the foot track.
62) Plenty of wattles in full bloom.
- They are all along the foot track.
63) Many Dicksonia fibrosa along the way.
- Dicksonia fibrosa likes to hold on to its
dead leaves, producing a distinctive brown skirt
that distinguishes it from other tree ferns.
64) MS and tree ferns.
- What is the name of these tree ferns ?
Can someone please tell me ... Thanks.
65) The foot track can be quite wet at
some places, due to water from melting snow.
Along Mountain Creek back to car
End of foot track ...
We are now on a firetrail along Mountain Creek
back to the car.
66) Interesting tree ferns crowding the banks
of this part of Mountain Creek.
67) Large amount of churning water in
a side creek that runs into Mountain Creek.
We need to cross a few of the side creeks ...
On this part of the firetrail, there is no footbridge.
So wet boots and wet feet are unavoidable.
If you wish to keep your feet dry,
then either climb down The Staircase Spur.
Or, if you really like to walk on Eskdale Spur,
then do it at the end of summer when
most of the snow will have been melted, and
there won't be so much water in the side creeks.
68) Highland Copperhead (Austrelaps ramsayi).
- It is by the side of the firetrail.
- I almost step on top of it 😊
Comments
Love the snow scenes !
The first week of October is always a good time
to climb the high peaks in Victorian alpine area ...
... enough snow to jazz up the scenery,
but not too much to inhibit walking
with normal hiking boots.
Previous Mt Bogong climbs
Photos & trip reports of my previous 2 climbs:
- 2011-03
Mt Bogong & West Peak
Up and down The Staircase Spur
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/bogong-vic-australia-west-peak.html
- 2006-01
Plain vanila climb of Mt Bogong
Up and down The Staircase Spur
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/bogong-vic-australia.html
Mt Feathertop
Two years ago, 2014-10, at almost the same time,
I climbed Mt Feathertop, not far from Mt Bogong.
Compared to today, much less snow then,
but still lovely.
Photos and trip report of the Feathertop climb
are in my blog:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/mt-feathertop-vic-australia.html
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