Howqua Peaks Route - 120km - G6 - Advanced

The Howqua Peaks Route is an advanced tour/expedition around the most rugged and spectacular alpine areas in the Howqua catchment or around Mt.Buller and Mt. Stirling. I call this route the mountaineers route due to the extensive scrambling and off track sections, not to mention the amount of peaks traversed.

It's a circuit of around 8 or 9 days depending on the optional variants taken. I think it's the Victorian equivalent of Tasmania's Western Arthur's Traverse and in some respects a bit rougher and longer incorporating long sustained scrambles and off track navigation in Victoria's rugged high country.

The trip starts and ends at the Mt Buller resort gates and the highlights of the trip incorporate Mt.Stirling, Craig's hut, a long scramble and semi off track ascent of Mt.Koonika, Mt. Cobbler lakes and scrambly ascent to the summit. Mt.Speculation and an option to traverse and scramble along The Razor ridge and up to The Viking and the famous chimney scramble.

Although I suspect the water situation and heat may render this option unviable this tine of year.

Across the crosscut saw to McAlister springs and Vallejo Gantner hut.
Then off to Mt.Howitt, Hell's window, Mt Magdala and Bluff hut or the upper Howqua campground via helicopter Spur as an option .

There is an option to navigate to Mt Clear but this will take an extra day

Proceed to the Bluff and Mt Eadley stony, down 8 mile spur to the Howqua river. We'll go up the untracked 6 mile spur and off track navigate to Little Buller and the technical scrambling en route and end up at Mt.Buller at a ski lodge.

After a night there we'll continue onto the summit and descend into the Kilngsporn track via the rugged and untracked McLoughlin shoulder and back to the resort gates.

I've also noticed that Mt Buller has just installed Australia's first via Ferrata on the north Ridge of Buller so if you're an outdoor climber like me, this might be worth a look see. Or perhaps I'll run a private trip for some nice low to intermediate grade Trad climbing on the west fac or some fun scrambling routes on the south Face at some stage.

This is a draft, I'll add more details as time allows and specific distances.

The expedition is waitlisted so you'll be unable to join this trip unless you get in touch with me directly. Dates are tentative and depend if there is any interest This is in a remote area so it will be difficult to exit at any stage.

As this route is for more advanced hikers and ideally for people with some basic climbing or scrambling experience I'll only allow people who I've had a chance to check their climbing with.
Ideally you should be able to climb an indoor Grade 15 route. Some of the scrambling is exposed and I'll probably bring a rope. (I'm an experienced climber and mountaineer and aspiring climbing guide)

The trip occurs in an alpine area where it can blizzard or snow at any time of year and there are exposed area to the weather

Any questions get in touch