Telephone Box Junction

 

Bluff Spur

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Latest BOM Weather Observations

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60801/IDV60801.94894.shtml

 

Mt Stirling Snow Report

 

 

Excursion Itinerary

 

Excursion Itinerary Broad Detail Equipment Hire Party Communications Emergency plan Equipment for vehicle(s) Walk Summary History River crossings Food Water Shelter Phase of moon Maps Correspondance Authority Links First Aid Kit Suggested gear list Group equipment Personal equipment for end vehicle Menu Post Walk report Photographs

 

Broad Detail

 

Destination: Mt Stirling, Bluff Spur Hut

Departure date: 27/7/18

Departure time: 4 pm

Estimated walk distance: 

Cost per person: Fuel, $38 car entry + $20 to park overnight

Permit required: n

Vehicle Depart from: TBA

Walk Depart from:  Telephone Box Junction

Walk to: Bluff Spur Hut

Circuit Walk: 

Retrace walk: y

Vehicle Return Date: 30/7/18

Vehicle Return Time:  noon

Home Return Date: 30/7/18

Home Return Time: 4 pm

 

Vehicle(s) details:

Make	Model	Rego	Colour	Parked location	Owner
Mitsubishi	Challenger	1EK6KD		TBJ carpark	Patrick

 

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Equipment Hire

 

http://www.stirlingexperience.com.au/skiing/equipment-hire/

http://www.snow-ski.com.au/ - ajays heathmont

 

Party

 

• Please edit the page with the relevant details

 

 

Name	Medical condition	Next of kin name & phone #
1. Anthony	too optimistic	Kaz Standish
2. Phil
3. Michael	none so far	Kelly Langdon
4. Patrick	easily distracted	Theresa
5.
6.
7.
8.

 

Communications

• Mobile 
• VHF 2m amateur
• Broadcast AM radio

 

Emergency plan

• all punters please cater for 1 emergency meal.
• Contact will be made with Kaz Standish no later than 8 pm. Kaz should contact the police if no contact is made by 9am the following day.

 

Equipment for vehicle(s)

• change of clothes, towel
•  

 

 

Walk Summary

 

We depart melbourne on the friday night (1 car) and make for the Johnson lakeside estate. Dinner shall be decided en route. A 5am rise should enable us to beat some of the winter snowfields traffic.

Early rise and quick breaky and depart for Stirling. Park at TBJ and walk to snow.

 

 

 

 

 

History

 

 

 

River crossings

• nil 

 

Food

 

 

 

Water

•  

 

Shelter

• King Saddle Rotunda. Toilets available
• King Hut (hut 36) just above cricket pitch 
• Bluff Spur Hut 

 

Phase of moon

 

A full moon is scheduled for 28/7/18

 

Maps

 

• Mt Stirling Trail Map
• 8223-4-S_HOWITT_SOUTH_GetlostMap_V5.tif
• 8223-4-N_HOWITT_NORTH_GetlostMap_V5.tif
• 8123-1-S_BULLER_SOUTH_GetlostMap_V5.tif
• 8123-1-N_BULLER_NORTH_GetlostMap_V5.tif  

 

Correspondance

 

 

 

Authority

 

• Parks Vic mansfield 57331200
• The area we are walking in falls under the jurisdiction of the resort management board. - 1800 285 537, 5776077

 

 

Links

• Mt Stirling Weather and Snow report
• http://www.stirling.com.au
• http://www.vicsnowreport.com.au/
• http://site07.mtbuller.com.au/
• Stirling Circuit road info. http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/006BB8BADC13B585CA25715A00004AFE//FS0025+-+Circuit+Road+-+Mt.Stirling.pdf
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Stirling
• http://www.snowatch.com.au/ 

 

First Aid Kit

 

• 1 triangular bandage and safety pin
• 1 medium wound dressing
• 1 X 10 cm elastic bandage
• 6 assorted bandaids
• Antiseptic liquid/cream
• Moleskin and/or blister kit
• 12 soluble Panadol
• Sunscreen (15+)
• Personal medication items - placed in a small plastic bag.
• Personal medication should be clearly marked and the leader notified of its use.

.

Suggested gear list

• Waterproof jacket - MUST ALWAYS BE CARRIED Must be long enough to sit on. Must have an overlapping closure. Should have an integral hood
• Waterproof over pants - Wind and waterproof. Must cover from waist to ankles
• Balaclava or beanie - MUST ALWAYS BE CARRIED Woollen or thermal , must cover nape of neck
• Mittens or gloves - MUST ALWAYS BE CARRIED Woollen or thermal with waterproof over mitts
• Trousers Loose fitting wool/wool-blend, no jeans
• Thermal underwear Top and long johns. Underclothing can be used as night or spare day wear.
• Shirt. Preferably light wool/wool blend and must be long sleeved.
• Rubber Gloves
• Snow googles 
• T-shirt
• Jacket or Woollen long-sleeved jumper "Bush shirt", jumper or "Polar fleece" type jacket
• Socks Wool or wool blend or whatever works for you 
• Boots Must be stoutly made, comfortable, well proofed and WALKED-IN
• Gaiters
• Thongs or wet suit booties for base camp get around.
• Spare Underclothes
• Spare Socks - one spare pair
• Handkerchief
• Pack - Comfortable and able to store all equipment inside. Always use a large garbage as a pack liner.
• Sleeping bag - Good quality bag suitable for zero-5 degree temperatures in a waterproof cover.
• Sleeping bag inner sheet – reduces need for cleaning bag and is warmer.
• Sleeping Mat - Closed-cell or self-inflating mat
• Torch - Small with spare batteries and bulbs Standardise on AA batteries
• Toilet Gear - Toilet paper in plastic bag (use only white).
• Small towel or "Chux".
• Soap (motel size)
• Toothbrush and paste
• Mug - Tough plastic or enamel (Note capacity to use as a measure)
• Plate - or Bowl Knife, Fork, Spoon Tough plastic or aluminium
• Water Bottle – X 2 Leak proof, 1 litre, plastic, aluminium and wine cask bladder (for base camp water gathering)
• Cord - 6 metres of light cord 3mm in diameter
• Sunglasses
• Compass
• Map in waterproof case
• Mobile Phone
• Emergency space blanket
• Bivvy Bag Bright colour
• MATCHES / LIGHTER in clip lock bag
• Whistle on cord
• Sponge small
• Scouring pad
• Spectacles - spare set
• Notebook & pencil in clip lock bag
• Dish Cloth
• Tea candles small
• Pocket knife
• Spare boot lace
• Personal treats - Chocolate, barley sugar, muesli bars etc for on the track snacks
• Rubbish bags - plastic shopping bags
• Ear plugs for snorers
• Extra closed cell mat 

 

 

Group equipment

 

• Stove - Soto Muka - Platt
• Matches - Waterproof type, 2 boxes
• Snow Shovel - johno
• Snow pegs - Johno 
• Trowel or equiv. to bury waste - Johno
•  

 

Personal equipment for end vehicle

Bagged

• Change of clothes/footwear
• Towel
• Deodorant

 

Menu

• Day 1
• Dinner - pub meal somewhere
• Day 2
• Breakfast - Nosebag. BYO

 

• Luncheon - BYO

 

• Dinner /Happy hour - 

 

• Day 3
• Breakfast - BYO
• Luncheon - BYO

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Post Walk report

 

This year's winter excursion would be another to Mt Stirling, this time an overnight stay at Bluff Spur Hut rather than Hut 36 (king Spur Hut). Kost had recently procured a set of MSR evo snow shoes for future snowy expeditions, and was keen to go high. Johnson and Platt were on shoes leaving Stringer on the planks. All endeavours can be accommodated on Mt Stirling. This year we pre purchased the car entry fee and an overnight pass online for $88 which meant we could drive through at an early hour thereby avoiding the buller traffic. Platt, equipped with snow chains, took the transport responsibilities.

 

We mustered at 1600 at Kost HQ in Mitcham and were on the road to Johnson’s Lakeside retreat by 1630. Stringer procured local provisions before joining the party at the Mansfield Hotel for dinner. The society were happy with meals and the local pale ale that is served from the tap. The Friday night feeling continued as we retired to the cabin. The heater was tuned and beer and wine were served as we went through some last minute scrutineering. Early saturday morning we were subject to an astronomical event an eclipse of the sun by the moon. It started at about 0230 and went through to 0615. My chosen sleeping digs are on the the Johnson verandah and as such I cocked an eye skyward at about 0300, internally marvelled at the science and returned to slumber. We arose at 0500 for a 0610 depart. Pod coffee and nose bag breakfast all round.

 

Passing through the Merimbah gate at 0645 we pushed on to TBJ. Good snow cover at TBJ. We were kitted up and walking by 0730. Our goal was to make Bluff spur hut, set camp and explore from base. We made the hut at 0930 after a good steady climb in postcard weather. There was no need to don rainwear and I walked without gloves. This was the first time on the evo’s and all went well. Thoroughly enjoying touring through the snow. Stringer reported some dirty fuel in his system and as such his performance to enjoyment ratio was sub par. He welcomed the hut. We got the fire going and brewed coffee. It didn’t take long for the fire to warm the hut to boiling point and we were shedding layers. The catering department went to work with the bush vanilla slice build. We used arnott’s lattice biscuits on the bottom layer of a bbq foil tray. I elected for no top layer of biscuit but could have put a top layer on as the custard was quite firm. The sweet and the condiment cream went into the crafted snow fridge outside and the  lamb curry thawed inside the hut. About this time a couple of walkers joined us at the hut, Albert and a scottish bloke, Ian. The weather was going from cloud cover to blue skies. The group prepared for a walk to the stirling summit. As we emerged from the tree line the wind howled as we made our to the top. There were half a dozen people wandering around the top on skis, tooling around.

 

Back at the hut we stoked the barrell, fire bringing the internal temperature to 28 degrees. Another warm brew and the chaps were left to their own devices. Tents went up. Inside the hut the bunks were commandeered by Stringer and Kost whereby a pleasurable mid day nap was enjoyed. It did not take much to lull the chaps off to sleep with the cosy ambient temperature suggesting inaction over action. Not even the intermittent comings and goings of  people through the hut door could rattle their nap. The dull noise of others chatting in the snowy landscape was like a fob watch taking us to sleep euphoria. Athletes talk about flow. That zen moment when the frenetic brain is no longer the master of distraction. We were in flow. We came out of that nap not groggy but refreshed and bewildered with that little crack in time. And, we did not speak of it.

 

By 1500 hours the natives were becoming restless. The time for lolling had ceased. Firewood was topped up from the stack and the fire set to thermonuclear. By society standards a lean entree was set as a lavish lamb curry awaited. Roti bread was warmed and the coriander garnish was prepared for serving. The custard slice was brought in from the snow fridge. All the chaps feasted and we had enough over to offer Albert and Ian. It did not take much convincing for them, a dehy meal or something fresh. I recall a wonderful ambience in the hut. Albert retired quite early but we thoroughly interviewed Ian  to gain some insight into his pedigree. I think we were all quite surprised when he mentioned that he had trekked to Base camp, when only minutes before he revealed that his sleeping bag for tonight was a “Jackeroo” bag. The evening progressed and our party drifted off to single man’s quarters. Stringer, still high on the afternoon nap, elected to bunk in the hut.

 

The weather report forecasted some difficult weather closing in during the morning. Our planned route out was to skirt around to GGS hut and then down to King Saddle however with the reality of sunday morning before us we elected to retrace our steps quickly to TBJ and then into Mansfield.

 

Given the long night in the tent I was champing to escape the tent a little after first light. I entered the hut to get the fire going and was surprised to see another body in the bunk. It was the scot. Was not expecting that. Whilst I piss farted around with the Soto muka trying to make a brew Ian stirred and rose. He was quite open with his tale of overnight woe. Apparently his shitty kmart sleeping bag got wet during the night and he got really cold. Seems like old mate Albert was no help. In desperation he barges into Stringer’s dream of dreams and declares his position on death row. It is believed panic had set in, and he was fumbling around trying to start the fire like a madman with all the precious firelighters and kindling he could find. All good ministers are ready to assist, for the greater good of mankind, and so minister Stringer ejected himself out of his super warm down bag to play the voice of reason to this bloke with shit gear. We believe stringer took a good hour out of his busy sleep schedule to accommodate and calm the scot. The rest of the party in tents, slept blissfully unaware of the said kerfuffle.

 

I made my porridge and we brewed aeropress coffee. The rest of the chaps entered the warmth of the hut. We struck camp and were ready to depart by about 0900. Albert and Ian departed about 20 minutes earlier. The party was over for Ian. Clearly rattled by last night. Stringer had a quick ski down to TBJ whilst Johno, Platt and Kost humped it in the snow shoes. I suspect we made TBJ by about 1030. The weather was not filthy but the sun from yesterday was notably absent.

 

Into the car and down to the Mirimbah car park for a full tear down and rebuild. A coffee and an all day breakfast at a Mansfield cafe and we were on the road back to town. Back in Mitcham by about 1330.

Another delightful respite from full time work.

 

 

 

Photographs