Mount Stirling Camping

[GoRinNoSho]

Hi,

Looking for some guidance for camping up near Mount Stirling.

I'm not a big snow camper - usually just Howqua River and Sheepyard, but looking to do something a little different: perhaps Howqua Gap Hut or Bluff Spur hut.

Looks like I have to pay to get into resort to access (odd given it's the same destination all year and no facilities) but wondering if it is easy enough to access with an AWD? I've a Subaru Forester (lifted, All Terrain tyres etc).

Also any recommendations for location? I've never been so don't know if whole area will be filled with Land Cruisers, Patrols etc.

Thanks in advance....

[Camminata]

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=41589&p=452697&hilit=mt+stirling+camping#p452697

[paidal_chalne_vala]

You can snow camp at Mt. No. Three Refuge hut . Your car will make it up Carter's road to park at Tomahawk gap. Then trek up No.3 Road to snow camp at No.3 Hut.
You pay nothing for that other food and fuel costs. If there is good snow cover then XC skiing down to King Saddle for a BYO lunch is fun.
Check the snow report on the Mt. Stirling web site.
If it says good snow at King Saddle or Very Good snow at Razorback hut then you have a green light for this trip.
The Mt. No. 3 area is locked and closed to 4 x 4 users until Nov.. So the vibe is quite remote.
The No.3 hut was rebuilt after the bushfres up there so it is a new
hut that holds heat once you get the wood burner started. Take a bow saw
and fire lighters.
https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/mt-no ... 021.90175/

If you have no experience of back country snow shoe trekking/ XC ski touring/ Snow camping
then do not go too remote and stick to the Mt. Stirling resort where the Ski patrol can come
to the rescue if things go wrong.
The Bluff Spur hut is warm once you get the wood burner cranked up.I have slept in there mid week in winter
and it was toasty warm.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

There is a ship load of snow at Mt. Stirling now. I am going up there tomorrow.

[Baeng72]

Field report required PCV!
I'm experiencing unplanned physiological malfunction, so I'm relying on you.

I drove up to Big Hill carpark last Friday, walked a while and at about the 3 hour mark, slowly going up after Spring saddle, my body said, 'we're done' so I returned to car.
I mean a 13K hike with heavy bag isn't terrible, but I used to be able to push through....Sometimes.

Similar thing happened when I tried to do Mt. Bulller West Spur in May before I got COVID.
I'm starting to think that I'm past the window of doing what I want when walking, but we'll see....

Anyway, I want vicarious photos and reports from our intrepid reporter in the field. Mr. T!

Here's a soothing view of the Big Fella from last Friday:

Mt. Bogon

bigfella.jpg (194.41 KiB) Viewed 51 times

And a little Feathertop:

Feathertop

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