I am getting behind in trip reports, sorry.
I had managed to finally explore some of the Vic Alps in 2014.
see
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19353&hilit=helicopter+spurBut having savoured the delights of spring, I thought it would be good to check out some more.
The original plan was to do a father/son walk, but other things prevailed and I ended up doing it as my 3rd solo trip.
So it was off in a hire car [due to other family demands] and head off to Mt Bogong for a 3 night 4 day adventure.
I had seen a curious pointed rocky mountain on a previous trip near Echuca, and this time dropped in on the granite outcrops of Mt Hope near Pyramid Hill on the way over.
A nice diversion, it has a large granite outcrop called Suicide Rock which appears to be popular for rock climbers and I saw one of the local rock wallabies.
![7197MtHope.jpg (858.67 KiB) Viewed 67501 times 7197MtHope.jpg](./download/file.php?id=37044&t=1&sid=da22c59ffc9553eae3592041cd3282ed)
- Flowers in the granite cracks at Mt Hope
Next day I had some good views of Mt Buffalo before turning off at Ovens towards Mt Beauty. Mt Bogong stands tall above Tawonga where I turned into Mountain Creek Road.
![7204Buffalo.jpg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 67501 times 7204Buffalo.jpg](./download/file.php?id=37049&t=1&sid=da22c59ffc9553eae3592041cd3282ed)
- The Gorge and Chalet at Mt Buffalo in the distance
About 12:10 pm I threw the pack on and headed off along the 4 wheel drive track to the base of the Staircase arriving at 12:45pm.
There I met a young Policeman who was waiting for his companion. They were doing some outdoor training and had come from Cleve Cole Hut.
He remarked that the wind had been very strong over the top - not a place to be caught out in.
Me ? I have come to trust the BOM forecasts as long as they are for 1 or 2 days out, and they indicated that the wind would be moderating a lot late afternoon.
And so I began the famed climb up the Staircase with my 25kg pack on a warm afternoon. An older chap came scurrying down having run up to Bivouac Hut and back just for exercise.
Then higher up I came across the poor other Policeman who looked to have a big pack and 2 sticks as walking poles.
He complained that he could have done with the other one coming up to help by taking his pack as his knees where suffering.
And that was it. They were the last people I saw until my descent 3 days later.
Got to Bivouac Hut at 3 pm and a short look around. Then up and finally above the tree line with some great views opening up.
Near Castor and Pollux I gazed as a Wedge Tail drifted up and over on the air currents.
![7232WestFace.jpg (1.11 MiB) Viewed 67501 times 7232WestFace.jpg](./download/file.php?id=37046&t=1&sid=da22c59ffc9553eae3592041cd3282ed)
- Looking up at the west face of Bogong from the Staircase
![7238Wedgetail.jpg (572.69 KiB) Viewed 67501 times 7238Wedgetail.jpg](./download/file.php?id=37047&t=1&sid=da22c59ffc9553eae3592041cd3282ed)
- Wedgetail floating above
![7251StaircasePan.jpg (1.85 MiB) Viewed 67501 times 7251StaircasePan.jpg](./download/file.php?id=37048&t=1&sid=da22c59ffc9553eae3592041cd3282ed)
- Panorama over the top of the Staircase Spur