King Spur-Mt Koonika-Mt Speculation-Muesli Spur (2 days)

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Yes, I would tend to agree , so Grovel I must in 2024, up King Spur.

I would do it as a day trip ( from King Hut base camp) ,with a day pack in good weather , as you have done.

[EPICEXPLORER]

BTAC may be clearing kings spur mid 25, i think i'll wait untill then before considering a trip

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Is that The King spur on the Dargo High Plains which comes off the King Spur track ? or is it the Buller- Howitt area?
We need clarification on which King Spur that might be.
Either area is not easily accessible once the winter gates to the trail head areas are closed for the June to Nov. period .
I will take my chances with the Mt. Koonika route via King Spur , if possible , this December. I have marked the route on my GPS device.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Possible track clearing by BTAC will be King Spur up to Mt. Koonika. I checked with BTAC via e mail. However this is up in the air
and not certain because the Ranger in
Mansfield does not see King Spur as a priority.
So my suggestion to would be King spur climbers is to go and grovel up it
and don't presume any track work will occur.
If I have any information to the contrary then I will update it here.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The weather next Monday Dec. 16th 2024 looks far too hot for climbing King Spur. It is a trek that remains in my IN TRAY to complete this green season.

[Avatar]

Awesome trip reports from all on this thread.

Last edited by Avatar on Sat 14 Dec, 2024 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[north-north-west]

Just tidying up ...

[stevage]

I did this loop many years ago with a couple of friends. I seem to recall the book said it was an easy walk up a steep spur with occasional footpads, but shortly after publishing there was a fire, and by the time we got there it was all dense regrowth. We didn't even make it to the top of the spur on the first day, and camped maybe 2/3 of the way up. I actually don't remember it being particularly strenuous or difficult to pick around the cliffs, it was just the sheer density of the bush that was the problem. (Then again, we were probably in our late 20s then...)

The particularly memorable bit was that I forgot to bring matches, and spent an hour or two faffing about with batteries and wire trying to start a fire, and got agonisingly close with red hot embers but no flame. (Since then I use a flint, packed in to the stove box).

We didn't get to Mt Spec on that trip because of how long it took to get up, but Mt Cobbler was a big highlight - such a great climb to the top.

[north-north-west]

Since then I would have hoped you'd have learnt not to have fires in the alpine and sub-alpine areas.

[stevage]

Oh, I think that was a bit unclear. I meant matches for the butane stove (pocket rocket).

Never really been into campfires personally.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I did this climb yesterday. It was hard.
My friend and I
found a vegetated chute to the North of the final cliff face and scrambled/ crawled/ grovelled up that route . It is to North / Left of the scary cliff face at the final push to the
top.It was a much safer way up to the top ridge.
https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/king- ... st-5927581