Helicopter Spur, Mt Magdala, Mt Howitt

[bigkev]

My climbing gully up through the second rock bluff.

Mt Magdala in the middle distance with Mt Howitt behind from Picture Point.

Last Saturday I decided to head up to the Upper Howqua Camping Area and do a circuit over to Mt Howitt. Basically it involved climbing Helicopter Spur, heading along the high ridges over Mt Magdala to Mt Howitt, before dropping back down to the Howqua River along Howitt Spur. Over the course of the day I walked 23 kilometres and climbed a bit over 1700 metres so it was a fairly solid day. The climb up Helicopter Spur was particularly good fun, the 3 rock bluffs making things interesting. Before reaching the rock the route is more of a bushwalking pad than a track on Helicopter Spur, but once on top of Helicopter Spur the rest of the walk followed good tracks, including an excellent section of the AAWT.

There are some more photos on my blog if anyone's interested http://goinferalonedayatatime.blogspot. ... ional.html

Looking down towards Big Hill from Mt Magdala.

The start of the Cross Cut Saw with the Razor and the Viking in the distance.

[Neo]

Nice variety of landscapes bigkev. 23k IS a solid walk! I liked your hells window shot.

[neilmny]

Bigkev you've done it again.....nice work.

[north-north-west]

Good conditions for it, too. It's a brilliant little walk, that. Helicopter's such good fun.

[bigkev]

Hi All,
Thanks for checking out the post, this really is a very good walk...kinda makes you wonder why it took me so long to get up there and do it....
Cheers Kevin

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I like it. I have yet to make it up Helicopter spur. I think the ultra light day walk approach would make the scramble up the rocky bits easier.Thanks for the photos on your web page. It is a beautiful area.

[phs]

Helicopter Spur is interesting, not just the rock scrambling but some sections are also very steep
23km in this terrain is like an Olympic marathon

We hiked it May 2016

[Aardvark]

I've drooled over Helicopter Spur. It will have to be included somehow when i'm there next.

[CraigVIC]

Hi bigkev, thanks for taking the time to do your blog entries, I'm just back from The Grampians and your notes on the Stapylton Amphitheater were really useful, many thanks.

[bigkev]

Cheers Craig, that's a cracker of a walk isn't it

[CraigVIC]

For sure, amazing views and scenery and I found it a real challenge in places, don't think I'll top it anytime soon.

[NickPom]

Big Kev, did you get to the upper howqua campground via Mt Buller & Corn Hill or TBJ & circuit road /bindaree? Thanks as always for your detailed notes & blog.

[bigkev]

Big Kev, did you get to the upper howqua campground via Mt Buller & Corn Hill or TBJ & circuit road /bindaree? Thanks as always for your detailed notes & blog.

Hi Nick, I normally drop into Upper Howqua via TBJ and down Bindaree. Bindaree Road is ok in a 2wd in the dry normally.

[publicrejoicer]

nice photos big kev

[bigkev]

nice photos big kev

Thanks PR. I loved your Razor Viking report by the way - very entertaining

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Where exactly does the Helicopter spur track start? The track from behind the Dunny at the Upper Howqua campsite is not the right track is it?

[bigkev]

When I went up a couple of years ago the pad that started behind the dunny was the one I used.

Cheers

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Yes but it not that disused 4 WD track that is blocked by boulders is it?. Someone on Ski dot com said that leads to serious scrub bashing and Picture Point.

[north-north-west]

It's been a while, but I seem to recall a fork in the track, not far up from the dunny. The left fork was wider but more overgrown and is the one that leads to Picture Point. As long as you stick to the right you should be OK, assuming that there haven't been major changes in the last five years and that I am remembering this correctly

[bigkev]

My recollections are similar to NNW. Re reading my old post I followed an old 4wd track. There is a couple of photos on the post of the start of the track and the scrub on the 4wd track as I headed to the base of Helicopter Spur. Unless things have changed a lot in the last 18 months then both the scrub and the navigation shouldn't present too much of a problem.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I think getting a GPS and loading up the co ordinates could be handy esp. for this route and my attempt of Hannel's spur in the KNP this green season.