Postponed till later this year or next year due to the Lockdown.

 

This walk is dependent on suitable snow conditions. If there is too much snow, we will not be able to drive to the start of the walk at The Bluff carpark.

 

Itinerary and Walk Descriptions

Friday night and getting there:

Camp at Sheepyard Flat beside the Howqua River. From Mansfield follow the Mt Buller Rd for 20.5km to the Howqua Track which is on the right, 2km past Merrijig. Follow the Howqua Track for 16.5km to Sheepyard Flat, cross the bridge and find a suitable place on the left near the river/toilet. Allow 3-3.5 hours from Melbourne CBD.

Be packed and ready to depart by 8:30am Saturday morning. It is a 26km drive to The Bluff carpark from Sheepyard Flat.

Saturday:

Option A (14km):

If conditions suit, the preferred route to is ascend the steep 2km walking track directly to The Bluff, with hopefully good views to the north. Then head east along the walking track over Mt Eadley Stoney to Bluff Hut (4.5km). Then walk 7.5km over Mt Lovick summit to camp at Lovick’s Hut.

Option B (16.5km):

If the steep ascend is too treacherous with snow/ice, then walk via Bluff Link Rd and Bluff Track to Bluff Hut, a distance of 7.5km. Then with day packs, it is a 9km return walk to The Bluff via the walking track.

Sunday:

Option A (13km):

Return along the 4WD track to Bluff Hut, then via Bluff Track and Bluff Link Rd to the carpark.

Option B (15km):

With day packs, 8km return walk to Mt Lovick. Return to Bluff Hut, and then to the cars along Bluff Track and Bluff Link Rd.

 

Should you Participate?

We need to follow all state government guidelines regarding COVID-19, hence if you are required to be in quarantine or isolation, live in a restricted postcode (if and when designated by state government) or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms including the following, you should NOT be doing this walk:

• Fever
• Chills or sweats
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Runny nose
• Loss or change in sense of smell or taste
• Some people may also experience headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

If you or anyone in your household feels sick in any way, please cancel. If you become unwell during the walk please notify your Leader immediately.

If you are in a high risk category, including being elderly or having a pre-existing medical condition, you should consider carefully whether you participate as the Club will accept no liability if you choose to participate.

Refer also to the Victoria state government Coronavirus page

 

Social Distancing and Good Hygiene

Before, during and after the walk, please practice social distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risk of infection:   Hygiene and physical distancing

• Carry a mask and wear it when required by the state government.

• • Refer to: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-masks-vic-covid-19

• Maintain a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and other walkers.
• Do not share food / water / equipment, or shake hands.
• Use tissues and do not dispose of these in the bush. Carry a plastic bag for disposing of tissues.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
• Wash hands or use hand sanitiser when required.

If you are not able to practice good hygiene your Leader will ask you to leave the walk.

 

Transport

Transport to and from the walk location is by car. Please indicate your transport requirements and preferences on the booking request form when you book in.

If you don’t have a car, we can’t guarantee to provide you with a lift – this will depend on available drivers and their locations.

Drivers can choose whether they wish to take passengers or not.

For drivers who agree to accept a passenger, refer to this link for Victorian State Government guidelines for travelling with others:

CovidSafe Travel in Victoria – Travelling with others

Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please bring cash for this purpose.

 

Booking

Booking is  required for this walk.

For harder-graded walks, the leader has the right not to accept bookings from anyone they consider is not sufficiently fit or experienced to undertake it, so please provide as much relevant information as you can when booking. Unless the leader knows you well, please indicate what similar walks you have done recently (i.e. in the past few months) to give the leader confidence that you are capable of doing this walk.

The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the walk, or not, via email.  The leader will provide details of where and when to meet.

Booking Fee:
Members: free.     Non-members: $10.

Payment:
To avoid handling cash, non-members are required to pre-pay their booking fee. Payment by Paypal or card is the quickest method, but if you choose to pay by EFT please follow the instruction to email the Treasurer with your payment details.

Cancellation:
If you need to cancel, please advise the leader as soon as possible, so that someone else has the opportunity. Unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. you need to cancel because you are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms), there will be no refunds.
So please do not book unless you are fully committed to walking.

 

What to Bring

• Hand Sanitiser
• Face Mask

• All the equipment, clothing, food and water you will need for the walks and overnight stays (refer Trip details above).

Refer to our Gear Checklist page for more details, or discuss with the leader.  If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.

 

Emergency Club Contact

The emergency club contact for this walk is Ken.  The leader can provide you with the contact’s phone number, if you wish to pass this on to any friend/family member who may be concerned if you return late.

 

Still have questions?

Check out Joining a walk and your safety

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Weekend and extended walks.

Check out our Covid-19 status.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.

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