Distance: 26km

Walk Description

Mt Buller is located near the northern edge of the Victorian Alps, approximately 35 km east of the town of Mansfield.  At an elevation of 1,805 m, it is one of the highest mountains in Victoria and a popular destination for snow-skiing.  The walk includes climbing the West Ridge to the summit of Mt Buller and continuing down the east side of Mt Buller to Howqua Gap Hut.  On the following day, we will retrace the trail back up to Mt Buller and down its West Ridge.

The walk is rated as hard to very hard with some exposed sections along West Ridge and the climb up to Mt Buller.  Walkers should be experienced and are required to bring snow shoes, crampons and an ice-axe.

 Walk Leader:  David Louwrens (Mobile: 0438 303 279)

Cost: $10.00 for non-members; members free; share of petrol costs

Camping: One night at Howqua Gap Hut on Saturday 31^stAugust

Meals: Two lunches; one breakfast; one dinner

Water: Bring a minimum 2 litres and purification options (tablets or filters); water in tanks at campsite

Map: Leader will bring a map (“Buller-Howitt Alpine Area” 1:50,000 map is available at camping shops)

Distance: Melbourne CBD to start of walk: ~220 km

Cooking: Bring gas stove or trangia

ITINERARY

 Saturday 31 August:

Meet at approx. 8 am Doughty Road turn-off, ~2 km before the Mt Buller entry gate.  Drive 5 km along Doughty Road to start of walk.  Walk 5.5 km to the summit of Mt Buller (1,805 m), an elevation gain of ~760 m.  Walk 6.5 km down the east side of Mt Buller, by-passing Mt Buller Alpine Village and joining Corn Hill track to reach Howqua Gap Hut (1,350 m).  Distance:~12 km; Time: 7-8 hours.

Sunday 1 September:

Depart campsite after breakfast at ~8.00 am.  Walk back up to Mt Buller and down the West Ridge to vehicles.  Distance: ~12 km; Time: 7-8 hours.  Return to Melbourne, with optional coffee stop en route.

Booking is  required for this walk.  The Leader will confirm your acceptance onto the walk via an email.  A few days before the walk, the leader will organise car-pooling and provide details of where and when to meet.

It is expected that anyone undertaking an overnight walk has at least the experience and equipment necessary to comfortably complete a “medium” graded day walk.   If you are new to overnight camping, please refer to our Gear Checklist page or discuss with the leader.   Some equipment (eg tents, stoves) can be borrowed or shared provided you advise the leader of this when booking.  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.

Booking Fee:

Please pay the leader CASH at the start of the walk, NO credit cards.

Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the

Car-pooling page. Please bring cash for this purpose.

Still have questions?

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Weekend and extended walks.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button

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