Thread: Help wanted with Vic High Country Trip

Yep that's a big trip, you'll have no probs with any of those tracks, weather permitting that is.

There's a great campsite at Timbarra on the river, you can access the Campoven gap track a bit easier from there, it's about 20min out of Buchan, heading back towards Bainsdale, it's B on the google map.

[ame="http://maps.google.com.au/maps'saddr=Timbarra+Rd&daddr=-37.380252,148.096819&hl=en&sll=-37.389732,148.1142&sspn=0.026016,0.055575&geocode= Fb57xf0d9CPUCA%3B&vpsrc=0&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=15&t= m&z=15"]Timbarra Rd to -37.380252, 148.096819 - Google Maps[/ame]

Baz.

It looks like you've done a fair amount of research and have a reasonable set of maps. Your chosen route will give you a good overview of the VicHigh country but I would offer the following suggestions -

Although I prefer travelling the high country during Autum, December is not too bad - less crowded than January but still quite a few flies about and weather can be ratyer changeable. I met some walkers down there a few years ago on new years day and they were suffering from hypothermia after suffering heat exhaustion the previous day.
Some tracks may still be a bit boggy & may still be closed - check with Parkes Victoria via their website of phone the District Ranger - I have found all of them very helpful and cooperative, provided you're doing the right thing.

The camper trailer shouldn't be a problem provided the tracks stay dry. Personally I wouldn't tow a trailer there as some of the climbs are quite steep and long (> 3kms) and can become pretty greasy when wet. Some can be done as day trips while leaving the CT behind and this would be advisable in some areas irrespective of the weather.

Re camp sites, I'd suggest that you go to Fry's Flat in lieu of Sheepyard - a very nice large area with the Howqua River running around two sides of it - take an inflatable mattress of inner tube and enjoy a float down about 500+ meters of river - very refreshing on a hot day. Sheepyard is not bad but usually a lot more crowded.
Other nice campsites are Horseyard Flat (near the Pinnacles or the top of Bill Goat Bluff), Charlies Creek (southern end of Davies Plain) and Bentley's Plain near Moscow Villa (north of the western end of Camp Oven Gap Rd).

You mention going to Omeo and Mitta Mitta after Buchan but I'd suggest that after Omeo you head towards Tom Groggin via My Anderson and Mt Pinnibar for some spectacular views of the Murray valley, Crackenback Range and Mts Kosciusko and Townsend.

I have some tracklogs and photos of most of the area, if you're interested drop me a PM. I'll be away this weekend but will get back to you ASAP if required.

Anyway, have a good trip and enjoy another great part of this country we live in.

Just to add my bit - I used to Live in Licola, and saw a lot of people caught short by the weather up there. As Xtreme noted, you can get totally different conditions from day to day, and in December, you could get freezing cold, very hot, dry or flooding, and there isn't a "Usual" or "expected" weather pattern for that time of year.
Having camped up in various locations up in the National Park at all times of the year, I have seen high thirties in early December, and I have been snowed in with 2 feet of snow in the last week of November, so pack for any eventuallity. I cannot stress that enough. The amount of times I've seen people turn up in town with borderline Hypothermia is amazing, even late in the year - take some good quality wet weather gear and warm clothes/thermals if you have them. Tracks can be very slippery when wet, but apart from that, have a great time - it is a truly beautiful area, and you won't leave dissapointed.

Cheers - Gav