Hannel's Spur is the greatest vertical ascent in Australia – a knee-trembling 1800m over 15km from Geehi Flat (420m) to the Summit of Mt Kosciuszko (2228m) this is no folly! Even better, three-quarters of the ascent is in the first half of the route. Recent track work by volunteers including NSW Parks and Wildlife rangers and ANUMC life-member Tim Macartney-Snape, has taken away much of the fallen timber and cut a path through the worse of the regrowth after the 2003 and 2006 Bushfires. This makes the route a bit easier, but certainly not easy.
The plan is to camp overnight at Geehi Flat on Friday night. We then depart Geehi Flat at 7am - aiming for ascent of Hannel's Spur and reach Byatt's Flat for camp by about 8 hours. We camp overnight at Byatt's Flat. We then depart Byatt's Camp Sunday morning for Hannel's Track to intersect Main Range Track then head south towards Crackenback and then take track down Dead Horse Gap by about 1-2pm.
Depending on timing - we eat dinner at Cooma at Alpine Hotel.
If the weather the conditions are not suitable the trip is off. However if things are good - 5 people and two cars is the optimum group number.
We will only be taking experienced and known participants on this. Needless to say you need to know how to overnight camp, be fit (I am assuming I am going to be the weakest link on this walk) and up for Type 2 fun. The benefit is the challenge of doing the biggest ascent or descent, and for those mountaineers, good hill climbing - hehe.
The overall proposed route between Dead Horse Gap and Geehi is about 26km and about 1800m ascent.
Stay Friday night at Geehi Flat. Depart Geehi Flat at 7am - aiming for ascent of Hannel's Spur and reach Byatt's Flat for camp by about 8 hours. Camp overnight at Byatt's Flat. Depart Byatt's Camp sunday morning for Hannel's Track to intesect Main Range Track then head south towards Crackenback and take track down Dead Horse Gap by about 1-2pm. Have early dinner at Cooma.