Mt Misery Social Run

Mt. Misery 24

Distance: approx 23.7 km

Altitude Range: approx 321 m

Total Climb: approx 1033 m

1. Starting from Croft Rd, follow Mawson Trail westwards for 3.5 kms. Ignore the Mawson Trail Loop signs which are identical to the Mawson Trail signs except that they have a loop logo. At 3.5 kms, you reach the intersection with the Heysen Trail. This is clearly marked, and there is a glass-fronted map under a roof.
2. Turn left into Heysen Trail and follow this for c.2 kms, entering Montacute Conservation Park, and descending to the bottom of a deep valley. The track turns left and after c.150m take a rough track to the right going up a steep slope.
3.  After c.1.3 kms you reach a gate and just beyond this you come to Stone Hut Rd (signposted) which is also the Mawson Trail.
4. Turn right, and follow this for 2 kms up a steep hill, to the intersection with the Heysen Trail which you passed before.
5. Now turn left into Koch Track/Heysen Trail. After c.1.3 kms you reach the bottom of a steep valley with a camp ground on the right. The track turns sharp right. Immediately, c.20m further on, take an indistinct path to the left. Follow this down a steep bank and across a creek. From here onwards, the route over Mt Misery is usually marked with our signs.
6. Follow a disused track uphill for c. 300m. The track turns round to the right, then continues to the top of a bare hill with magnificent views.
7. Continue in a straight line over this hill, and descend to a saddle. After c.300m from the top of the hill,  go through a gate in front of you.
8. Continue uphill to a ridge. Turn right and you see the Mt Misery trig point. From a point c.150m further on, the Mt Misery Track (not signposted but much used) goes downhill. Follow it for 1.5 kms.
9. At the bottom of a dip, the track forks. The left fork has a sign barring access to vehicles.
10. Follow this for c.400m until you reach an indistinct path on your right, down a steep slope.
11. This brings you back to Koch Track/Heysen Trail. Turn left.
12. After c.1 km you come to a Heysen Trail arrow pointing left off Koch Track. Take this turning.
13. Follow Heysen Trail for c.2.5 kms until you come to Grandad’s Camp on the left and Pratts Track turning right. Follow Pratts Track.
14. After c.300m you reach a fork. It doesn’t matter which fork you take, but I’ve been following the left one which from memory is CC17.
15. After another 1.2 kms which include ascent of a monster hill, you reach an intersection of 7 tracks on a ridge. Turn left into the largest track, which happens to be the only one not signposted! This is Big End Track.
16. Follow this for c.2.5 kms till you reach the bottom of a valley and Fox Creek Rd car park. Ignore turnoff uphill to Old Ned’s Track.
17. Turn right to the furthest end of the car park, and follow a track running away from the car park along the bottom of a valley. This is The Guts Track; but a sign doesn’t appear until 200m later.
18. After another 150m, turn left into Ridge Track, up a steep and long hill.
19. After 2.9 kms of climbing, at the top of a ridge, you come to Farrel Track. Turn right into this and after about one km you return to the start point.

Mt. Misery 15

Distance: approx 15.14 km

Altitude Range: approx 313 m

Total Climb: approx 854 m

DIRECTIONS

1. Starting from Croft Rd, follow Mawson Trail westwards for 3.5 kms. Ignore the Mawson Trail Loop signs which are indentical to the Mawson Trail signs except that they have a loop logo. At 3.5 kms, you reach the intersection with the Heysen Trail. This is clearly marked, and there is a glass-fronted map under a roof.
2. Turn left into Heysen Trail and follow this for c.2 kms, entering Montacute Conservation Park, and descending to the bottom of a deep valley. The track turns left and after c.150m take a rough track to the right going up a steep slope.
3. After c.1.3 kms you reach a gate and just beyond this you come to Stone Hut Rd (signposted) which is also the Mawson Trail.
4. Turn right, and follow this for 2 kms up a steep hill, to the intersection with the Heysen Trail which you passed before.
5. Now turn left into Koch Track/Heysen Trail. After c.1.3 kms you reach the bottom of a steep valley with a camp ground on the right. The track turns sharp right. Immediately, c.20m further on, take an indistinct path to the left. Follow this down a steep bank and across a creek. From here on the route over Mt Misery is usually marked with our signs.
6. Follow a disused track uphill for c. 300m. The track turns round to the right, then continues to the top of a bare hill with magnificent views.
7. Continue in a straight line over this hill, and descend to a saddle. After c.300m from the top a hill, go through the gate in front of you and continue to the Mt Misery trig point.
8. From a point c.150m further on, the Mt Misery Track (not signposted but well used) goes downhill. Follow it for 1.5 kms.
9. At the bottom of a dip, the track forks. The left fork has a sign barring access to vehicles. At this point, turn sharp right into an indistinct track, crossed by many fallen saplings.
10. Follow this for c.400m until you reach an indistinct path on your right, down a steep slope.
11. This brings you back to Koch Track/Heysen Trail. Turn left.
12. Follow Koch Track for one km until you come to a junction with Thomas Hill Track. Ignore left turn into Heysen Trail 250m before this junction.
13. Turn left and follow Thomas Hill Track  back to the start, ignoring a left turn into Munns Track.

Mt. Misery 8

Distance: approx 8.17 km

Altitude Range: approx 254 m

Total Climb: approx 378 m

The tracks referred to are all clearly signposted.

1. Starting from Croft Rd, follow Mawson Trail westwards for 3.5 kms. Ignore the Mawson Trail Loop signs which are indentical to the Mawson Trail signs except that they have a loop logo. At 3.5 kms you reach the intersection with the Heysen Trail. This is clearly marked, and there is a glass-fronted map of the area under a little roof.
2. Turn right into Heysen Trail which is also Koch Track. Follow this for c.3.5 kms. Just before the end, the Heysen Trail diverges to the left. Continue straight on for another 250m until you come to a junction with Thomas Hill Track.
3. Turn left and follow this track back to the start, ignoring a turnoff into Munns Track on the left.