Feathertop Loop ? My prom trip got cancelled :(

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Apart from the Diamantina Spur being a steep and relentless pain in the a**** ,
the whole area will be far too busy with campers and walkers for my tastes during the Easter/ April School Holidays period.
The OP will be having type 2 and type 3 fun for sure.

[Staceykate]

So my husband can read topographic maps (I've had my first lesson!) Only been married 9 years and I had no idea he knew how to do that He's a country bred boy...

He's looked on the Getlost map and there are 2 tracks that come off Diamantina at the end towards the river. A few GPX files that he has seen, show the southern track as being the one people take. The map he has from Maps VIC shows the top track.

He's wondering which is better (if one is) - the steep sections look different, obviously not one flat and one steep, but steep in different sections, but just wondering any recommendations on which track to take (or even if there really is two tracks?)

Pic attached...

[andrewp]

The southern one is the only track. This is what is shown on OSM. The northern one is as shown by VICMaps, but is no longer there (and hasn't been for a long time).

[Lophophaps]

A few months ago when I went up Diamantina I did not see the northern track. If it's faint then this is understandable as I was in an advanced state of decay at 1400 metres, a condition that eased on the journey home. Online maps often have false information, one reason I asked about the Tom Kneen shortcut. It really would help if maps such as the above had 100 metre contours thicker and the altitude numbers in a black typeface. Brown typeface is hard to read. Black is beautiful.

[badd0g]

Also, is the Tom Kneen Track so signposted, or does the sign say NW Spur?

Turnoff sign to MUMC is noted as the Tom Kneen track

[Lophophaps]

Turnoff sign to MUMC is noted as the Tom Kneen track

Thank you. Maps and the Vicnames maps at
https://maps.land.vic.gov.au/lassi/VicnamesUI.jsp
not helpful. The screen shots below are from Vicnames.

[north-north-west]

Stacey, most snakes will slither away. Some snakes are aggressive, notably Tiger snakes.

They aren't aggressive, they just don't like giving ground. Keep at a distance, make plenty of noise and, if all else fails, throw something (that won't hurt) at them.

[badd0g]

Turnoff sign to MUMC is noted as the Tom Kneen track

Thank you. Maps and the Vicnames maps at
https://maps.land.vic.gov.au/lassi/VicnamesUI.jsp
not helpful. The screen shots below are from Vicnames.

Lop, not sure if you've seen it but this article is a wealth of info on the history of the area. Suggests that the NW track was renamed in 1985 after Tom Kneen's death. Most maps still have NW track denoted despite the signage
https://www.australianmountains.com/feathertop

[Lophophaps]

Badd0g. I had seen that link; thanks for posting it. There's one minor correction. The first Federation Hut had the airlock on the inside, under the mezzanine floor. Under that air lock there were steep steps to a tank under the floor, cramped and awkward. Around 1971-72 the airlock was moved outside to the position shown with the red door and two walkers. I know this as I was in the work party that did this. The weekend that Tom died was busy, two other searches. Tom's body was not found until spring, way down Avalanche Gully.

[Staceykate]

Forecast isn't looking great for the Razorback... very windy.

Lops, is your bogong loop you sent more sheltered?

[Lophophaps]

Stacey, the high plains walk is exposed but the campsites are more sheltered than Federation. The Bungalow is sheltered up to the hut. Razorback is very exposed. Your proposed loop is more committing than the high plains, which has six huts. Diamantina is a slog, rough on the knees but okay if you take it slowly. The rocky sections require care. At about 1500 metres you are in the trees, sheltered to the road, Cobungra Gap, Dibbins and nearly all the way to Derrick Hut. The last 90 minutes from there are exposed. From the bottom of Diamantina you are committed to two routes. Forget about going back. Go up Machinery Spur or Swindlers Spur.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

My Friend Ms. C. is going out over the Bogong High Plains this weekend with her hiking chum :-0.

I told her to keep each hut on her route in mind as a refuge from driving winds, rain and snow and do not take short cuts from the pole lines in poor visibility.

The OP would be wise to avoid the Razorback over the coming Friday to Tuesday period. The Summit of Mt. FT would be sketchy in these conditions and the views would be minimal. The Diamantina spur in bad weather is not a place I would like to be.
As LOPS has commented The Bungalow Spur is a safe route up to Fed. Hut in foul weather but proceeding past it has been nearly impossible in some white season trips I have done. Even in Autumn storms the poor visibility and wind chill can be nasty.
I have done it in white season in foul weather a number of times :-0. Even then it required some inner resolve to push onto Fed. hut and get out of the elements and warm the eff up, what with deep snow, driving winds , icy temperatures and all !.Even when it is just raining cats and dogs and miserable ,The Bungalow Spur track is still sheltered but stopping just to eat is not always an option in such bleak weather.

Overall staying in the tree line is wise when the weather turns feral.

If the OP has experience of knowing the early signs of Hypothermia then that is good.

Pole 333 on the Bogong High Plains could be a good place to re enact the last hours of Scott of the Antarctic!.


Mt . Stirling offers good easy to navigate walking or XC skiing in season , many warm and dry huts and a more sheltered mountain experience.

[Lophophaps]

PCV, I don't need pole 333 for a re-enactment! The last one is between Cope Hut and Cope Saddle last Christmas.

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The weekend at Falls Creek looks bleak.
http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/fallscreek.shtml

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The OP could consider a walk to Ritchie's hut on the Howqua river coming in from 8 Mile Flat. The hut is spacious and has a fire place. The setting is soothing and peaceful and well within the tree line.

[Lophophaps]

See PM.

[Staceykate]

We made it !!