Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Trip reports, stories, track notes. Multiple/large photos are OK in this forum.
Forum rules
Posting large/multiple images in this forum is OK. Please start topic titles with the name of the location or track.

For topics focussed on photos rather than the trip, please consider posting in the 'Gallery' forum instead.

This forum is for posting information about trips you have done, not for requesting information about a track or area.

Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby akl168 » Tue 10 Mar, 2015 7:13 pm

Although school had just started, my wife and I decided to take the kids out for an overnight walk - before the school routine really settled in and we became full time "taxi drivers". So at short notice, and with the weather looking promising, we headed out for an overnight during the first week of February. We had never been there and were especially looking forward, especially after reading everyone's reports and eyeing their photos. We decided to do an out and back on the Razorback. We left home at 0500 and arrived just before 1100. There were already 18 cars parked by the side of the road - I counted. By the time we signed the intentions log, I saw the 20th vehicle pull up! Tent city...?

Feathertop Start.jpg
An amazing start to the walk
Feathertop Start.jpg (181.76 KiB) Viewed 11076 times

The weather that Saturday was hot, really hot. Windless, sunny, and hot. The trail, as all would know, is above treeline. It was near impossible trying to get any shade when stopping for a drink. It was just sunscreen, drink, one foot in front of the other. Fortunately, the views were astounding. Breathtaking. Right from the word go, as the trail snaked its way past the sides of the hills, there were 360 degree views of mountains. We passed a number of day hikers on their way back out. Perhaps it wouldn't be tent city at Federation Hut after all.

It took us almost right on 4 hours to reach the hut. I was so stuffed from the heat, I pretty much just had a cuppa, sitting on the "veranda" of the hut. No other campers were here yet. There was a solo hiker having his lunch near the water tank (he "saddled" up and left after his lunch). After almost 30 minutes enjoying my coffee and "recovering", we chose a spot and pitched the two tents. Earlier on we had passed a group of 3 young adults, and a group of 8 (I think) seniors. They were now rolling in and setting up too. There are quite a number of grassy spots for tents, everyone was spoilt for choice.

Feathertop Hills.jpg
The hills are alive...
Feathertop Hills.jpg (237.87 KiB) Viewed 11076 times

At 1600, we decided we'd better make a move and head to the top of Mt Feathertop. It's about 10 km from the car to the hut, and about 2 km from the hut to the top. Some of the seniors had dumped their packs at the intersection before the hut and we met them coming down from the summit. The oldest is 73! I hope to be overnight-ing when I'm that age too, it was inspiring. The last two "summits" we visited were Bogong and Durd-Durd, which are both very broad and expansive. The top of Feathertop was very small in comparison, it was neat being able to spin around looking at all the other places, and truly get the sense that you were on top. My sons were disappointed with the lack of a summit cairn, so we scrounged around and only found 4 tiny rocks. So there is a base for the summit cairn now. You all add the next levels...

Feathertop Descent.jpg
Descending from the summit
Feathertop Descent.jpg (181.1 KiB) Viewed 11076 times

While on top, a glider buzzed us (or would that be "whooshed us") - it was cool. At points, the pilot was "low" enough that we were probably only a few feet lower than him/her! So, pilot with tail rego XOR - if you were flying around Mt Feathertop on Feb 07 - let me know, I have some great pictures. Soon we were back at camp getting ready for dinner. There was quite a crowd by now, maybe 20? It never felt too crowded though. We looked for the cache near the huts before dinner. As the sun set, the entire western flank of the Razorback glowed orange. It was a wonderful sight.

Feathertop Glider.jpg
What a wonderful feeling it must be
Feathertop Glider.jpg (95.96 KiB) Viewed 11076 times

We were off by 0700 the next day, trying to beat the heat, and trying to get home earlier rather than later. Even at that time of the day, we could already feel the heat building up. Fortunately, it was partly cloudy, and there was a slight breeze every once in a while. My youngest who was setting the pace up front did happen upon two baby snakes, but they slithered off the trail quickly. Other than that, we just saw ants, lots of them - especially in places I wanted to sit on. We stopped for a cuppa at the 1/2-way mark, and looked at the rain clouds moving in from the NW. Before I could even enjoy my coffee, we were donning the rain jackets. The rain clouds fortunately were small and moving fast. We were taking the jackets off not more than 15 minutes later. We were back at the car at the 3:40 mark, with less water and less heat making the walk easier. All too soon we were driving back to life in the unreal world...

Feathertop Sunrise.jpg
Good morning Feathertop
Feathertop Sunrise.jpg (134.16 KiB) Viewed 11076 times

As I've mentioned in this post, I have picked up a lot of information from this great forum, and I feel it's time I put something back in. Hopefully other parents with kids in the similar age bracket, who are wondering what's out there, can get something useful out of these posts. Many of you have undoubtedly done this walk a number of times. This was our first time. If you and your family haven't done this, you definitely should put it on your to-do list. My kids are 9 and 12 and thoroughly enjoyed this walk. The walk is relatively easy and the views are great. Getting to a summit was a great motivator, so was being able to see the cars towards the end of the walk. We'll be back!

Photos were all taken by my wife on her phone.
Last edited by akl168 on Wed 11 Mar, 2015 5:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
akl168
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 39
Joined: Sat 20 Apr, 2013 5:43 am
Region: Victoria

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby neilmny » Tue 10 Mar, 2015 8:18 pm

Very nice report and photos thanks for posting it.
User avatar
neilmny
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2604
Joined: Fri 03 Aug, 2012 11:19 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby Lophophaps » Wed 11 Mar, 2015 11:05 am

Nice report and nice pics. It's been a long time since I had that sense of awe at Feathertop. That said, the peak and many others like it continue to give great joy.

The glider details are at
http://casa-query.funnelback.com/search ... 1344335542
User avatar
Lophophaps
Auctorita modica
Auctorita modica
 
Posts: 3378
Joined: Wed 09 Nov, 2011 9:45 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby Kinsayder » Wed 25 Mar, 2015 9:06 am

Great work and wonderful trip report! As a father of a 2 and a 5 year old, I cannot wait to take them out to Feathertop (a place that I've visited so many times). We've been starting them on some quite short hikes lately, which they love but no high country so far.
User avatar
Kinsayder
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 361
Joined: Tue 15 Nov, 2011 8:23 am
Region: Victoria

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby eggs » Wed 25 Mar, 2015 9:28 am

Great report - and the phone takes some nice pictures
User avatar
eggs
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 10440
Joined: Fri 23 May, 2008 2:58 pm
Location: Para Vista, South Australia
Region: South Australia

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby Moondog55 » Wed 25 Mar, 2015 9:31 am

Lucky kids to have such great parents
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11066
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby Pika » Mon 30 Mar, 2015 10:49 am

Great stuff.

So good to see kids out and about like that.

Thanks for sharing.
Pika
Atherosperma moschatum
Atherosperma moschatum
 
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue 16 Dec, 2014 9:49 am
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby Travis22 » Mon 30 Mar, 2015 1:58 pm

Thanks for the report and photos, greatly appreciated.

As the father of a 6month old and 2year old, i can only dream right now about doing these sort of trips with our kids. Im sure it wont be as far away as it seems given time appears to be exponentially speeding up!

Travis.
User avatar
Travis22
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 704
Joined: Thu 15 Nov, 2012 7:11 pm
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Mt Feathertop - Kids Overnight Walk - Feb 2015

Postby darrenb » Wed 15 Apr, 2015 2:20 pm

I've wanted to do this walk for years... your report is great inspiration! Maybe my 13 year-old son will join me (before the snow comes).
darrenb
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat 01 Jan, 2011 10:21 pm
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male


Return to VIC Trip Reports & Track Notes

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests