3 day Bogong High Plains hike

[highplainsflamingo]

A group of us are planning a 3-day 2-night hike in the High plains area. Our idea is to...

Day 1: Falls creek up Heathy spur, Join AAWT and walk to Cope hut.
Day 2: Cope hut to Pole 333, and down Weston's to the Diamantina horse yards and camping area.
Day 3: Up Diamantina spur to Mt Feathertop and then across razorback to Hotham.

We are aware that Diamantina spur is steep but we are prepared and have done previous hikes around Mt Feathertop before. We will most likely be going 27-29 September.
Haven't found too much information on it but is the area near Diamantina horse yards suitable to camp?

Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Edit** Most likely go Cope hut to Fed hut in the one day. Then feathertop to hotham last day.

Last edited by highplainsflamingo on Sun 18 Sep, 2016 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[north-north-west]

Horse yards always have campsites.
It's not just the stepth - kind of different having the hardest day at the end.

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

Diamantina horse yards are at the end of a 4 wheel drive track but not sure if the track is open at this time of the year so there may be others there.It has a great couch carved in to a log which I loved and plenty of room to camp.
Just a thought but what about camping at Blairs hut which is only a K or 2 away and you have to hike in to it which rules out 4wders.

[Lophophaps]

A group of us are planning a 3-day 2-night hike in the High plains area. Our idea is to...

Day 1: Falls creek up Heathy spur, Join AAWT and walk to Cope hut.
Day 2: Cope hut to Pole 333, and down Weston's to the Diamantina horse yards and camping area.
Day 3: Up Diamantina spur to Mt Feathertop and then across razorback to Hotham.

We are aware that Diamantina spur is steep but we are prepared and have done previous hikes around Mt Feathertop before. We will most likely be going 27-29 September.
Haven't found too much information on it but is the area near Diamantina horse yards suitable to camp?

Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Edit** Most likely go Cope hut to Fed hut in the one day. Then feathertop to hotham last day.

This is tail-end winter, with the possibility of snow on the eastern and southern falls, and a moderate to high chance of bad weather. As NNW hints, the last day should be relatively easy in case the weather or anything else adverse arrives. Cope to Federation Hut can be done, but it's a bit of a step. You would get to Westons or Blairs for lunch, then maybe four hours from Blairs to The Razorback. From the bend at 276167 it's much nicer to go via Wallaces Hut and the pole line (I think it's still there, certainly a track) north of the AAWT. This was the Alpine Walking Track alignment. Heathy Spur is pleasant, but only as an access for the Nelse-Fitzys region. Starting east then going west is unusual.

Another option.
1 Start at Wallace Gap, then Wallace Hut and the AWT route to where it joins the AAWT, and make Tawonga Huts that night. If disposed, bag Cope and come down the west ridge to hit the Cope East Aquaduct opposite Ryders, where lunch can be had.
2 Next day bag Mt Jaithmathang, then down to Blairs and up Diamantina to Federation. Or you could camp at Twin Knobs and take day packs to Federation, Feathertop, and the creek on the Tom Kneen Track, carry water back to camp, not far.
3 Last day to Hotham.

This has more remote walking, some off-track, and it's nice.

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

Here I am on the couch at Diamantina horse yards camp site

[Xplora]

At this time of year the only option would be to start at Falls Creek. Lops is correct about conditions though and even if there is no snow it will be very wet underfoot. Not sure what is happening with the end of this season but I suspect there will be snow on many parts. Still snow there now but a week could change that. Could be more. This could make the big distances a little harder to achieve but not impossible. If you plan to camp at Cope Hut then do not bother booking a platform. Nobody will check you anyway as the road is closed. The hut is quite comfortable but I prefer the tent. Weather at this time of year is probably the most unpredictable in this region. From Cope Hut across the plain you will likely have a strong head wind and there is little cover. Any rain will be cold rain. If you are doing a car shuttle then it will be expensive as you have to pay both ends but you can get the bus. Bit of a walk at the other end to the bus stop but nothing compared to what you would have done. Another good reason for your edit and making it to Fed hut day 2 if the bus is your option.

[highplainsflamingo]

If you are doing a car shuttle then it will be expensive as you have to pay both ends but you can get the bus. Bit of a walk at the other end to the bus stop but nothing compared to what you would have done. Another good reason for your edit and making it to Fed hut day 2 if the bus is your option.

We have organised a car shuffle so we most likely won't need to catch a bus, but it was a good idea.

Lophophaps, Starting at Wallace's gap would mean parking around there I assume. I always thought the road is shut until sometime in October, but I may be wrong.

[Lophophaps]

If you are doing a car shuttle then it will be expensive as you have to pay both ends but you can get the bus. Bit of a walk at the other end to the bus stop but nothing compared to what you would have done. Another good reason for your edit and making it to Fed hut day 2 if the bus is your option.

We have organised a car shuffle so we most likely won't need to catch a bus, but it was a good idea.

Lophophaps, Starting at Wallace's gap would mean parking around there I assume. I always thought the road is shut until sometime in October, but I may be wrong.

Xplora is right - locked gates until the end of the snow season. My mistake. So the walk will have to start at Falls Creek, and this means getting through the village. Due to this I'm not persuaded that the walk has merit. If the walk proceeds, then why not do a car shuffle Bright-Mt Beauty, or catch the taxi at Bright that meets the Vline bus, about 3 pm I think, arrives at Mt Beauty at about 5.30 pm. Camp at Mt Beauty and take the snow bus to Falls the next day. At Federation, if you leave early enough you could race down Bungalow to catch the Omeo bus, leaves Harrietville at 10.30 am I think. Or camp at Tobias gap, water up the track and room for two tents.

However, I fear that the weather will be as Xplorer advises, and consideration should be given to doing the walk a month later. If you make the walk four days then it could be
1 Wallaces car park - Cope - Tawonga Huts
2 Mt Jaithmathang - Blairs - Diamantina - Federation
3 Razorback - Hotham - Dibbins - Ryders (long day)
4 Mt Cope - Wallaces car park.

This avoids a car shuffle.

[highplainsflamingo]

Yeah might wait until later October for that walk but it will be done. We'll think of a Feathertop or Bogong circuit for next week. Cheers

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Coming up the Diamantina Spur in late Sept.. on the last day will mean you will be making it tough for yourself. It is not a route I plan to walk again for a long time. It is a ball breaker . In the end of white season you could hit a white out en route and /or deep snow drifts which means snow shoes could be in order. Such long hiking distances are more feasible in Late October.