Page 5 of 9
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Fri 12 Mar, 2021 8:12 amby Baeng72
Lophophaps wrote:The scales may not be the same for the spurs but the profiles are correct. I'd be happy if my pack was 30 kg lighter, like a helium balloon.
From Bogong Jack turn Fainter North then go on the track for a short way, then off track to the summit. From there off track or with a bit of track to Fainter South. Pick up the track to Little Plain, then south-west to the ridge, which is followed to Jaithmathang. It's lovely walking with mainly open and flat terrain, a few scrubby patches, rocky outcrops and a rocky summit. From Jaithmathang, down the track to the saddle south of the summit and west of Tawonga Huts, passing reliable water, good if you want to camp in the saddle. From the saddle it's possible to go south-east on the ridge to meet the Tawonga Hut pole line about half way between the Fainter FT and pole 333.
The picture below is from Fainter North, looking south. The track is just visible on the shoulder on the left in the middle distance.
From Fainter.jpg
Nice photo! I can see the track where you point it out. The walk/views look like a great reward for the long walk up.
I didn't know there was a Pole line from Tawonga Hut. I just thought it was from Mt Hotham to Mt Bogong.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Fri 12 Mar, 2021 8:14 amby Baeng72
paidal_chalne_vala wrote:Closer examination of the new SV Map of the Bogong Alpine area shows that they claim there is a hut on the summit of Mt.Bogong , there are a number of huts along the Bogong Creek tramway and water race and many other fanciful , false and incorrect things are denoted on this map . It is a hard copy map which is rapidly becoming a joke the more I look at it.
I think there was a summit hut, and what remains of it is now the cairn at the summit.
One more profile for comparison. As I said, Long Spur is aptly named.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Fri 12 Mar, 2021 9:25 amby Lophophaps
The Bogong Summit Hut was located a few minutes down from the main pole line, near the creek. The hut was very hard to find in bad conditions, and in later years filled with snow. If you look carefully near the creek above the track you can see traces. From the sleeping bench it was possible to look over the top of the door - a huge gap - and see lights in the valley
In 1976 (I think that was the year) Summit, Bivouac and Aertex Huts were intentionally burnt, a good idea as all were marginal. There was a plan to have a hut under the summit cairn. Right. Highest mountain in Victoria, exposed, no shelter, no toilet areas, no toilet, cramped, totally dark, door likely to be frozen in winter. Sanity prevailed.
A 1973 picture of Summit Hut is below. Note the track, lots of grass.
The map below shows the pole line from pole 333 to Tawonga Huts. The red arrows show the approximate routes that I describe. The picture is from pole 333 looking along the Tawonga Huts pole line. The bumps at the back are either Jaithmathang or the Fainters. Clockwise from the Tawonga Huts poles are Cope, pole 267 and Westons, the one at an angle.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 22 Mar, 2021 5:55 pmby bigkev
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 22 Mar, 2021 9:21 pmby Lophophaps
Kev, thanks, good detail. The main problems with this is that the start at the Bogong High Plains Road is on a blind corner with limited parking. As far as I can see the nearest parking is the inside corner a few hundred metres up the road at the start of The Springs Track, or maybe park at the top of Main Street. The inside corner appeals more as it's possible to get off the bitumen a little more than elsewhere. I'm tending to go up The Springs Track and turn the fence on the right to meet your route.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 23 Mar, 2021 10:17 amby Baeng72
Thanks BigKev!
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 23 Mar, 2021 10:17 amby Baeng72
What kind of night time temps can you expect up on the BHP in April? I'm guessing around 0. If I can find a window in the weather where it's fine (or not a blizzard with howling gale at least) that fits in with time I'm free I'll sneak up there and see what (mis)adventure I can get up to.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 23 Mar, 2021 11:02 amby stry
Baeng72 wrote:What kind of night time temps can you expect up on the BHP in April? I'm guessing around 0. If I can find a window in the weather where it's fine (or not a blizzard with howling gale at least) that fits in with time I'm free I'll sneak up there and see what (mis)adventure I can get up to.
That's my plan
Plus, hopefully, a quick trip this week - depending.
Make sure that you heed Moondog55's oft repeated advice that temperatures out on BHP can be significantly lower than temps forecast for Falls Creek. I can confirm, from my most recent (precovid), BHP trip that this is wise advice.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 23 Mar, 2021 11:06 amby Baeng72
The BOM says the mean min for April is 3.2C at Falls. So, I'm guessing frosty temps at or a bit below 0 would be the expected.
Especially if it's a clear weather, then without cloud, the temp will drop overnight more.
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/ ... 3084.shtml
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 23 Mar, 2021 1:16 pmby Lophophaps
I've had zero degrees on the Bogong High Plains in most months, and snow in summer. Last Christmas, one night at 1660 metres was cold, with ice on the tent. If you stay above the frost hollows, under trees and out of the wind it will be warmer.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Sun 28 Mar, 2021 1:08 pmby Lophophaps
Going east on the Feathertop summit track the Tom Kneen Track is passed. Are there any other tracks leading to the Tom Kneen Track, MUMC or the north Razorback past this point? Also, where does one park at the bottom? Is this at the start or closer to Harrietville?
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Sun 28 Mar, 2021 8:07 pmby Baeng72
This doesn't suggest that there's much beyond North razorback and Tom Kneen.
I've read that you park beside a trout farm for Tom Kneen and there's a 2WD accessible track up to the gate on Stony Tops to access North Razorback.
- Trout Farm
- feather2.JPG (104.33 KiB) Viewed 20775 times
- Stony Tops
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Sun 28 Mar, 2021 9:33 pmby Lophophaps
Thanks. Is there parking at the start of the Bungalow Spur walking track? There's some room on the road, but not much. I've seen parking about 500 metres down the road, before the creek, south side in a paddock.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Sun 28 Mar, 2021 10:20 pmby Baeng72
I did the hike up the Bungalow spur in Nov 2020, and you parked just at the trailhead.
But I've read (I read too much, never do, call me Gunna. I'm gunna do something one day....), that the carpark is now like you say, down the road at Tronoh reserve (Tronoh Monster was a mobile dredge that basically smashed the river flats for aluvial gold and left billabongs/holes - apologies if you know this).
Council has been working with the community, the Tronoh Reserve Committee of Management and Parks Victoria to facilitate suitable, safe parking for visitors to the popular Bungalow Spur Walking Track up Mount Feathertop.
This week new signage will be visible to those visiting the walking track:
- A series of permanent signs will designate the area immediately opposite the existing trailhead on Feathertop Track as a drop off zone only, designed for motorists to drop off and collect walkers and their equipment.
- A temporary Variable Message Sign will be installed to direct motorists to a new carparking area in the Tronoh Reserve and limit vehicular traffic on Feathertop Track.
.
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to- ... -spur-walk
- feathertop4.JPG (180.18 KiB) Viewed 20761 times
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 29 Mar, 2021 9:30 amby Lophophaps
Thanks. A few months ago I walked down the Bungalow Spur and there was parking on the south side as shown on your map. The picture was taken in the wet and the quality is poor, but it shows the parking area. The car park will have to be sealed or it will turn into mud.
- Bungalow Spur car park January 2021
- Bungalow parking.JPG (175.5 KiB) Viewed 20705 times
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 29 Mar, 2021 10:19 amby peregrinator
A tangential question, if I may? Are there places in or around Harrietville that are suitable for sleeping in a car on the night before setting off on any of the three spurs mentioned above?
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 29 Mar, 2021 11:39 amby Baeng72
This is purely speculation on my part:
Not sure about the situation re Plods, but there's a public toilet with car park just as you're leaving town at the Hotham end. I'd think that'd be a place you could park and have a nap.
I would've said the trailhead for the Bungalow Spur, but that's a drop-off zone now, so someone will get miffed if cars are parked all night. It might be OK in the new carpark.
The Bon-Accord trailhead is on a gravel road, but you might be able to park there at dusk and snooze away.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 29 Mar, 2021 12:19 pmby stry
peregrinator wrote:A tangential question, if I may? Are there places in or around Harrietville that are suitable for sleeping in a car on the night before setting off on any of the three spurs mentioned above?
Apart from the spots already named, you could simply hide anywhere out of sight of houses, so that the visual presence of a unknown car doesn't concern residents
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 29 Mar, 2021 3:31 pmby Xplora
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Wed 31 Mar, 2021 8:06 amby paidal_chalne_vala
Big Kev's detailed photos are very useful. Trying to crawl under the gate esp. with a pack loaded with BC XC skis would be a nuisance. I have crawled under the gate before for an overnight camp at Bogong Jack Saddle .
How cold does it get up above 1500 M. in March and April?. I have had frost on both instances this month. Be prepared for COLD nights.
The Night before any Mt. FT trip used to involve a camp site by the Ovens river near the old bridge that joins Snowy Creek road. It is just before Freeburgh .
Going up to the Fainters is a slog if you start at the Bogong Village end. I can recommend starting at Big Hill and taking the West Kiewa Logging road and the Saddle Spring fire track( name ? ) to the Spring Saddle and going from there.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Wed 19 May, 2021 2:16 pmby Lophophaps
It's not worth starting a thread on this. What are the rocks on the summit of Feathertop? Shale? Granite? Also, where can a rock map be found? Suggestions along the lines of the JJJ top 50 chart will not be entertained.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Thu 20 May, 2021 11:04 pmby icefest
Lophophaps wrote:It's not worth starting a thread on this. What are the rocks on the summit of Feathertop? Shale? Granite?
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Thu 27 May, 2021 10:23 amby Lophophaps
Icefest, thanks. It took a while to work out how to use
https://gsv.vic.gov.au/sd_weave/anonymous.html but it's powerful magic. David Higgins of the Geological Survey of Victoria was of great assistance in explaining the site.
Feathertop has Pinnak Sandstone (Oap), which does not stand of Old Age Pensioner.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Thu 27 May, 2021 1:54 pmby icefest
I've downloaded all the data and imported it into QGIS (a mapping data program) and exported from that, but that's a whole level more complex than that mapping server you've linked.
The biggest issues ive found is that the original documents describing the geological layers (from the 60's) are still locked behind a 60$ paywall, so I can't read them....
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 07 Jun, 2021 12:25 pmby Lophophaps
Is the following correct?
From Loch car park go uphill on the road for a few minutes, then turn left on the management track to the summit of Hotham. From there go south-west on the ridge on a foot track, then steeply down to a gentler descending traverse to Diamantina Hut.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Mon 07 Jun, 2021 4:29 pmby Baeng72
I haven't done it, but looks like there are tracks.
- Loch carpark to Diamantina Hut
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 08 Jun, 2021 7:15 amby Lophophaps
Thanks. The huts should have the names swapped. I'm reasonably sure that the management track ends at or near the summit, and that it's a foot track south-west down the ridge.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 08 Jun, 2021 7:43 amby Baeng72
Now that you mention it, the hut names are wrong on the GetLost map.
Take it with a healthy pinch of salt.
I just looked at my SV Bogong Alpine Area map and it only shows a track from 'The Cross' up to Hotham summit and then over to Diamantina Hut.
But the SV map shows a Hut on the summit of Mt Bogong, which is where I got the idea that there was a hut there at one stage in the past, but it appears the hut wasn't at the summit, so again, take it with a pinch of salt.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 08 Jun, 2021 8:36 amby Xplora
Lophophaps wrote:Is the following correct?
From Loch car park go uphill on the road for a few minutes, then turn left on the management track to the summit of Hotham. From there go south-west on the ridge on a foot track, then steeply down to a gentler descending traverse to Diamantina Hut.
Ski runs I would think.
Baeng72 wrote:Now that you mention it, the hut names are wrong on the GetLost map.
Take it with a healthy pinch of salt.
I just looked at my SV Bogong Alpine Area map and it only shows a track from 'The Cross' up to Hotham summit and then over to Diamantina Hut.
But the SV map shows a Hut on the summit of Mt Bogong, which is where I got the idea that there was a hut there at one stage in the past, but it appears the hut wasn't at the summit, so again, take it with a pinch of salt.
There was once a summit hut on Bogong but it was burnt down along with other huts (arson) Oct 1978.
Re: Bogong High Plains region tracks
Posted:
Tue 08 Jun, 2021 8:55 amby Baeng72
Bear with me, I don't do this concise & precise communication thing well....
There was a hut on Mt Bogong called the 'Summit Hut'.
What I thought, and SV maps indicates is the Summit Hut was located at the summit, where there is now a large stone cairn.
I think I read somewhere that the cairn was composed of rocks from the same hut.
But, I've seen a photo, which I believe Lophophaps or some other denizen of these parts posted indicating it was on the summit ridge or just below, but not near the highest point and it was made of corrugated iron, and not rocks like at the summit cairn.
I can't find the link, but this might be the same from a different angle:
