Hotham bus, Derrick, Paling Spur

[Lophophaps]

A walk is planned over the Bogong High Plains, starting at Loch car park, finishing at Harrietville. Does anyone know if the bus will stop at Loch car park? It is intended to go up Paling Spur, but I cannot find any recent advice about this route. From Derrick Hut there are two options. From about pole 135 go SE then ENE to Swindlers Gap, then downstream, and up Paling. The other is to go to Dibbins and then downstream. There is a pad in the Cobungra-Swindlers area, and there may be a faint pad up Paling Spur.

I'm a bit concerned about regrowth. Can anyone advise if these proposals are viable, and if the scrub is more or less easily negotiable? Is one way better than another? TIA.

[swills]

I have walked from Dibbins hut to Paling spur the track follows the side of the valley and then drops down into the river where it was lost. Walking along the river valley was quite hard as you couldn't see where you were stepping for the undergrowth and lots of hidden holes (leg breakers). Another route to consider is the new aqueduct trk from Blue Ribbon access trk to Brandy Ck mine then down to the river and then upstream to Paling spur. Have a map and compass handy on top as it is easy to veer off the route, lots of brumby tracks.

[andrewp]

I have also waked from Dibbins to Paling Spur a few years ago and don't remember any particular problems. There is a definite footpad, but it is a bit difficult to follow in places, especially getting the right spot to leave the Cobungra. The track is marked on my Bogong Alpine Leisure map, and it is also shown on Forest Explorer http://nremap-sc.nre.vic.gov.au/MapShare.v2/imf.jsp?site=forestexplorer. The track goes up over Swindlers Gap and then down to Swindlers Creek and then follows Swindlers to Paling Spur. Be prepared to cross several times.

The spur you mention to Swindlers Gap is another option. I would expect it to be a bit scrubby. I recently came up a spur further along Swindlers directly to Spargo Hut. It was quite scrubby.

I wouldn't advise following the Cobungra all the way to Paling.

The track up Paling Spur is pretty well defined now. It's now quite easy to follow.

[madmacca]

The bus dropped me at Diamantina Spur by request, so I'm sure that Mt Loch carpark will be no problems.

[Lophophaps]

Thanks all. Knowing the bus will probably stop at Loch car park is helpful; walking that road is not much fun. An assessment of which way to go will be made on the day.

[vicpres]

An excellent source of information about the affect of the bushfires and subsequent regrowth is Andrew Swift, the Walking Track Manager and Cultural Heritage Officer for the Mt Hotham Alpine Resort. Andrew is responsible for all aspects of the walking tracks around Hotham and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the area. You should be able to contact him via the Mt Hotham Resort web site.

[Lophophaps]

Chris, thanks. I had not thought of Hotham Heights as the proposed walk is mostly outside the HH resort area.

[Lophophaps]

The route will probably be down Brandy Creek Fire Track and up Paling Spur. If the weather is poor when the bus drops the party, a place to hide in is sought. JB Hut is adequate, but it's too far away. Are there any other shelters in this region?

[stansi]

There's a shelter at Wire Plain with pit toilet, and a shelter at Whisky Flat (the biathlon range).

[CaptainC]

I walked Paling Spur on Labour Day and it was able to be followed although it could do with clearing.