fainters vs dibbins

[EPICEXPLORER]

In April I'm at falls creek and I'm wondering which of these walks sound better. Factors include, difficutly, views and peacefulness.

1: Mt cope carpark -mt cope-pretty valley-tawonga huts + jaithamaithung then day 2: Tawonga-fainters-tawonga day three Tawonga-pole 333- BACK TO CAR AT MT COPE CARPARCK.

2: Pretty valley-pole 333-dibbins. day 2: dibbins-derick-mt loch-dibbins. day 3: Dibbins-pretty valley

If anyone else has another option let me know as i'm open to suggestions. Though if it evolves a day walk on day 2 it'll be amazing!

Thanks

[Camminata]

First option is is easier mostly undulating , not sure if you would get much peace staying at Tawonga Huts , suggest pushing on towards the Fainters Little plain has a nice spot or further along hardly unlikely anyone will be around there, views are awesome over around the fainters, option 2 is a superhighway great views also maybe Westons is a better option to stay Dibbins may be heaving with tiktokers maybe im dramatising ..... probably more difficult as you are going down into the valley and having to climb back up again.

[EPICEXPLORER]

First option is is easier mostly undulating , not sure if you would get much peace staying at Tawonga Huts , suggest pushing on towards the Fainters Little plain has a nice spot or further along hardly unlikely anyone will be around there, views are awesome over around the fainters, option 2 is a superhighway great views also maybe Westons is a better option to stay Dibbins may be heaving with tiktokers maybe im dramatising ..... probably more difficult as you are going down into the valley and having to climb back up again.

Okay, how far is little plain and most importantly, does it have a waters source

[EPICEXPLORER]

Okay another idea. Pretty valley to little plain+south fainter. day 2 Little plain-youngs hut. day 3 youngs hut -pretty valley via pretty valley track and aawt.

[Baeng72]

Day 1: Mt Cope - Pole 333 - Westons Spur - Blair's Hut.
Day 2: Diamantina Spur - Fed. Hut/Tom Kneen Track for water - Feathertop (more interesting than Mt Loch?) - Diamantina Spur - Blair's/Westons (or Dibbins if taking a different return past Basalt Temple)
Day 3: Start - Pole 333 - Mt Cope

[Lophophaps]

Dibbins Hut does not appeal much as a destination - I've never liked a climb first thing in the day. Diamantina Spur is very steep for the first 400 metres or so of climbing. Out and back the same way should be avoided if possible. Another option.

1 Pretty Valley, Fainter FT to where it meets the pole 333 pole line at 184157, then NW and north over the ridge at about 1760 metres to the saddle and track below Jaithmathang 173166. Up the Jaithmathang track, north on the ridge to Little Plain. There's some scrub on the last leg after Jaithmathang, so plan this carefully. Little Plain environs has water. This is around 10 km, maybe 200 metres of climbing, 4-6 hours. From Little Plain there may be time to climb Fainter South as a side trip.

2 Fainter FT to Tawonga Huts (this track may have been cut back recently), pole 333, pole 267, Youngs Hut. 13 km, maybe 200 metres climbing, 4-6 hours. If you get to pole 267 early then Youngs Hut can be a side trip and continue as for the start of the next day.

3 From the treeline at 1740 metres on the Youngs pole line go NE, east and SE on the wide ridge at around 1770 metres. Go above the boulder fields. At the end it drops off with some delightful sheltered campsites at 1740 metres facing north-east. No water. Continue down the rocky somewhat scrubby bluff in a generally east direction to the saddle at at 1645 metres and High Plains Creek at the big bend. Nice and flat, sheltered, good water. High Plains Creek is a big frost hollow, very cold camping, and no trees- don't camp there. From the big bend go north up the spur to the aqueduct, water in a few places, Ryders Huts, and north to Pretty Valley.12 km, again a few hundred metres of climbing, 6-7 hours.

Apart from Jaithmatahng, Tawonga Huts and a few people on the AAWT there should not be many other parties, especially the off track section.

[EPICEXPLORER]

I've already explored the Feathertop area. Going down Weston's just to climb up a very steep spur is not ideal.
Little plain and Youngs hut is looking pretty good

[Baeng72]

Not ideal? It's exactly what you want!

Or not...

Another idea:
Day 1 Heathy Spur - Ropers Hut - Big River Fire trail.
Day 2 Grey Hills - Spion Kopje
Day 3 return to Heathy Spur

[EPICEXPLORER]

Not ideal? It's exactly what you want!

Or not...

Another idea:
Day 1 Heathy Spur - Ropers Hut - Big River Fire trail.
Day 2 Grey Hills - Spion Kopje
Day 3 return to Heathy Spur

Is that camping at Bogong saddle on night 1. If so that's over 20k's and our group has 3 kids all around 11 and 9 and they aren't to keen on hiking 14+ with packs on. Only their second 3day hike. Same reason not tackling Diamantina.


I

[Baeng72]

Not ideal? It's exactly what you want!

Or not...

Another idea:
Day 1 Heathy Spur - Ropers Hut - Big River Fire trail.
Day 2 Grey Hills - Spion Kopje
Day 3 return to Heathy Spur

Is that camping at Bogong saddle on night 1. If so that's over 20k's and our group has 3 kids all around 11 and 9 and they aren't to keen on hiking 14+ with packs on. Only their second 3day hike. Same reason not tackling Diamantina.


I

Shorten day 1 by not going to Ropers? The walk downhill to Big River seems easy, as you get the gravity assist. But yeah, close to 20KM, but next 2 days not big distance.

[Lophophaps]

The new details about the children make a lot of difference. Big climbs, rocks and scrub are mostly out, so I reckon vary my walk:
1 As above to the saddle below Jaithmathang. Drop packs, climb Jaithmathang, down to Tawonga Huts. Having a hut each night will make a lot of difference.

2 To the 1740 metre treeline on the Youngs pole line. Decision time. Go to Youngs Hut and camp there, leaving a slightly longish day for tomorrow. Or, side trip to Youngs, then back on the poles to around 292, then NE off track to cut High Plains Creek where it's small, more or less due south of Jim. There are a few rock fields. Follow the aqueduct to the Ryders turnoff and get water here. Then it's 10 minutes to the huts. There's good camping in the trees away from the dead timber waiting to go crunch, although I think that all of the timber may have been cut.

3 Back to the aqueducts then northish to Cope Saddle, small hut. From there its' 60-90 minutes to the Pretty Valley car park. An easy morning.

The idea is to get a balance of adventure and achievement without any near-death experiences. They should enjoy the walk and want to do more. Having escape routes is good, and the above walk has several. There's a little bit of trackless walking, with the option to go over the 1740 metre ridge to High Plains Creek. Take great care at the end - lots of rocks. They don't move but they are awkward, and it's a bit scrubby. I'd do this on day 2, get it out of the way so the last day is easy.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The track up to Mt. Jaithmathang from Tawonga huts was cleared in Late Oct. 2024. There is a dry camping area 1/3 of the way up that track
with a snow grass plain, flat places for tents and a view of Mt Feathertop .

BYO water and a trowel for digging a latrine.
The best camping area IMHO on/ near the Fainters fire trail is just above Salt Camp Creek in a small stand of old snow gums. The Fainter South Peak is not far from there.
Young's Hut has
a new drop loo and is wonderful place to camp.
If you are adept at semi untracked walking then Young's top from Young's hut to Mc Namara's hut
is an easy 10 km walk in a day .It is an out and back route from Young's hut and is not on the main drag for hikers up there.

[EPICEXPLORER]

The track up to Mt. Jaithmathang from Tawonga huts was cleared in Late Oct. 2024. There is a dry camping area 1/3 of the way up that track
with a snow grass plain, flat places for tents and a view of Mt Feathertop .

BYO water and a trowel for digging a latrine.
The best camping area IMHO on/ near the Fainters fire trail is just above Salt Camp Creek in a small stand of old snow gums. The Fainter South Peak is not far from there.
Young's Hut has
a new drop loo and is wonderful place to camp.
If you are adept at semi untracked walking then Young's top from Young's hut to Mc Namara's hut
is an easy 10 km walk in a day .It is an out and back route from Young's hut and is not on the main drag for hikers up there.

Yeah, looks like that's near where this guy camped when I was looking at the fainters.

https://goinferalonedayatatime.blogspot ... ogong.html



I won't be hiking up from bogong village , but i was interested where he camped. The plan so far is to skip jaithamaithung and go straight to fainter south and camp near little plain, get water from salt camp creek. Though, does anyone know of a camp near basalt temple and the where the pole 333 line meets aawt. Was mentioned in another blog by that same guy. Wondering about camping there any thoughts? water is a must. Thanks

[paidal_chalne_vala]

There is no water on the AAWT from pole 267 to the Basalt temple and down to Cobungra Gap. You must cart extra water for that area. There are places to camp along that route.
Young's Hut camping area is nearby if you are at pole 267 and it has a spring , a new pit loo and a hut which is maintained by The Border Bushwalking club of Albury / Wodonga.
There are alpine tarns ( ponds of water ) near Pole 333 but it is very exposed to everything the weather can throw at you .
Plus there is no loo and there are no trees or large boulders to go behind to dig a hole for nature's call.
I think it is better to look after the fragile alpine environment up there above the treeline
and use a designated camp site with a pit loo if possible.
Tawonga Huts and Weston's hut are not that far from Pole 333 .
At least Salt camp creek is not a peak bushwalking area. Plus the trees provide some shelter from the sun and wind.
Salt Camp Creek is reliable as a water source but it is situated in a frost hollow and is not a great place to camp.
Go 100 M. further along the Fainter Fire trail up the short rise and camp there in the trees.

The whole BHP area looks quite different without snow. Pole 333 is quite a different place when out there on touring skis!
I know the area quite well in white and green seasons.
If you are walking from Cope saddle hut or Ryder's hut along the AAWT to Pole 333 then going off the pole line
and straight over Mt . Bundara gives you some good views of the area and there are some amazing old snow gum trees up there.
From Pole 267 you can go as the crows flies over the high point , behind Mt. Jim
and down to the small reservoir at the end of the aqueduct that goes past
Ryder's hut. This shaves off quite a bit of distance that you would otherwise encounter
slavishly following the AAWT pole line from Cope saddle Hut to Pole 333 and then
over to Pole 267 and then either over to Young's hut or over to the Basalt temple.
Get a map out and see if you can what I mean. Don't do it if you
are rubbish are navigation and / or the fog sets in.

[EPICEXPLORER]

Thanks for all the information i think i have a good idea of what i'll do.

[Xplora]

There is no water on the AAWT from pole 267 to the Basalt temple and down to Cobungra Gap. You must cart extra water for that area. There are places to camp along that route.

How much extra would you recommend people carry for this 3km of waterless, formed downhill track?

The whole BHP area looks quite different without snow. Pole 333 is quite a different place when out there on touring skis!
I know the area quite well in white and green seasons.
If you are walking from Cope saddle hut or Ryder's hut along the AAWT to Pole 333 then going off the pole line
and straight over Mt . Bundara gives you some good views of the area and there are some amazing old snow gum trees up there.

There is a lot of low scrub over Mt. Bundara and no clear track. It is nice but picking your way through the scrub might not be pleasant. Your recollection could be more winter than summer. It also seems a little counter-intuitive to walk from Ryders back to the AAWT at Cope Saddle Hut. It is too hard to cross the aqueduct to by-pass Cope Saddle Hut and go over Mt. Bundara. Easier to continue from Ryders on the aqueduct track until the end and walk up High Plains creek, keeping Mt. Jim on your right. In the distance is the basalt rock outcrop (ridge) running north/south that Lops mentioned but there is a break (quite obvious and almost on a westerly bearing) in it that you can walk through with no scrambling. Once through it you should pick up the pole line of the AAWT but you actually join it about half a km north of pole 267. Easier going than trying to go direct to the 267 as described by you in reverse (see below). There is no track along High Plains creek but the walking is easy apart from negotiating a creek running off Mt. Jim and a bit of wet area just past the start of the aqueduct.

From Pole 267 you can go as the crows flies over the high point , behind Mt. Jim
and down to the small reservoir at the end of the aqueduct that goes past
Ryder's hut. This shaves off quite a bit of distance that you would otherwise encounter
slavishly following the AAWT pole line from Cope saddle Hut to Pole 333 and then
over to Pole 267 and then either over to Young's hut or over to the Basalt temple.
Get a map out and see if you can what I mean. Don't do it if you
are rubbish are navigation and / or the fog sets in.

[Lophophaps]

A while ago the track from Bogong Village to The Springs was closed,

Southbound on the main pole line I'd get a litre or two a bit before pole 267, and that will last until Dibbins. Pole 267 to Dibbins is maybe 90 minutes. Westons is a very long way down if one is going back the next day. Tawonga Huts appeals more.

Getting from Ryders Huts to Bundara involves a but of acrobatics getting over the pipe. On my last two trips it was open trackless walking, dodging a bit of scrub, best reserved for fine weather. The summit plateau is very broad. On the west side as the slope goes down you can go north-west to hit the AAWT, straight ahead to Jim, or veer left to the small dam.

From the dam stay on that side until level with Jim – the south side has a number of rocky sections, ankle breakers. Going the other way I've found it best to continue to well past pole 267, then north-east. This avoids most of the rocky bits. Cross High Plains Creek high, level with Jim.

Pipes above Ryders, closest water to the hut

East side of Bundara

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Keep in mind that at Ryder's hut there is now a proper drop Loo with pods for chopper removal of human waste.
We skied out to Ryder's hut from the Bogong Rover Chalet in early August 2024 in a snow fall. Visibility was not good but the fresh snow was excellent.
We also skiied behind Mt. Cope to create a loop. The route leaves the aqueduct and
climbs up behind Mt. Cope and heads towards the BHP road car park for Mt. Cope walking track .
We crossed the said pole line that leads from the BHP road to Mt. Cope and rejoined the BHP road near Cope Hut car park.
The things you can do going as the crows flies on ski touring gear on the BHP are amazing .

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I have just returned from bushwalking on the BHP.
There is good water at Little Plain and Salt Camp Creek both flowing and crossing the Fainter Fire track. The crowds at Tawonga Huts can be evaded if you walk 5 kms further on towards The Fainters.
There were very few people at Young's hut. We encountered a horse riding group and approximately ten horses at McNamara's hut after walking over Young's top from Young's hut.
I will issue a full trip report soon.
If you can navigate reliably in a quasi off track environment then Young's top as an out and back bushwalk to camp at Mcnamara's hut from Young's hut is quite the remote bush walking experience.
You will see NOBODY out there and you are on your own in terms of navigation and maintaining your safety and orientation.