Bushwalk Australia

Spending three days over the Fainters, Niggerheads, and Youngs Hut this weekend.

I remember many years ago, there being a creek running through the middle of Little Plain, just before the Fainters (I'll be camping near the summit of either south or north Fainter), although I'm not too sure how reliable a source it is at the tail end of Summer.

As for Youngs Hut, I've never been there, although I've heard that there may be a spring nearby.

Wondering if anyone can comment on water availability at both areas?

There is a spring at Young's as you approach the hut coming down from the ridge it's on your right, probably 30 metres from the hut.

There was a black pvc pipe to assist with filling. I was last there on Labour Day weekend last year and had no worries.
Probably been there 4 times over the last 5 years and always found water in the spring.
A call to the Border Bushwalking Club (Albury) may help as pretty certain they look after the hut.

Also I camp just below the Fainter South last Nov and Salt Creek had a good flow of water in it. That's the creek you cross before you start the trek up Fainter South.

Good luck with the walk 2 great spots.

Gary Mac

gmac wrote:There is a spring at Young's as you approach the hut coming down from the ridge it's on your right, probably 30 metres from the hut.

There was a black pvc pipe to assist with filling. I was last there on Labour Day weekend last year and had no worries.
Probably been there 4 times over the last 5 years and always found water in the spring.
A call to the Border Bushwalking Club (Albury) may help as pretty certain they look after the hut.

Also I camp just below the Fainter South last Nov and Salt Creek had a good flow of water in it. That's the creek you cross before you start the trek up Fainter South.

Good luck with the walk 2 great spots.

Gary Mac

Cheers, I always remember there being a creek near Fainter, just wasn't too sure of its reliability.

Its definitely a great part of the world. Planning on effectively following the edge of the high plains from Fainter to Youngs Hut. Been on my "to do" list for a long time.

Lophophaps wrote:There are a number of reliable creeks lower down on the ridge, but not so many on the summits. There’s a creek just before the mountain that used to be called Niggerhead. (I can’t recall the name, and can’t spell it either.) If going to there from Youngs Hut, go west up the valley until you reach the saddle, then turn right, northish. The track then descends for about 5-10 minutes, then goes up on a scrubby track, with a fairly reliable creek. From the summit you may be able to find a track or pad over the tops to Little Plain, but I couldn’t see it. From the NH summit I found the best way was down the gully west, then north. The scrub is light if rocky. There’s a good creek at Little Plain, and a bit further north near Fainters. There’s also a soak on the north side of Fainter north. The nearest water to Bogong Jack Hut is probably 600 metre north on the track.

Sweet, thanks for sharing. Looks like I should be in good hands.

Thanks for the info. I am planning to do this trip this Jan. 2016.

Heaps. The creek at Little Plain is reliable year-round. There are soaks and trickles not far below the ridgeline on the way from there to Niggerhead. From there, if you're taking the straight line to Youngs Spur, it might be best to drop down a bit from the eastern saddle to top up, although there is always water near Jim junction, plus the creek between Jim and Youngs Spur.

Direct route over the ridges from Little Plain to Niggerhead and then to Jim undulates a lot and there are some steepish bits east of Niggerhead, but it's mostly pretty easy going, albeit better in the snow. Some pads - partly human, partly brumbies. A really nice little walk.

That sounds good and thanks for the tips on finding water. If I wanted to do this hike in snow would I start from Fall's Creek and head for Pretty valley or Hike up from Harrietville to Fed. hut and then follow the Diamantina spur to Blairs hut and then slog it up to Weston's hut and then proceed from there?. My thighs feel stiff already just typing that route :-0
Parking in winter at Falls and Hotham is daylight robbery!!

p-c-v:
Park at Bogong Village. There are a number of routes you can take from there (or nearby) up to Bogong Jacks and the Fainters. Then over the ridge to Niggerhead and down to Pretty Valley, or pick up the poled route from the saddle east of Tawonga Huts to Jim Junction and the AAWT. From there you have a wide choice of routes to Falls and a number of descent options back to Bogong Village, including buses and hitching.

NNW has a good plan but I'd start at Falls Creek. Doing it that way has less climbing and your transport is at the end, which is nearly all downhill from Bogong Jacks. I'm not sure if the Falls bus will do pickups at Bogong - suggest ask.There's a 4WD track from Fainters to Tawonga Huts. There may be trees down so it could be slow. Descending Diamantina Spur in winter is not advised - too steep, too long.

You can also drive up to Stockyard Gap and park there - the BHP Rd gate is nearby. I've done that as a loop incorporating Cope, Bundara, Jim, Niggerhead and the Fainters and bits of the AAWT in three days over winter, with a shortish last day. Just that the road walking at the start and end is a bit of a drag but it's no more than a couple of hours or so.

HI
Yes the Bogong village to Tawonga huts was my first thought. That seems a bit far for one day in January. I'd be inclined to camp at Salt camp creek near the Fainters and then head for Young's huts on day two .

paidal_chalne_vala wrote:HI
Yes the Bogong village to Tawonga huts was my first thought. That seems a bit far for one day in January. I'd be inclined to camp at Salt camp creek near the Fainters and then head for Young's huts on day two .

Tawonga Huts is too far. Aim for Bogong Jack or Little Plain south of Fainter, has a good creek.

I think I will start from Pretty valley and then fan out from there.

Lophophaps wrote: Descending Diamantina Spur in winter is not advised - too steep, too long.

I have done Diamantina in the winter and going down it is no real problem. Yes it is steep but it is not too long compared to others in the area. There would not be snow on it all the way down in mid winter and at the moment there would be very little anyway for most of it. That aside as already said, it would be a lot of ups and downs going this way.