Mt Feathertop winter ascent

[LeftRightShoot]

Gday,

Im after some advice on a winter ascent of Feathertop. Any advice on routes would be great. Overnight is fine. Im aware of cornices being a problem but any information on the area would be much appreciated.

Looking at maybe camping at Federation and MUMC with a day for summiting and playing around with ice axes and whatnot. Is there a nice slope for playing on in that region?

What is the snow like down there?

[neilmny]

Try searching the Victorian track notes. Here's one link from there viewtopic.php?f=46&t=11202

[LeftRightShoot]

cheers. my searching wasnt that good obviously :-/

[Lophophaps]

The easiest access is via the Bungalow Spur, which may be a doddle or may take forever. It may take 4-5 hours to reach Federation, or much longer. One winter we took about three hours to get from the old Bungalow site to Federation, very deep snow indeed. Federation was our high point. It could be an epic to get to MUMC from Federation, or you might find nice hard snow. Going down NW Spur due to inability to return to Federation will be interesting.

Federation is probably the highest sheltered spot that is easy to find. There are others but access is hard to describe. Don't eat yellow snow.

If you go up from Federation to where it meets the ridge and then head towards the summit for about ten minutes there are some nice west faces without the problems of cornices. The gullies south of the summit can be tediously accessed by traversing from here, but this is a serious place. Tom Kneen died there in, from memory, 1985. The MUMC track bears his name.

[Moondog55]

Second that.
Feathertop can be a doddle or a killer, walk up one day /// ice-axe, crampons and ropes the next, I remember one winter when I had to cut steps all the way from Fed hut to the summit as I had left the crampons in Melbourne.
The summit cornices on Feathertop can be huge and sometimes you need to walk 30 to 50 meters away from the edge, if you see cracks in the snow make sure you are at least 10 meters on the downhill side of them.
If you need practice with self arrest the gentle slopes close to the hut are fine until you become competent, self arrest is all about timing, if you wait longer than a tenth of a second it's probably already too late so practice until it becomes instinctive, Snow I have seen from windpack ice that almost isn't there to enough powder to bury the hut and everything in between. Feathertop is dangerous simply because it is so close and some people tend to go up underprepared and ill-equipped, do not underestimate.
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst

[Kinsayder]

I'm not entirely convinced that Bungalow is the easiest. There's a fair argument for the Razorback, although maybe that's cheating a little. Are you taking snowshoes?

[LeftRightShoot]

Yes of course. I think this might be a multi day, perhaps a big loop down to hotham.

[Moondog55]

Well it depends on transport, not everyone can afford to leave their car up on the mountain and Mt Loch car park is ( or at least was ) day parking only in winter. The Razorback is quite exposed and can be hard travelling in bad weather, at least walking up Bungalow is sheltered for most of the way and the gradient is relatively easy. No matter which way you walk up you still need a full kit-out including a decent winter rated tent

[Lophophaps]

As Moondog55 advised above, the Bungalow Spur is popular due to shelter. Also, it's much easier to descend than any other ridge or spur if things get nasty. Skiing across the Razorback is entirely possible, but there are some hairy and treed sections. Snow shoes would be faster for most people. I strongly endorse Moondog55's advice about a good tent. Filling in the log book is a backup. Too many people seem not to bother. Accurate log books tells S&R where to look for your body (mine is on a chair ATM).

Another important role is visitor numbers. If five people visit a place it's below the political radar and may not be worth preserving. If it's like the tourist tracks at the Main Range at Kosciuszko or similar, then it's a lot of votes and money for the local economy. Log books tell this story.

[Kinsayder]

Well it depends on transport, not everyone can afford to leave their car up on the mountain and Mt Loch car park is ( or at least was ) day parking only in winter.

Just on this; I'm planning to do a Mt Loch, Machinery Spur, Blairs Hut, Diamantina Spur, Feathertop, Fed Hut, Razorback in August. If I can't park at Mt Loch, where would be next best?

As Moondog55 advised above, the Bungalow Spur is popular due to shelter. Also, it's much easier to descend than any other ridge or spur if things get nasty. Skiing across the Razorback is entirely possible, but there are some hairy and treed sections. Snow shoes would be faster for most people. I strongly endorse Moondog55's advice about a good tent. Filling in the log book is a backup. Too many people seem not to bother. Accurate log books tells S&R where to look for your body (mine is on a chair ATM).

Another important role is visitor numbers. If five people visit a place it's below the political radar and may not be worth preserving. If it's like the tourist tracks at the Main Range at Kosciuszko or similar, then it's a lot of votes and money for the local economy. Log books tell this story.

Great points on the numbers/log books. Aside from the obvious safety benefits, it's important that usage is acknowledged.

Yes of course. I think this might be a multi day, perhaps a big loop down to hotham.

Excellent! Whichever way you go (weather permitting) I am sure you'll have a great time. I've done the Razorback a number of times, as well as the North West and Bungalow spurs. Feathertop is a treat. Wonderful mountain that I'm always happy to get back to and explore new aspects of.

[LeftRightShoot]

Im lucky, Im an Outdoor Instructor so my car will have a pass

Mainly just after local advice, do/donts etc. Been up Feathertop in summer and then over to falls. Concerned about cornices in low visibility but will judge it on the day.

Flipping a coin: Towsend or Feathertop. Getting a bit bored of the main range but, well... its awesome!

Cheers folks.

[Moondog55]

The Feathertop circuit is brilliant in winter, whichever way you do it.
While I always take an ice-axe and crampons as well as skis[and sometimes snowshoes as well] it is only occasionally I need the crampons but I often use the ice axe as a security blanket when booting up. These days I would pick my shortest skis for use on the Razorback rather than the 215s I used the last time

[Kinsayder]

Im lucky, Im an Outdoor Instructor so my car will have a pass

Fair enough. I think I'll just park at the start of the Razorback and walk up to the Loch carpark. Might be a good idea to get that part of the walk out of the way first up, I'm usually pretty buggered after these walks, so coming off the Razorback to a welcoming ride will be nice.

[ErichFromm]

I was going to start another thread but will piggy-back this one. I've only done the Razorback during summer (I've hiked to Federation hut twice during winter but came up from Harrietville). During summer everyone just parks near the start near Diamantina hut - is it the same during winter or do you have to park all the way in the village and walk back down?

Also - Mt Hotham site has all this advise like taping up door handles and putting windscreen wipers in bags - is all this necessary?

[Moondog55]

Yep
That's the short answer.
Nothing worse than coming back to the car dead tired and being unable to open the door because the lock is full of ice (BTDT) can be embarrassing urinating on the locks when you only have a partially full bladder.
Rubber of the wipers can freeze to the glass, the plastic bag saves the rubber from tearing off. Parking is about $40- a nite last time I paid for it at Hotham. Also using that Raincote stuff on the windscreen beforehand is worthwhile, I do it before every trip above the snow line, Don't forget you will need chains too

[neilmny]

It's worthwile wiping a bit of cooking oil on your door seals as well. If water gets in the seals can
freeze shut and it really is hard to get them open when they do.
The remedy might just have to be a Moondog door seal shower
An alternative to bagging your wipers is to just swing them out off the window,
the springs in them will hold them out there off the glass.

[ErichFromm]

Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to drink lots before I start the walk back.....

[Lophophaps]

Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to drink lots before I start the walk back.....

Been there, done that. Ladies, look away. The car came out very quickly at Loch car park, skidding quite a way.

On another winter trip we parked in the village. The car would not start. The driver tried everything, and finally called RACV. Then he realised that he had immobilised the engine by taking out a key ingredient. This was put back and we retreated, sans RACV. Parked uphill in summer at Diamantine Hut, cold arvo. My car would not start, so I rolled back and did a reverse U-turn. Then I did a roll start, and another U-turn for the passengers.

Falls Creek, out for a week, parked in error at the old Lions Club car park, on the right entering the village. We had about two metre of snow. The car was a solid block of snow that took ages to dig out. Then we found a single parking ticket – we were in a day car park. After one day they could not reach the windshield. LOL.

Fun and games.

[Moondog55]

Note to self and all others, when there is a choice always park facing down hill, also chock the wheels DO NOT use the handbrake as these too can freeze solid. Make sure you use winter grade oil if you have an old car. I remember once I had a car with a dogy engine and I used a couple of cans of the old style Bars Engine Reconditioner [ Which basically is an oil thickener] spending a hour digging out and then having to crawl under the car with a lighted SVEA stove to thaw out the sump is not something I ever want to do again

[Moondog55]

Also always take shovel and a bag of sand or wood ash to give you grip for the first second, digging a car out by hand is very slow and painful work and using an ice-axe is not good for tyres LOL.
Even if you don't need the chains on the trip up, put them on when you park, it's much easier to remove them than fit them, especially if there is a meter of old snow everywhere. I have made ALL of these mistakes when I first started going up to the snow

[LeftRightShoot]

While we are off the topic, I believe a reverse roll start is easier than a forwards one... the gear is a little smaller and thus you dont need as much speed. Im a master at them. Yes, visibility is an issue... forwards is safer. Plan ahead

[ErichFromm]

DO NOT use the handbrake as these too can freeze solid.

Think I'd feel a little nervous parking my car pointing downwards from top of a (rather large) hill without the brake on. It's a long walk down to Harrietville if the car decided to roll the whole way down

[neilmny]

Seriously folks Moondog is absolutely correct........don't put your handbrake on it will most likely freeze on specially if the road has been a bit wet or snowy on the way up. If you're car isn't automagic and therefore doesn't have a transmission lock, take some wood blocks to chock your wheels. Don't park on a steep hill and turn your wheels toward the gutter as well if parallel parked. Also fitting the chains on arrival (if you didn't need them on the way up) is a really good idea, theres nothing worse than digging a car out and having to fit chains as well.

[jimmyharris]

I was up around Feathertop last week (trip report and photos at http://bit.ly/13oElDS) and the snow was great, but I suspect it may have melted with the rain over the last couple of days.

Worth noting that while the South Razorback, Diamantina Spur, and Bungalow Spur tracks are open, the Bon Accord, North Razorback and Tom Kneen (MUMC hut) tracks are closed due to bushfire damage. I don't think you can even get over to the MUMC hut from Federation Hut but I'm not 100% sure about that.

I caught the bus up from Harrietville to avoid any parking issues.

[cherryw]

Did the trip from Diamantina Hut last time across to Federation and then down to Harrietville. The way we did it was book the bus from the ski store in Harrietville and left the car there. From memory it cost about $10 or $15 dollars each and we got dropped off at Diamantina hut. Make sure you tell them you do not want to go into the village otherwise they will charge you an entrance fee. This was two weeks before Tim Holding the minister for getting lost went missing.

photos here http://www.pbase.com/cherryw/diamantina_hut_to_ferderation_hut_and_down_to_harrietville__24

Wayne

[Kinsayder]

Nice trip reports/pictures, Jimmy (great use of light in yours and nice tent too!) and Wayne. Thanks!

[ErichFromm]

I wish I'd known about the bus from harrietville earlier.

We drove up to Mt Hotham early sat morning only to be told that due to heavy rain the razorback was a very bad idea (and yes, we'd been checking the forecast twice daily in the week leading up to the hike). Apparently we were the 2nd group to turn around. Guess we should've twigged when we saw the creek in Bright overflowing it's banks.... Very upsetting as based on above comments we'd come fully prepared with: masking tape for door handles, oil for door seals, bags for the wipers, and 3 big chunks of wood and a random brick to chock the wheels....

Even worse was we'd already paid for parking - so $80 bucks down the toilet. Lesson learned I guess. Next time we'll get the bus and save the cost of masking tape

[Kinsayder]

I wish I'd known about the bus from harrietville earlier.

We drove up to Mt Hotham early sat morning only to be told that due to heavy rain the razorback was a very bad idea (and yes, we'd been checking the forecast twice daily in the week leading up to the hike). Apparently we were the 2nd group to turn around. Guess we should've twigged when we saw the creek in Bright overflowing it's banks.... Very upsetting as based on above comments we'd come fully prepared with: masking tape for door handles, oil for door seals, bags for the wipers, and 3 big chunks of wood and a random brick to chock the wheels....

Even worse was we'd already paid for parking - so $80 bucks down the toilet. Lesson learned I guess. Next time we'll get the bus and save the cost of masking tape

Sorry to hear that. What did you do instead?

[ErichFromm]

Sorry to hear that. What did you do instead?

Ended up going for a small hike near Mt Bulla - part of Lickhole track off Sheepyard flats. Not the most challenging of hikes but it was better than nothing (I'd bought a new backpack the day before - Osprey Aether - so really wanted to test it out). Couldn't go too far there either as the normal small creek that you'd normally walk through to head toward Jamieson Hut was a raging torrent... Camped on the valley floor and just came back the same way next day.

Mind you, even on the valley it was pretty damn cold. It was snowing as we setup the tent and the next day it looked as though someone had tipped a white slurpy on the roof....

[Kinsayder]

You didn't consider one of the Western spurs of Feathertop, seeing that you were there?