Swindler's spur & machinery spur: trip report

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Hi
I walked the Mt Loch carpark( near Mt Hotham ) via Mt Loch summit to Derrick's hut ( no water there but nice hut and a decent dunny too) & down the steep swinder's spur to Dibbin's Hut . The track on this segment of the AAWT is being repaired by parks VIC and it is becoming easier to descend down the steep spur to the Cobungra river. The campsite at Dibbin's hut is superb! set at 1350M it has ample creek water, a pit loo, a nice view and the hut is a cracker of a hut.
I was with my G/f who should not try pack hiking/walking again until they make the royal botanical gardens in central melbourne smaller & offer a porter service for her hand bag . As a result she did the walk( hobbled and stumbled in her case) into dibbins in 4-5 hours as the sun was setting and walked( limped ) out in 6 hours!.
If I was with fit experienced VNPA hikers one could easily do the hike via derrick hut to Dibbin's hut in 3 hours and the hike out on the machinery spur/ Mt Loch circuit in 5 hours.
The hike out via the Red robin mine site and up machinery spur is easy enough if you are fit .The ascent is made along a series of switch backs from the valley floor on the miners' 4 wd track.
The ridge at the top is very exposed and the weather at 1800 + M. can change rapidly from Ok to very Iffy.The views are grand !
It is a great walk with some wonderfully varied scenery.
It would make a good w/end away . If you drive up and camp by the Ovens river near Freeburgh on Friday night and start early on Sat. you can complete this circuit easily as the long as the weather is kind.
if you have climbed up machinery spur to Mt Loch's summit then you really have climbed mt. Loch( 5th Highest peak in VIC). The soft boy thingy walk from the Mt Loch car park does not count in my book of mountain climbing in VIC and NSW.
I wonder if early April is too late in the autumn to do it all again?

[capelsound]

On saturday we walked the razerback to feathertop summit, back to diamantina spur then headed down and along track to dibbins hut. Great walk. On Sunday morning whilst walking up,swindlers we came across toilet paper and the "rest" in the middle of the track. Disgrace.

[Moondog55]

What has happened to the water tank at Charlie Derrick?? Empty??