Hotham Falls Alpine Walk

[Lisarankin14]

Hi everyone,

I'm doing this hike next week, can anyone tell me:

1) what the water situation is like at Dibbins Hut and Cope Hut campsites?

2) whether there are any difficulties doing the walk in reverse (Hotham-Falls instead of Falls-Hotham)

3) whether there is anywhere to camp near the Falls Resort - have to catch a 7am bus..

Thanks!!

[Lophophaps]

Water can be obtained pretty well anywhere on the Bogong High Plains. Dibbins has a swimming hole, but not deep enough to dive into and escape injury. There's a creek near Cope, several in fact. I suggest getting water and camping away from the hut: the potential for pollution is a tad high. try Rocky Knobs just west of the road near Masie's Patch, west of where the poles cross the road. I think that this may be near the official camping area, which is to be avoided as well - too expensive. You can camp anywhere. If you have the energy, go from Ryders up Cope. You can pick up water on the aquaduct under Cope. There's some lovely campsites on the summit.

The walk is pretty much the same either way. The main hard bit in any direction is to and from Dibbins. A little care is needed at Dibbins as the track wanders, but it's not hard. A 7 am departure is interesting. To meet this bus you need to camp very close to Falls Creek and get up early. Without going so far as advocating camping within the Falls village, at the edges there are spots. If you arrive late, keep a low profile and leave early it should be okay.

[Lisarankin14]

Thanks heaps, appreciate the info! Do you know if there is any way to park a car near Falls without copping the $35 a day parking fee?

[Lophophaps]

There’s a heap of information about winter parking at
http://www.fallscreek.com.au/FAQ
http://www.fallscreek.com.au/ResortParking
These refer to winter, with no mention of summer parking. I have never parked at Falls in summer for more than 20 minutes. I’m not sure if a summer fee applies. Maybe contact Falls management.

If a fee does apply you can drive outside the resort to the national park, where I understand no fees are payable. This year.

[north-north-west]

Park at the Mt Rooper or boatramp carparks. It's only a short distance from there back into Falls.

[Lisarankin14]

Thanks!!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

It is a bit out of the way but Blair's hut is a better camping option than Dibbin's Hut. If you come down off the Bogong high plains via Weston's hut rather than along the AAWT pole line from Fall's creek to Mt Hotham then Blair's hut is more along the way .Going Up Swindler's spur would be a tough hike. I have only gone down it twice. Trekking up the 4 WD track on Machinery Spur is an alternative way to reach the Mt Loch carpark at Mt Hotham.

[Drew]

I reckon Dibbin's Hut is a nicer spot than Blair's (although both are very nice). I've never climbed Swindler's Spur (descended it 3 times I think) but I don't think it would be too bad, as it would only be a short day from Dibbin's to Hotham. Preferable to walking up a 4WD track I reckon.

Also, don't be fooled by Parks Vic telling you that you need to book and pay for your campsite at Dibbins! This is only the case if you camp on the new tent platforms (even then probably unlikely to be enforced). There are plenty of spots near the hut and a couple of spots near the toilet where you can camp for free.

[Lophophaps]

Blairs and Dibbins are more or less the same for camping, although Blairs has more shade and less people. Westons has limited camping and minimal tree cover. The climb from Dibbins to Derrick is quite steep at the bottom, not very pleasant. But once the first bit is over it's a lovely spur. It takes about four hours from Dibbins to the Hotham road. One year my party was able to ski to within a short distance of Dibbins on a day trip. The memory of the return journey to Derrick has thankfully faded.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Weston's hut has a tap just outside the hut with running water!!, I was quite surprised. There is no dunny at Westons hut though, not that I could find. I agree with the other walker , don't book or pay to camp at or near Dibbin's hut/ Cobungra gap/ the Dibbin's hut dunny . That is a scam and it will never be enforced.

[north-north-west]

There is no dunny at Westons hut though, not that I could find.

Damn and blast! Last time I was at Weston's the rebuild was still going on and I took a shot of the temporary dunny they had installed there - and I can't find the ruddy photo!
But basically it was a seat over a hole with a bit of shadecloth around one side for privacy, and a rock on the lid to keep it closed. Talk about a loo with a view . . .

[Les]

Hi all
Looking to do this walk from Falls to Hotham Easter weekend. I'm wondering what you all know about hitchhiking in the area. I am thinking of leaving the car in Bright, hitching on the Friday the 3rd to Falls and back on the 5th to Bright from Hotham. Any experience with this one?
Thank you

[Lophophaps]

Hi all
Looking to do this walk from Falls to Hotham Easter weekend. I'm wondering what you all know about hitchhiking in the area. I am thinking of leaving the car in Bright, hitching on the Friday the 3rd to Falls and back on the 5th to Bright from Hotham. Any experience with this one?
Thank you

There's a bus between Bright and Omoe
http://www.omeobus.com.au/
The times are not that convenient. There is also a taxi service between Bright and Mt Beauty
http://www.railmaps.com.au/routedetails ... elect=1056

It's best to get the hitchikng over with at the start. The hard part will be Bright - Beauty - Falls. Hotham - Bright should not be hard. In both one good lift will take you a long way, but you may need a long time to get that lift.

It seems to me to be a long way to go and a lot of effort for just a few days. Also, whilst Falls to Hotham can be done in two days, it's more enjoyable taking longer and doing a few side trips. Finally, if the weather bombs out you could be on an exposed place and be forced to take shelter off your route and wait for better conditions.

[Moondog55]

I just saw this over on SkiDOTcom
and I thought it deserved to be mentioned

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=19561

as much as I personally dislike the noise for people like Cecile with severe health and mobility issues being able to do the walk one way with a guaranteed way of getting back to transport would be worth paying for

[Snowzone]

Hi all
Looking to do this walk from Falls to Hotham Easter weekend. I'm wondering what you all know about hitchhiking in the area. I am thinking of leaving the car in Bright, hitching on the Friday the 3rd to Falls and back on the 5th to Bright from Hotham. Any experience with this one?
Thank you

Due to an injury a couple of years ago I had to hitch from Falls to Hotham to pick up my car. It took me 5 lifts to get there, so allow a few hours just in case and don't accept one that says they're going to Harrietville when they actually mean the trout farm cos its damn hard to get a lift from the trout farm.

[Les]

Thanks very much - that's a big help!