Major Mitchell Plateau Loop?

[daniel_4tw]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to organise a 2 night hike (plus 1 night pre and post hike) in the Grampions. However as we only have one car, it has to be a loop.

I've been reading up about Major Mitchell Plateau, and seem to be getting conflicting information!

Most trip reports on this site and others state you need to do a car shuffle, however the Vicparks site says its 40km loop starting and finishing in sheep hills car park.. Which one of these is right?

I am thinking the walk back from Jimmy Creek is just along the main road, and as such, people just drive this rather than walk 15km (?) back? If this is the case, can you walk this in 3 days walking back to the start? If it is just a road back, would one be able to use a push bike to ride back to the start, and what is the incline?

On another note, is there drinking water at these sites this time of year?

I appreciate any feedback.

Thanks in advance.


Dan

[peregrinator]

Good information in two previous threads:

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=16101&p=216728&hilit=jimmy+creek#p216728

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=16852&p=231995&hilit=jimmy+creek#p231995

[wander]

We did it as a loop. But camped at the Jimmy Creek, then went to walk the road the next day. I managed to hitch a lift and brought the car back to my fellow wanderers who chilled out in the forest.

Jimmy Creek is one of the most thankless camp grounds I have been in. All we needed was space for 2 small 2 person tents. Pretty much every body else had a vehicle and a towed house of some sort, an awning and maybe a separate big canvas house for the kids and a shower tent and a space for their kids to play cricket. Do think anyone wanted a couple of tents in their space? There was plenty of space. Some folks were plenty rude about, "f off over to that side' was given to us a couple of times. We ended up camping in a bit of clearly swamp with plenty of leeches and some signs that might have read no camping or somesuch. All what we really needed after a long wander down off the Plateau.

Other wise an awesome little wander and recommended.

[dinna89]

I had the misfortune of being at Jimmy creek over Australia day. After undertaking the two day hike and arriving at bogan central, my girlfriend decided to run back to the sheep hills carpark and get the car rather than stay overnight.

There is a track back from Jimmy creek to sheep hills that seems to largely parallel the road about a kilometer to the west.

I had posted in the other thread that first wannon had water in Jan, I would be dubious that it still would.

The inclines on the road are definitely rideable

[daniel_4tw]

I just got back from this walk. Thanks for all the info.

Firstly, no water at Wannon. A little bit surprised there was no water tank given there were toilets...

Thankfully there was water at Jimmy's. Fortunately being a Sunday night on a normal weekend, there was only 3 other groups there. Apparently you are supposed to pay $37 to camp at Jimmy's! Very steep considering the facilities.

All in all the walk was very enjoyable. Some excellent views and differing terrain to keep things interesting. track was very clear too.

[dinna89]

I thought that jimmy's had fairly good facilities in comparison with some of the other crap I've paid for

Was there no water at all at First Wannon, not even puddled in the creek? The campground is probably lacking a tank as the toilet is a weird design, with the toilet sliding between septic tanks.

[Shehikes172]

Just got back from the plateau. There's water in the creek at the walk in campsite.