Major Mitchell Plateau Loop info

[Watertank]

I am planning to do the Major Mitchell Plateau loop in the next couple of weeks. I've read the other posts on the walk but they don't give details of the guides or maps used to navigate. Are there reliable guides and or gps logs available? It seems like that at times the track is not distinct and given the likelihood of bad weather at this time of year I would like to be prepared. Jimmys Creek seems to have a bad reputation as noisy and overcrowded, are there other possible camp sites? Thanks

[neilmny]

You can download a GPX file from this page http://osp.com.au/?page_id=1603
This book will probably have the info you need http://osp.com.au/?product=discovering- ... s-gariwerd

Discalimer - I have not used the GPX file and I have not red the book.

[bmak]

I did this again recently. It's not 100% clear in some spot but I doubt anyone could get lost.
I've done it many times and have a few gps tracks.

[portlester]

When I did the walk in 2014 we found that the Southern Grampians 1:50 000 map, together with the Parks Victoria walk notes (http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... ention.pdf) was all that was needed.

I also had notes of the walk from both Glen Tempest's 'Daywalks around Victoria' (along with the gpx file previously linked by neilmny) and 'Discovering Grampians-Gariwerd' (also prevously linked by neilmny) although apart from some fireside reading, these were not needed. Tempest's gpx file was accurate, although it starts from Mt William carpark, not from Sheep Hills Carpark (the walk from Sheep HIlls Carpark to Mt William is along a very obvious track).

The only issues(?) we had navigation wise was not immediately seeing the painted arrows or stone cairns when climbing up onto the Plateau from Boundary Gap and from there to the First Wannan Hiker Campsite - and then it only took us a minute or so to locate the next one.

You have me thinking that it is overdue for me to head back there again. It's a great walk!

[akl168]

Watertank,

Although indistinct at times, the track on the plateau is not too bad. Just when you think you are hosed, you inevitably spot a cairn or the track again. We carried the SV map and found that sufficient. We had four kids with us on this walk, they were flying ahead of us most of the time and had no issues.

Jimmy Creek - nightmare for us. However, keep in mind that it was a long weekend when we were there. I believe it is the warmer long weekends that bring out the nightmare inducing crowd. In the winter, you might not even see another soul there.

Hope you all have awesome weather on the plateau, because the views are so amazing. Enjoy.

[Watertank]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I am looking forward to the trip this week. Any idea what the water situation is likely to be on the Plateau?

[bmak]

I wouldn't rely on it at the moment. Not much rain here

[Watertank]

Fabulous walk over the last few days on the Loop. There was plenty of water at First Wannon, and in the sky and on our backs! Jimmy Creek was fine, only a few other souls there. But it was very cold.. -7 degrees on the watch gauge.. One piece of orientation info that might be helpful - the track out of Jimmy Creek back to the Sheep Hills Carpark; you walk along the management track until you reach a sign which says "carpark 800 metres" you follow the direction indicated until you reach the asphalt road but then there isn't any indication whether to turn left or right to get back to the carpark; it is left. A great walk. Thanks for all the advice as ever to all those that contribute to this forum.