by alanoutgear » Sun 10 Jul, 2011 9:20 pm
I agree - if you aren't familiar with this area, then go in late spring or summer first. I've spent heaps of time on the high plains, Feathertop, and Bogong areas and while it is lovely in winter it can be treacherous as well. People have died here! Take nothing for granted and do the walk when the weather is good first. I'd go Feathertop, then down Diamantina spur and across the head of the Kiewa up to the Basalt Castle, then across the high plains past Falls Creek to Tim's spur down to Big River, then the haul up Quartz Ridge to Bogong summit and down the Staircase or Eskdale spur to Mountain Creek. I'd avoid Duane spur and T spur - hard to enjoy these whether up or down. An alternative route from Falls Creek to Big River is to walk out to Spion Kopje then follow the rough track north along the Grey Hills to the helipad above the Big River crossing. I definitely wouldn't do this part in winter as it is an exposed S-N ridge on the western edge of the high plains and it can get the worst of the weather. Where to camp - there is a sheltered campsite with water and toilet at the new hut below Feathertop summit (do we still call it Fed Hut?), then over to the high plains with plenty of open campsites, then camp at the bottom of Tim's spur on Big River before the climb up Quartz Ridge to the Hooker plateau and the Bogong summits (west and main). I'd walk around to Cleve Cole and stay there as it's a really nice sheltered campsite. I like this area in January because of the fantastic indescribeable views, the Bogong daisies, and those wierd yellow and black grasshoppers that love the high plains.