Mt Feathertop hiking conditions

[Tramping_kid]

Hi,

Can anyone help me with the current hiking conditions of Harrietville to Mt Feathertop?

This is the first time I'm heading there and given the snow line is at about 1500m at the moment, I'm wondering if I need snow shoes or are my normal hiking boots sufficient for the job? I wont be looking to do the circuit. I just want to head up there, stay the night and then go back down the way I came from the next day.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Kinsayder]

You could have a look at the Hotham webcam pointing at Feathertop. Looks like a snowshoe job, probably dependent on which way your going, ie. Razorback, Bon Accord and Champion I'd say yes, Bungalow and North West maybe get away with going without.

http://ski.com.au/snowcams/australia/vi ... enly2.html

[Tramping_kid]

Thanks Kinsayder - I'm planning on going up via Bungalow and spending the night at Federation Hut.

I have never hiked in the snow before, is there a big difference between having snowshoes and not? As I am considering not getting snowshoes for the hike.

[north-north-west]

I have never hiked in the snow before, is there a big difference between having snowshoes and not? .

Yes, although it depends to a large extent on the depth and condition of the snow.
The final ascent of Feathertop is steep and will probably be icy in the morning. You need something to give you grip. And if the snow's rotten, you'll be postholing all the way.

[jford]

Judging from the webcam shot: get snow shoes. Much easier. Hire them from Bogong in Lt Bourke St, or elsewhere. Well worth it.

[Kinsayder]

TK, snowshoes aren't too bad, they can take a little getting used to but can be essential. Especially if the alternative is postholing up to your calves/knees/thighs/hips. I can be so draining. Just spend a few minutes making sure you get the binding right. If you've got poles take them too. I agree with JFord on Bogong, they hire them for a reasonable rate. Another option is Ray's in Myrtleford (on the right just near the end of town). They're open until midnight (I think, but maybe call to confirm if getting in late) and are pretty decent.

Feathertop is great TK, I hope you have a great time!

[cherryw]

You could try Hoyes (think thats how it is spelt) in Harrietville.

[Grey]

Hi there everyone, long time post reader, deciding to join and ask a question!

We are heading up to Harrietville for the weekend planning on hiking the summit at Feathertop via Bungalow Spur track, can the OP of this thread, or anyone thats been up there this week comment on how its looking.

I have rung hotham resort management and parks vic and they say i 'may' need snow shoes, surely the north side is almost all melted away ??

Any assistance or advice/ report would be so very useful, and I will be sure to post up how we go on Sat.

Cheers! Grey.

[cherryw]

Hi Grey,

Judging by this there is still a lot of snow.

http://ski.com.au/snowcams/australia/vic/hotham/hotham-heavenly2.html

Wayne

[Grey]

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for the link, yeah I did take a peek at this earlier in the week, I think this is facing the south side, and the bungalow spur track comes up on the north.
We have spoken to the Hotel owner and he reakons it will be frozen solid up there and Ice pick and snow shoes a must, and said we should re-consider the summit on Sat....

Of all the weather that has been good lately, it is really annoying that it turns bad for that day!! Oh well, I think we will just head up and get as far as we can.

I am not experienced with an ice axe and really don't want to fall off the mountain or be on the channel 9 news !!

[cherryw]

Hi

Yes Saturday look bad. Do not attempt Feathertop if it is not ideal. I have summited a number of times and yes you will need snow shoes. I have never used an ice axe. Be very careful of not getting too close to the edge as the cornice may give way. There have been a few deaths because of this.

Check out some photos here

http://www.pbase.com/cherryw/mt_feathertop_via_bungalow_spur_and_return_2223_august_2007

[Grey]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for your informative posts and the pictures look like you had fun back then! , I shall re-assess the situation in the morning.

I feel it may be best to avoid and do something else if the weather looks bad (it does look bad, but not extremely bad...)

Cheers, Grey.

[Grey]

Hi all,

So we went up Friday to stay at Harrietville, was lovely 12 Degrees in the evening and an eerie 'calm before the storm' feeling to it somewhat like I have experienced numerous times during the snow season!

Few beers and a reasonably late one, but we got up at day break and headed to the base carpark. (Via the General store for some warm breakky and fresh salad sangas)

Good steady rainfall from the minute we got up, and it only got progressively heavier as we approached the Federation Hut via Bungalow Spur Track.

A lot of snow still around the Hut area, but also a lot of grass showing through. 'Postholed' (learnt that word on this forum) our way to little feathertop, blowing an absolute gale from the north side still raining sideways.

Went back down, snow was nice and melty, and not frozen over at all. Made it to the junction and headed towards the summit.

As we got higher, the snow was less melted, but not fully icing, rain was falling as icy little stingy pellets, but not snowing.... We pressed on only having to cross very small sections of melted snow between the rocky trail.
We got to an elevation of 1891M (Summit is 1922M) and decided that we could not go any further without heading out onto the frozen cornice, and I was adamant in the melty sunny week that was, that we would not set foot on the cornice at all.
We did see recent footprints on there, and thought that whoever did that either really knew what they were doing, or much the opposite.

So in reviewing the gps footage we fell about 50M short of the summit in elevation, and about 150M in distance, and all with no risk whatsoever and without snowshoes or any ice pick.

Give it a few more sunny days and I think a lot more of the snow would be melted away, and the summit would be very doable without snow gear.

So all in all a fun day, but I would not want to be underprepared on a day like that, it was cold, wet and windy, and to top it off the Friday and the Sunday would have been fairly nice up there. (Grrr always the way)
It was a shame we got zero views, but we will be back to have another crack in the warmer months and probably do the razorback back to Hotham to enjoy the views.

Cheers, Grey.

[cherryw]

Hi Grey,

Good to see that you survived. Better to be safe than sorry. Well done.

Wayne

[Kinsayder]

Well done, Grey. Sad that you didn't quite make the top, I'm sure the lack of view was a part of the decision to turn back. The views along the Razorback can be quite spectacular, I hope it treats you well should you try it upon return!

[andrewbish]

I got up there at the start of September. Feathertop was clouded over on the first day but I got some stunning views a couple of days later from Hotham. Will share photos soon.