Feathertop - fire damage and springwater

[bjc]

Hi everyone

I'm planning a trip along the Razorback to Feathertop for 2 weeks time and wanted to get an update on conditions.

First, can anyone confirm that the track and Federation/MUMC hut area was spared by the fires? (I gathered from this thread viewtopic.php?f=37&t=12257&start=30&hilit=feathertop+fire that the fire didn't come too close.)

Second, how reliable is the spring at Feathertop? Can I assume it will be flowing?

Thanks in advance.

Benjamin

[Lophophaps]

Except in very dry conditions, usually towards the end of summer, the creek will run. This early in summer the creek should be working. I haven't been to MUMC for ages. Even so, the regrowth should not be too bad, especially with traffic to and from MUMC.

[bjc]

This early in summer the creek should be working.

Thanks for your response. I was thinking of the spring that flows from the north-west slope of Feathertop, along the North-West Spur Track - is that the creek you referred to?

[Lophophaps]

That's the creek, about ten minutes from where the Tom Kneen Track leaves the track going to the summit. I recall that there are a number of branches, so if the first one isn't going, continue into the gully proper. If you get really stuck, Federation may have water, and at the old Bungalow site about 20 minutes down the hill there's a creek. I haven't been there in decades. It appears that the advice to boil Fed Hut water and all creek water is to avoid litigation. I take care not to get water below huts, and don't boil. Not dead yet.

[bjc]

Thanks for that. I'd forgotten there was another spring down Bungalow Spur Track. Sounds like there are plenty of options so that's good.

[jimmyharris]

The Federation Hut area was spared but the Bungalow Spur track certainly was not - it's like a ghost town filled with dead trees in many parts.

The Tom Kneen track to MUMC Hut was closed for a while but it seems that only the Bon Accord Spur track is still closed now.

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... e_2013.pdf

[Stew63]

Plenty of water in the flowing spring yesterday.

[Stew63]

Plenty of water in the flowing spring yesterday.
A LOT of helicopter and PV activity at MUMC hut too!

[bjc]

Thanks Stew. What does PV stand for? Is MUMC hut undergoing maintenance?

[Lophophaps]

PV stands for Parks Victoria. It sounds like MUMC is having a renovation. I doubt that this will be so on weekends.

[bjc]

Just saw Stew's other thread: viewtopic.php?f=37&t=15737

[tsangpo]

Fire burnt right up to MUMC hut but everything is still fine and the track is quite walkable. I believe the NW Spur/Tom Kneen track below MUMC hut is still closed unless anything has happened in the past couple of weeks. Doubt it's the hut that's undergoing renovations, it tends to be MUMC that looks after the upkeep.

[Stew63]

PV stands for Parks Victoria. It sounds like MUMC is having a renovation. I doubt that this will be so on weekends.

The MUMC hut is not having a renovation - they're using the helicopter to help install new toilets with 'flyin-flyout' septic tank modules at huts all across the high country. (see my other thread)

[neilmny]

Probably explains why they've decided to charge $30.00 per night to camp at Dibbins and Cope.
http://parkstay.vic.gov.au/accom_rates/ ... -crossing/
Part of the Healthy Parks Wealthy People program.