Bivouac Hut and Mt Bogong

[LAMEA-Gals]

Hi there
As suggested in this forum I'm doing a 7 day high plains walk starting from the Staircase Spur. We are coming from NSW so will be starting the track after lunch and was wondering
- how long does it take to get to Bivouac Hut
- is there any water at the hut
- are there any other campspots between Bivouac Hut and Mt Bogong?

Thanks

[north-north-west]

1) It depends how fast you walk.
2) If you'd used the forum's search function you'd have found plenty of recent references to the water tank at Bivouac.
3) There are quite a few places you could pitch a tent. There isn't any water, though.

[ryantmalone]

Hi there
As suggested in this forum I'm doing a 7 day high plains walk starting from the Staircase Spur. We are coming from NSW so will be starting the track after lunch and was wondering
- how long does it take to get to Bivouac Hut
- is there any water at the hut
- are there any other campspots between Bivouac Hut and Mt Bogong?

Thanks

#1 - Its around 2 kms from mountain creek to the base of the spur, and about 3kms with around 500 - 600 meter elevation gain. Its not that steep, but its a slog, so it depends on how fast you move over that kind of terrain. I'm not very fit, but I can manage to get to Bivouac in around 1.5 - 2 hours.

#2 - As far as I know, the tap on the tank at the hut has been removed, so you will want to carry water up the spur. If youre going to the high plains, you'd be looking at your next water after Mountain Creek as being at Cleve Cole Hut (edit) if going via T Spur, or again, Big River if going via Quartz Ridge. The alternative would be to go up Eskdale Spur and get water at Mitchell Hut, which from what I know, still has water. Its around 8km from Mountain Creek to the base of Eskdale, and around 1.5 - 2km to Mitchell Hut, steep the whole way.

#3 - That depends on how adventurous you are. Frankly, you can make it from Mountain Creek to Big River in an afternoon though, I've done it, but that depends on how fit you are, and fit I am not. If you choose Eskdale (as I mentioned before), there are some exceptional spots just at the treeline, only a couple of hundred meters above Mitchell Hut.

[north-north-west]

... you'd be looking at your next water after Mountain Creek as being at Big River if going via T Spur....

The creek near Cleve Cole has dried up?

[ryantmalone]

... you'd be looking at your next water after Mountain Creek as being at Big River if going via T Spur....

The creek near Cleve Cole has dried up?

haha Nope, that was a bad on my end.

Been a few years since I've been up there, forgot about the creek water in the hut.

[bernieq]

I was up on Bogong 26-28 December. The tank at Bivouac was full. There is always water at Cleve Cole Hut and Camp Creek was flowing strongly (Howman Falls well worth a visit).

At Bivouac Hut, the problem is thus : the outlet from the tank has a gate valve then a tap. The side of the gate valve is broken so that, when fully closed, water doesn’t leak. However, when you open the gate valve, water comes out the side of the gate valve through the hole (so be ready to catch it !)

The risk is that the gate valve falls apart completely and the tank empties. That said, it’s been like this for at least 3 months.

Mt Bogong from Hells Gap

Mt Bogong.JPG (190.75 KiB) Viewed 8219 times

re camping : here’s a water-sure alternative - from Mountain Ck, walk along the track to Eskdale Spur and ascend from there. Michell Hut has a good-condition full tank and camping, if wanted. Continue up to Mt Bogong from there. The climb is just as enjoyable as the Staircase.

Timing : obviously, it depends on many factors. However, taking it easily, we had the following times :
Mountain Ck via Eskdale Spur to Michell Hut - 3 hours. Michell to Hell Gap (drop packs) - 1hr. Side trip to Mt Bogong - 1hr (15min there and back, 30min at the summit). Hells Gap to Cleve Cole Hut - 1hr.

If, on the other hand, you are intending to head to the west from Mt Bogong, on 27 Dec, there was plenty of water in Bogong Creek at the 1880m contour (east of West Peak).

Hope the weather is not too hot for you.

[Lophophaps]

The Bivouc tank was full a few weeks ago, but the valve looked suss. It should last until winter, when it will blow off in the cold. However, the tank should be considered unreliable at present due to the crook valve. There is reliable water at Cleve Cole, creek and hut.