Trip Report - Pretty Valley to Feathertop 3 day circuit

[PedroArvy]

Here's a trip report from a recent (December 28-30, 2020) circuit from Pretty Valley to Dibbins Hut, Mt Loch, the Razorback, Feathertop, Diamantina Sour, Blair Hut, Weston’s Hut and back to Pretty Valley. On the way, I met http://www.bushwalk.com celebrity Meandering Fly Fisher, as well as some other characters.

A few notes to myself on some gear observations on this hike:

1. The Dan Durston X-Mid 1P is nice but I would not use it in areas of high wind e.g. Main Range or exposed Tassie. The unsupported length of fabric could cause problems. In addition, the guy lines need replacing as a lady tripped over mine breaking it. Plus it’s also a bit thin for ideal tightening and the wrong colour for easy view. Any recommendations?

2. The main pegs with the Dan Durston X-Mid 1P bent. They need to be turfed and replaced with MSR ground hogs.

3. A tube of 125ml sunscreen would last 4 days of very generous usage

4. Bullets in a bag of cashews and almonds tend to melt and spread their chocolate coating on the nuts which is OK but not ideal. Keep sweets in a separate zip lock bag and perhaps avoid bullets altogether.

5. A thin MacPac woolen thermal combined with an Arcteryx Atom AR is not warm enough to keep me toasty standing around at 7 degrees with a light wind. Of course, I could always huddle in my shelter but that’s a bit boring. Will have to up my thermals or wear a thicker down jacket.

6. Having a daily shower is an excellent idea. Very few hikers seem to do this. I’ll need to make a video on it.

7. To dry your shelter quickly, wipe it down with your washcloth in the morning. This will remove most of the condensation and will dry it out significantly faster.

8. An ultralight chair is not necessary if there are seats at huts or logs at campsites.

9. As suspected, a head torch is totally unnecessary even if you need a midnight toilet break.

10. Don’t hike more for more than 5 hours a day of walking time. Instead, take better food, wine, scotch, and a bit more cooking gear so I can kill more time with gourmet cooking.

[neilmny]

Ah yes the 5 minute blues, every time, even on an evening walk after work until the blood starts flowing properly and my lazy *&%$#! kicks into gear.
It's what the hell am I doing then the endorphins wake up and the sun shines again.

Nice work on the report and the video is a cracker. Classic PedroArvy

[oldpiscator]

Brilliant report - loved it and jealous of his ability.

[Paul willow]

Thanks for the video. Being in WA its videos like this that show me areas I have never been and know little about.

I totally agree with your idea, it's the pain on a hill or after a long day that I enjoy. The nature is secondary at that point.

How far was the hike in total?

[PedroArvy]

54km. You can see the route here https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/rou ... sterMeters

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Funny stuff.I like your videos. I bumped into Italian John/[ Giovanni ?] at Fitzgerald hut this week, the fellow who walked with you up Mt. Bogong in one of your videos .I have trekked all of those routes a number of times but not always in one trip. You could have skipped the Mt.Hotham road bash by walking over the summit from the Mt. Loch car park. The track pops out near the Diamantina hut.

[surly 17]

Great video, the XMid 1P can handle some good wind, I was on the helicopter pad at Bogong saddle a couple of weeks ago on a very windy night with a less than optimal pitch and the X Mid was great, first thing I did was change all the guy lines to 2mm Lawson Ironwire perfect for the job.

[PedroArvy]

Where can I buy the 2mm Lawson iromwire?

[north-north-west]

Where can I buy the 2mm Lawson iromwire?

I got mine from TierGear, but they seem to be out of stock currently. Maybe email Simon and see if he'll be getting more in?

[PedroArvy]

How about this product, is it the same thing?

REFLECTIVE GLOWIRE X 15M

https://www.tiergear.com.au/shop/diy-su ... -line-loks

[PedroArvy]

I bumped into Italian John/[ Giovanni ?] at Fitzgerald hut this week, the fellow who walked with you up Mt. Bogong in one of your videos.

That was my first ever video. John mentioned he saw you. He thinks he is a movie star now

[indented]

54km. You can see the route here https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/rou ... sterMeters

Great video, looks like a really fun track! Trying to view the route but it appears to be private.

[surly 17]

Glow wire is good, I would have got that but Tier Gear only had the iron wire at the time.

[+dj_hansen+]

Thanks for the video, and the laughs!

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

Back to reality and internet now after drowning my phone on a subsequent trip a few days back.
Hardly a celebrity but was expecting to see Rob and Tom at the hut.Flyfishers will know what I am on about.The more leisurely hike along Dungeys track is a quicker and easier way to get to Blairs and agree it is a wonderful campsite.I thought you would have mentioned the running water at Westons.
Overall a very enjoyable video and even better trip.

[Xplora]

Back to reality and internet now after drowning my phone on a subsequent trip a few days back.
Hardly a celebrity but was expecting to see Rob and Tom at the hut.Flyfishers will know what I am on about.The more leisurely hike along Dungeys track is a quicker and easier way to get to Blairs and agree it is a wonderful campsite.I thought you would have mentioned the running water at Westons.
Overall a very enjoyable video and even better trip.

They took the long way round to get there but it was all for the video. A bit like their walk up to Ritchies hut. I am having a cracker season. Busted off again today. Every day this week has been different. One day on the nymph and the next on the dry. You should try Swindlers Creek next time. Not far from where you were.

[peregrinator]

Xplora, thanks for mentioning Swindlers Creek. That's given me an idea for a walk in a similar area, but travelling in the opposite direction. Putting together information from about half a dozen relatively recent posts, my planned route is:

Brandy Ck Tk, Swindlers Gap, Cobungra Gap, Blairs, Westons, up to the pole line, etc.

However, one map I've seen shows Dungeys Tk being overgrown between the end of Brandy Ck Tk and Cobungra Gap. Is that correct? I have not previously walked in this area, so any tips are welcome.

[Xplora]

Xplora, thanks for mentioning Swindlers Creek. That's given me an idea for a walk in a similar area, but travelling in the opposite direction. Putting together information from about half a dozen relatively recent posts, my planned route is:

Brandy Ck Tk, Swindlers Gap, Cobungra Gap, Blairs, Westons, up to the pole line, etc.

However, one map I've seen shows Dungeys Tk being overgrown between the end of Brandy Ck Tk and Cobungra Gap. Is that correct? I have not previously walked in this area, so any tips are welcome.

See PM

[ggorgeman]

Thanks for the report Pedro, definitely taking things to a new level with the video. Very enjoyable indeed.

[peregrinator]

Sorry, PedroArvy, I meant to also say thanks for your report that sparked my interest. Good to see another Aarn user. And have you found an ingenious use of an Aarn front pocket as a camera mounting point? That could spark off an increase in Aarn sales to walkers wanting to record their journeys.

[PedroArvy]

I use the expedition front pockets with my Featherlite Freedom. The front pockets they come with are a bit too small IMO. The more you can put in there the better to offset weight on the back of the pack. I would never use the pockets as a camera mounting point, there'd be too much jostling for that. In fact, if there's one unnecessary thing I'd like to get it's a gimble to steady moving footage.

[Baeng72]

Nice job!
Hey Pedro, do you have any gimble type or model in mind? For a smart phone or DSLR?
Hand held, or mounted somehow?

[MeanderingFlyFisher]

However, one map I've seen shows Dungeys Tk being overgrown between the end of Brandy Ck Tk and Cobungra Gap. Is that correct? I have not previously walked in this area, so any tips are welcome.

The track is vague between Brandy ck and Swindlers ck but just follow the cobungra upstream as it is very easy going.Dungeys track follows Swindlers creek upstream before crossing the creek and heading up and over swindler gap.I haven't been over the gap but would assume it would be doable as Dungeys track can be found in may spots along the Cobungra heading towards Omeo.All you have to do is get above the gorge a couple of km below Dibbins which is easy going.I would even imagine following the Cobungra all the way from Brandy Creek is doable if you don't mind getting a bit wet in the river.Sounds like a great route.