Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Transport

[Watertank]

I am thinking of walking the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing in the next few weeks. I will only have one car. Does anyone know of a transport service that can take me back from either Falls or Hotham to the start point so I can collect my car?

[Moondog55]

Better to think of a round and return route as it can be quicker than walking and hitch hiking from Falls to Hotham via the roads.

[wildlight]

Hey Watertank

The guy at Mt Beauty Taxi Service does these transfers in his 4x4. I spoke with him yesterday, exploring alternative walks to Crosscut Saw when the fire was a-raging. His fee is $300. There's quite a bit of driving involved for him, starting and ending at Mt Beauty. Not sure if it's appropriate to post phone numbers here, even though his is public info online. Just Google "Mt Beauty Taxi". He also does transfers to virtually any place within the Alps- but the cost varies with distance too! Mrs & I will most likely do this walk perhaps Feb or March.
Safe Steps
WildLight

[Earwig]

The Falls to Hotham chopper costs about $100 per peron and only takes about ten minutes. I'm not sure if it operates over summer but it might be worth thinking about.

[Zone-5]

This might help..

Distance: 37km
Grade: Moderate
Start: Heathy Spur car park (Falls Creek)
Finish: Mt Loch car park (Mount Hotham)
Nearby: Falls Creek, Dinner Plain, Mount Hotham

Section 1: Falls Creek to Cope Hut (14 kilometres)
Section 2: Cope Hut to Dibbins Hut (14 kilometres)
Section 3: Dibbins Hut to Hotham (9 kilometres)

http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/High-Country/Activities-and-attractions/Outdoor-activities/~/media//PDFs/High-Country/falls-to-hotham-alpine-crossing.ashx

[Lophophaps]

Wow. The Falls-Hotham track notes will take some beating. The map is nearly inverted. Walkers are invited to "Gather the troops and strap on your walking boots ... Amble along ... Forge ahead 4.5km under an immense sky... descend gradually through mighty snow gums ... enjoy the slower pace along the aqueduct track ... Pitch your tent on the new elevated camping platforms ... Wake with the morning sun and prepare to venture into High Plains country ...Get swept up in the open space and limitless sky ... Journey south and behold awe-inspiring views ... Steady yourself for the steep descent through Cobungra Gap ... claim your camping platform. Hang up the boots ... Test your mettle with a steep climb up Swindlers Spur for 1km, and then switch gears for an easier pace ... Surge ahead to the top of Swindlers Spur ... Enjoy an even ramble past Mt Loch"

All these years and I have missed out on the above.

The poor contrast of the track notes does not appeal. One line has "Wallaces" and the next line has "Wallace". There are other typos. Oops.

There's a picture of a sunset, and under this are smaller pictures. The one second from the left is Wallaces Hut. Left of this are two walkers on a steep rocky skyline track. Is this on the Falls-Hotham route? It looks a bit like Feathertop.

There are many other campsites. SE of pole 740 at The Park; the ridge due north of Cope Hut; Rocky Knobs a short distance NW of Cope Hut; east of Mt Jim, close or in the creek; towards or at Youngs Hut; Fletchers Yard (I think this still has water); and Derrick Hut. There are others but they take a bit of finding.

If another day is added then it will be possible to easily bag peaks: Nelse, Cope, Niggerheads, Loch and maybe a few more.

[Zone-5]

Good critic!

Best you now send it off to tourism Victoria via their website so they can at least know that their site needs updating..

[Lophophaps]

I'm reluctant to send the above to the tourism people for a while. I want to see walkers navigating upside down, gathering, strapping, ambling, forging, descending (this I have actually seen, but not upside down), pitching tents on platforms (not seen in Victoria), venturing, being swept up (two bushwalkers with the surname Broom swept together - disgraceful!), journeying, beholding, claiming, hanging, testing, switching (oh, love that punishment!), surging (must be the food) and rambling (not to be confused with ambling. The preceding are signs of extreme multi-tasking. The best I can do is walk and breathe simultaneously.

I come from a simpler time. Pack gear. Collate people. Walk. Stop. Stagger up Swindlers - it's steep at the bottom. Go home. Navigation is simple: follow poles, some side-trips.

I have a dream, where one day bumbly walkers will surge upside down, and hence need to be rescued. I think I'll go to the Grampians.

[Zone-5]

...surging (must be the food)...

[north-north-west]

I come from a simpler time. Pack gear. Collate people. Walk. Stop. Stagger up Swindlers - it's steep at the bottom. Go home. Navigation is simple: follow poles, some side-trips

+1
Except the people bit. And x2 for the staggering. But otherwise it's spot on.

[xena pahina]

Hi Watertank,

Falls Creek Resort Mgmt offer a Shuttle to Hotham which departs Falls Creek from 7am Thursday & Saturday Mornings over the summer period. The cost is $60pp, it is self guided & the map is $12.95.
It is advised you contact their information centre directly on 03 5758 1200 to log your interest & to confirm availability for bookings. In effect it is a Hotham to Falls walk. Xena.
Telephone 03 5758 1221. [email protected]. www.fallscreek.com.au

[Moondog55]

Crikey $60-
Personally I'd rather just do a round circuit and come back to my car and Machinery Spur is a great walk, but you do need the extra day ( or if staggering * 2 )

[xena pahina]

Machinery Spur looks great I'd like to try that also

[Moondog55]

xena it's even better in a deep, cold winter with crampons and an ice-axe with you just in case

[madmacca]

The logical car drop point is Bright.

Mt Beauty Taxis operate Mt Beauty to Bright in conjunction with V/line - a lot cheaper than chartering. Then you only have to charter from Beauty to Falls - not sure how flexible you are with timing to join in on an existing charter.

Omeo Bus Lines operate Omeo-Hotham-Bright on Mon, Wed, Fri.