Wilson’s Promontory- Northern Circuit

Mt Feathertop Snow Hike

September 14 saw my mate Luke and I on a hike up Victoria’s second highest peak Mt Feathertop. This was our second time this year up the mountain but our first ever during the snow season. Needless to say we were pretty keen on the idea and had been gearing ourselves up for quite a while, hoping that the weather would come good on the dates we had planned. By pure chance we had 3 days worth of sunny skies, an overnight low of -6, and not a drop of rain to be seen, this weather made the hike a very enjoyable one.

The planned route up Feathertop was the very popular Bungalow Spur track, offering a pretty nice gradient the whole way along with a nice clear trail. Although the track is not an awfully hard one, there is still a vertical climb of around 1,200m so it isn’t for the faint hearted. To its advantage, much of the track is sheltered by tree cover which keeps you cool and out of the sun. The Bungalow Spur track starts in Harrretville, about 4-5 hours from Melbourne. To access the track by vehicle take the turn off just before the main bridge in town marked ‘Feathertop Track’, it is a sealed road and leads all the way to the base of the Spur, here there is a car park and information board.

Once on the track it is just a matter of zig-zagging your way up the Spur. Eventually the tree cover will thin and the alpine environment will start to reveal itself. It is at this point, where you may start to encounter snow on the trail. On our trip there were only patches of snow on the last kilometer or so before the hut, but this can vary depending on the season. The temperature will also start to drop and you’ll notice how cold it actually is if you stand around for a little while. Along the way you will pass the old Feathertop Hut site which can still be used for camping, but the much better option is to walk the extra kilometer to the newly built Federation Hut. This position is right at the top of the Spur and is the perfect starting point for the trip up to summit. At the campsite you have the choice of camping inside the hut or pitching your tent (however you should always carry a tent incase the hut is full) The hut is setup nicely with sleeping benches for about 6, a cooking bench, clothes hooks, and a fireplace.

If the weather allows you to continue up to the summit from Federation Hut, then you need to be prepared with the right gear. In the winter months you will almost definately be walking on snow between the hut and the summit, so it is important to carry either snow shoes or skis. Many of the slopes between the hut and the summit are very steep and a slip may cause you to fall a long way down into a gully. Whatever gear you chose to take, you need to know how to use it safely. From the hut it is a short walk up to the track junction where you will then start to head up the summit ridge. As you reach the steeper sections of the summit, it is important to be aware of the snow cornice that builds on the south face of the mountain, walking on top of the unsupported snow could be fatal so it is important to be aware of where you are walking at all times (if in doubt, hope there are someone else’s tracks to follow). Once you reach the summit you will be rewarded with a 360 degree view of the alpine area, from Mt Buller in one direction to Mt Bogong in the other, it is a truly spectacular spot. Once you’ve snapped a heap of photos you’ll probably be wanting to return down to the warmth of the hut.

Having been up Feathertop during both summer and winter, it is one of the ‘must do’ trips for any hiker.

Harrretville to Feathertop Summit via Bungalow Spur Track : 21km (Return)

See more photos from this trip in the Feathertop ‘09 Gallery

Gear Review: Black Wolf Hornet

The Hornet is Black Wolf’s second highest rated tent (beaten only by the Expedition) It is a 3 man, 3-4 season, geodesic structure tent which is designed to withstand most conditions that one would encounter outdoors.

The Hornet is a double skin(layer) tent which provides extra insulation from the outside conditions and makes it suitable for just about any type of conditions, including mild alpine weather. The geodesic pole structure not only provides great internal space but adds to the strength of the pole system, allowing the Hornet to handle strong winds and the extra weight of rain or snow. One of the great attractions to the Hornet for me was the size, a common problem with many tents is the length to accommodate taller people, coming in at 2.25m internal length the Hornet performs extremely well.

The Specs:

• 3-4 Season Tent | Geodesic, Up to the snow line
• Capacity : 2 (Gear Inside) / 3 (Gear Outside)
• Color: Green or Yellow
• Weight: 3.8kg trail weight
• Internal Dimensions: 180 x 225 x 110 cm
• External Dimensions: 180 x 335 x 110 cm
• Floor: Polyester PU 5000mm
• Fly: Polyester PU 3000mm
• Seams: Heat taped
• Poles: 3 x 8.5mm T6 Premium Alloy
• Pegs: 15 x Lightweight Alloy

I purchased the Hornet with a mate as our larger hiking tent. As we both already owned lightweight single man tents, we were really after something that gave us more room to move when we weren’t worried about the weight so much. We were also after a tent which had a suitable design to handle the occasional winter alpine trip. After a bit of searching we came across the Hornet, it seemed to suit our needs and our wallets. Priced at $360 AUD it will hopefully be our all around 3 man tent.

Having already owned a Black Wolf  tent I was confident that the quality of the Hornet would meet our standards. And as expected I cannot fault the manufacture of the Hornet, there were no lose threads to be seen and everything fitted together perfectly. Just like all other Black Wolf tents, the Hornet comes in a sturdy carry bag with pole and peg bags made from the same material. From my experiences, Black Wolf makes excellent tents without blowing your budget.

Once out of the bag, setting up the hornet is very simple. The inner tent is set out with 6 pegs, and then the 3 poles thread through mesh tracks and clip onto the inner. The geodesic design created by the 3rd pole not only adds extra strength to the frame but also helps to keep the fly from resting on the sides of the inner(very handy in wet weather). Once you have the inner set, which could be used stand-alone in dry weather, the fly velcro’s to the apex and the clips to the 6  pole points. All the fly points have adjustable straps to set the tension. The two vestibules require 4 further pegs and give both easy entry and great storage space.

After setting the tent I was glad to notice the 4 ventilation points in the fly, all of which have velcro struts to keep them open(but can also be sealed closed). With many double skin tents condensation can be a problem which is directly related to the ventilation. On top of the vents in the fly, there are 4 well placed mesh vents in the inner. Ventilation can be hard manage in a double skin tent but I think Black Wolf have done a good job on the Hornet.

Entrance into the Hornet can be either via the front or the back, both without too much trouble. The size of the vestibules quite impressed me and would allow plenty of space for 3 packs with ease. The doors are an oval shape and make getting in and out simple, they also have zippered fly mesh panels for extra ventilation.

Once I got inside the Hornet I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of space on offer. We had purchased the tent specifically cos of its good internal space, and it was certainly no disappointment. At 2.25 x 1.8 m inside the Hornet can comfortably fit those who are taller, or gives extra space for those not soo tall. I’m just on 6 foot tall and i’ll sleep very comfortably in the Hornet. Also on offer inside is even more storage space, there is a very large gear hammock which hangs from the ceiling of the inner, along with several small mesh pockets around the base or the inner for storing small items. Its often very easy to lose track of small items inside a tent, so im glad to have all these extra pockets.

Back on the outside, there are 4 guy ropes for use in rough weather (with built in reflective tape so you can see them in the dark). Just be sure to not leave them hanging on the side if you expect rain, as its likely they will cause drip lines down the fly. On the first day of owning the Hornet I had it set in the backyard and within an hour or soo it started to rain, I decided to leave it out to give the fly a chance to stretch. It rained very heavily for a few hours without any leaks at all, it continued to rain overnight and the Hornet was still solid in the morning. I was very impressed. I look forward to making great use of this tent.

The only modification I have made to the Hornet is to add some small loops off 5mm accessory cord to the peg loops. I have done this to make the use of snow stakes a bit easier as I found the standard loops to be a tight fit with the larger pegs. This would really only be necessary if you intend to camp on the snow or on sand.

Gear Review: Nikon D60 and Nikkor 18-105 VR

For quite some time I had been contemplating buying a dSLR camera to take away hiking with me. Not that I was un-happy with the photos I had been taking on my consumer digi-camera, but I was looking to gain a bit more controll of the pictures I was taking. And I mean lets face it, when your out in the middle of no-where on a hike, there isnt always a lot else to do, so giving me something to do with a camera sounded like a good idea.

Having made up my mind I then started to check out what was on the market. With a father who was long time Nikon user I was somewhat swayed in that direction from the start, but as it turns out it was a Nikon model that suited my needs the best. To suit the purposes of hiking I was obviously not after a great big whopping camera that took up half the space in my hiking pack, also I was keen to keep the entire setup as light as possible. Bearing this in mind, I decided on the Nikon D60, and so far I am yet to be dissapointed. The following section of the review is information based solely on my own oppinion as a user of the camera and not as a photographic expert.

I must say that when I first got my hands on a D60 body in the camera store I was surprised at how compact it actually was. Despite its smaller size, it still fits snuggly into my hands and all of the buttons seemed to be placed in useable positions. One main advantage of such a small body is that it allows it to fit into a much smaller camera bag, which for the hiker, is perfect.

Upon looking at the back of the D60, any previous Nikon user would see plenty of similarities. There is a large multi direction control which feels great and can be operated with ease. Down the left-hand side of the back panel are all the usual button controls like playback, zoom and menu. The 2.5″ LCD is not the largest one going round but it is probably half the reason why the body can be made soo small.  Despite its size the resolution on the LCD is great which makes it easy to view your images on the camera. The D60 also features an eye sensor which automaticaly switches the LCD on and off as you put your eye upto the camera. All in all, the physical aspects of the D60 are largely in line with the rest of the Nikon d SLR range.

The 10.2MP sensor on the D60 certainly doesnt set any records, but the EXPEED processor it comes with definately does provide amazing quality. Even at higher ISO values of around 800 the D60 performes particulary well in my oppinion. The interface within the camera is easy to use and provides some fantastic new features. There is a full retouching menu which allows you to edit many aspects of your photos on the camera, saving time on the computer later. This feature is also particlary usefull if you take your memory card straight to the photolab.

One of the most noteable feautures in the D60’s software is the Active/Post  D-Lighting function. When using Active D-Lighting the D60 will set the exposure to suit the highlights of the shot and make sure bright skies ect are not over-exposed, it will then digitaly enhance to low-light areas to give a photo which is evenly balanced. The post effect called D-Lighting works in the same way but as a post photo effect, however it does not adjust the exposure of the shot, and therefore cannot produce as good a result as its Active equivilent. The only downside to Active D-Lighting is that it will take slightly longer for the camera to process each shot, in my oppinion this delay isnt too bad. From the testing I have done, Active D-Lighting is by no means a miracle, but in difficult conditions such as landcape photos with a bright sky, it can certainly help retain detail in the brighter areas of the photo. Different users will find different benefits of this feature.

In the lens department, it is worth noting that the D60 does not have a autofocus drive motor in the body, this means that only lenses with the motor contained within are compatible. This may bone some existing dSLR users but for anyone buying their first camera, just be sure to use the Nikkor AF-S or AF-I lenses(or other brand equivilents) The lens I chose to pair with the camera was the Nikkor 18mm-105mm F-3.5-5.6 VR. My reason for selecting this over the standard 18mm-15mm lens was because I was after as much zoom as I could get whilst still keeping the camera bag as small as possible. The 18mm-105mm lens has proven to be a great choice and gives me enough zoom range for my needs whilst being only 1cm longer than the standard lens.

This is about as far as my knowledge takes me and for further in-depth information I suggest you look at one of the numerous digital photography websites out there. I can however offer an overall opinion on the camera from my perspective as a hiker and a entry level photographer.

PROS:

Quality- Great images thanks to the EXPEED processor and 10.2MP sensor.

Size – Compact body makes it a great camera for travelling.

Weight – At around 560g it is one of the lighest dSLR’s out there.

Price – Not too pricey making it good for entry level users.

CONS:

Size- Some users might find the body too small for their liking.

Lens Compatibility- Users with older lenses might have compatibility issues.

For more info see here

Gear Review: Slik Sprint Pro GM

Following my purchase of a new dSLR camera I realised that a tripod would be a very handy piece of equipment to acompany my new toy. Upon first looking at the ranges of tripods on the market, I discovered that there was certainly no shortage of choice out there. In order to make a good choice it is important to carefully look at your requirements and find a model which suits your needs.

In my case, I was after a tripod which could be taken away on hiking trips but also be suitable for normal use. For the hiking aspect, weight and packed size was quite important, while at home stability and size where more useful. Obviously to cover both these situations some compromises need to be made.

After much searching I came across the Slik Sprint Pro. All the features of this tripod suit my needs well and give me a good balance of strength and weight. The Sprint Pro can be purchased with either a Ball Head or a 3-Axis head, both have their pros and cons but for me the ball head helps to keep the unit nice a compact for easy packing.

Weighing in at just under 1Kg this tripod is perfect for taking away hiking, whilst still keeping some really usefull features. The manufacturer specs recomend a maximum camera+lens weight of around 2kg which suits my Nikon D60 and 18-105mm Lens perfectly. If you intend to use a longer lens then be sure to use its balance mount on the lens instead of the camera’s mount, this will keep the tripod much more stable.

 

The 4-section legs on the Sprint can be locked into 3 different angles for variying setup situations. The adjustable vertical arm easialy brings the camera to my eye height (im 180cm tall) whilst still keeping the camera nice and stable. The legs are aluminium in a gunmetal finish which make the Sprint quite a nice looking tripod.

Overall the build quality is excellent, and the key components (the legs) feel quite sturdy and only flex slightly while in use. The ball head locks tightly and moves smoothly when unlocked. Also included is a soft tripod case, so dont be pressured into buying an additional one. All in all I would highly recomend this to anyone looking for a light and compact, yet fully fucntional tripod.

PROS:

Lightweight – Light enough to carry on a extended hike.

Compact – Short and slender profile leaves many options for packing.

Strength – Strong enough to support most dSLR’s with little vibration.

Price – Much cheaper than other tripods, makes it an affordable choice.

CONS:

I see very few downsides to this tripod except that users of larger camear/lens combinations should perhaps try out their setup in-store before purchasing. Appart from that, the Sprint is a very well designed tripod.

The Slik Sprint Pro GM retails for $99

For more info see here

High Country Hike 2009

I have recently returned from a hike in the Victorian Alpine Area following a section of the Australian Alps Walking Track from Mt Hotham to Mt Bogong. The hike was a 6 day, aproximately 85Km section of the AAWT which totals over 650Km.

The route taken on the hike was as follows:

DAY 1:  Diamantina Hut -> Federation Hut

Travelling via the Razorback Track

The route commences at Diamantina Hut which lies on the Great Alpine Road in Mt Hotham. The nearest major town is Bright which is about 3-4 hours drive from Melbourne. Please note that during the snow season accessing Diamantina Hut would incur a daily snow resort entry fee. There is no dedicated carpark at Diamantina Hut but there is plenty of space to park along the side of the road, just remember not to leave your handbrake on if the weather is looking cold!

Across the road from the hut is an information board and the start of the Razorback Track, it is worth checking the board for any updates on track conditions. There is also a logbook which should always be filled out, with the names of those in your hiking group and your intentions.

Once on the Razorback it should take about 4-5 hours to reach Federation Hut where there is plenty of camping space along with a pit toilet and water tank. Federation Hut lies on the Bungalow Spur which is on the western side of Mt Feathertop. From the hut, it is a steep 1.5 Km walk upto the summit of Feathertop.

As with all the Alpine areas, the weather around the Razorback and Mt Feathertop can change dramatically in a very short space of time, so be sure to carry suitable gear to handle cold/wet weather, and potentially even snow.

DAY 2: Federation Hut -> Dibbins Hut

Travelling via Diamantina Spur, Kiewa Valley Logging Road and the AAWT

The second day of the hike is used to meet back up with the AAWT in order to head up onto the Bogong High Plains. The trip down to Dibbins hut could be made back along the Razorback onto the AAWT, but a more interesting route is to decend down Diamantina Spur into the Cobungra Valley and then follow the logging road all the way to the hut. Diamantina Spur can be very steep and undefined in a few places but just take your time and enjoy the view back up towards Mt Feathertop.

Once down in the Cobungra Valley the track follows the river all the way to Dibbins Hut, there are also a few other huts and stop-over points along the way to break up the trip. Dibbins Hut sits right in the end of the valley and is a great place to camp. It is only a short walk to the river and there is a toilet nearby the hut.

DAY 3: Dibbins Hut -> Cope Hut

Travelling via the AAWT

The journey from Dibbins Hut up onto the High Plains can be beautiful in nice weather but also miserable if its windy or raining. On the hike we saw wild brumby’s galloping around in the rain but unfortunately it was too wet to take a photo. The day commences with a relatively steep climb out of the Cobungra Valley but once up on the High Plains the rest of the day is pretty easy. The AAWT slowly approaches falls creek and a good place to camp for the night is Cope Hut which sits right on the trail. Alternatively you could stop into Falls Creek for a hot shower and a good feed. For us Cope Hut was a warm refuge from the pouring rain and a chance to dry some very wet gear out. There is a toilet nearby and water can be collected from the creek 500m along the AAWT

DAY 4: Cope Hut -> Ropers Hut

Travelling via the AAWT

Day 4 is one which can offer amazing views as you make the transition from the Mt Hotham end of the route to the Bogong end. During this day it is possible to see in both directions with Mt Feathertop to the South and Mt Bogong to the North. The route for the day is relatively easy to follow as it is just the AAWT numbered snowpoles, however just be careful during the first section around Falls Creek where there are several sets of snow poles. AAWT snowpoles are those with a small silver number plate nailed on horizontaly. Some snow poles may serve several purposes, but if you just watch for the right numbers then you can’t go wrong. Note also, some sections of the track are marked with yellow or blue arrows either on short stumps or trees, theese are not numbered but simply show the path of the track.

The days journey along the AAWT will take you North of Falls Creek and closer to Mt Bogong, there is one moderate climb around the side of Mt Nelse but the gradient is only mild. After a nice days hike, and just before decending too far into the tree line, Ropers Hut will appear. This hut has be recently rebuilt after bushfires destroyed the previous one, the new hut is one of the better huts in the High Plains and offers a very warm and dry nights sleep. There is a toilet nearby and water can be collected from a nearby creek. Ropers Hut is one of only a few in the area and puts you in the perfect position for the journey down to Big River and back up to Mt Bogong.

DAY 5: Ropers Hut -> Cleve Cole Hut

Travelling via the AAWT

The trip from Ropers Hut through to Cleve Cole is by no means a long journey, but is physically tough as it involves a 4Km decent down into Big River, and then a 5Km climb back up the T Spur. With Ropers Hut being right at the start of the decent down it can be wise in the warmer months to start early in the morning in order to avoid the heat when climbing back up the T Spur. Down at Big River there is a chain to help you make the crossing if the river is high, but during our hike we were able to cross without even getting our feet wet. There is also a camping area (without a toilet) down at Big River if you wish to break up the trip. After ascending out of Big River you will reach a juntion where the AAWT heads off towards Mt Wills and another set of snow poles heads towards Cleve Cole Hut and Mt Bogong. From the Junction its a easy 2Km walk up to Cleve Cole Hut which in bad weather would be a very welcome sight. Cleve Cole Hut would probably be the best featured huts in the Alpine Area, its bunks are covered in matresses and there is a sink and a large living area along with all the other normal features like a fireplace and a toilet. The hut its divided into two sections, one which is locked and one accessible to the public. The locked section is managed by the Mt Bogong Club and has a solar electricity supply for lighting and a fridge. If members of the club are present at the time then you may reap the benefits of their setup, but they do also reserve the right to ask you to camp outside the hut. From Cleve Cole Hut it is an easy 5km climb to the Mt Bogong Summit.

DAY 6: Cleve Cole Hut -> Mountain Creek

Travelling via Mt Bogong and the Staircase Spur Track

This 6th day may or may not be nessecary depending on the speed which you hike. In the case of our hike, we were able to make the trip up and over Mt Bogong on the 5th day after taking a break for a hour or so at Cleve Cole Hut. But depending on the weather you may wish to camp the night at Cleve Cole in order to get great views from the summit. Once you’ve enjoyed the view at the summit and filled your camera up with photos there are a few options you can choose for the decent down to Mountain Creek. The Staircase Spur Track is the most direct, but you can also descend via Eskdale Spur or Granite Flats. The Staircase Spur is quite steep but only 5Km long so it wont take too long to come down, from the bottom of the Staircase it is a 2km walk along Mountain Creek Road(4WD track) back to Mountain Creek Campground. Dont forget to sign off in the log book which lies about half way between the bottom of the Staircase and Mountain Creek.

Approximate Total Distance: 85Km , 5-6 Days

Suggested Map: Bogong Alpine Area Outdoor Recreation Guide 1:50,000 (by Spatial Vision)

To see images from this Hike have a look at the Gallery