Bushwalk Australia

Ok I have absolutely decided on this as my first overnight hike. I plan on walking from Mt Erica car park to somewhere around Mt Saint Phillack and camping and then walking back next day. A few questions:

Hopefully I don't need a 4WD to get to Mt Erica car park?
Is it easy enough to find somewhere to camp? This will be my first time camping not on a camp site/designated area.
Do I have to take all the water I need up there with me? I have the means to make water drinkable if needed.
Mobile coverage? I plan on using map/hiking apps on the phone. Is that ok on a straight up/straight down walk on a well established trail?
Weather in late April?

Any advice gratefully received.

It's a dirt road to Mt Erica car park but usually in fairly good condition...shouldn't have any problems

Plenty of places to camp along the way...Mushroom Rocks, Talbot Hut site, St Gwinear, Mustering Flat, Phillack Saddle.

Water at Erica carpark, Talbots, St Gwinear and Phillacks

Pretty straight forward, easy to follow track

Weather? Could be wet, who knows...just be prepared.

Can't remember if there was phone coverage.

Some more info here...

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19420

Catcher wrote:Ok I have absolutely decided on this as my first overnight hike. I plan on walking from Mt Erica car park to somewhere around Mt Saint Phillack and camping and then walking back next day. A few questions:

Hopefully I don't need a 4WD to get to Mt Erica car park?
Is it easy enough to find somewhere to camp? This will be my first time camping not on a camp site/designated area.
Do I have to take all the water I need up there with me? I have the means to make water drinkable if needed.
Mobile coverage? I plan on using map/hiking apps on the phone. Is that ok on a straight up/straight down walk on a well established trail?
Weather in late April?

Any advice gratefully received.

Hi Catcher , easy access to the car park with a 2 wheel drive, , theres a few spots once your on the plateau to camp, you will find good water at Talbot ruins, behind the old chimney 50 metres away just follow the footpad. Will find good water at Camp saddle at the AAWT junction 200 metres east towards Mt St Gwinear.
Phillick Saddle im not sure about water there.
Depending on phone company, but i get some coverage in different spots up there. Hire a beacon to be sure if things turn to crap. Its a straight forward trail hard to get lost, weather in any any season in alpine areas can be freezing etc.......

Camminata wrote:Phillick Saddle im not sure about water there.

Drop down towards Freemans Flat, plenty of water on the way and even more at the flats.

north-north-west wrote:

Camminata wrote:Phillick Saddle im not sure about water there.

Drop down towards Freemans Flat, plenty of water on the way and even more at the flats.

Thanks for the info

If there is anyone who knows this walk very well and has the time to exchange a few PMs please let me know. This will be my first overnighter and I just want to be double sure I have what I need and ask some questions regarding the track. I suspect I'm being neurotic and over cautious but just don't want to have anyone have to rescue me!

Cheers in advance

I will post a few questions here in case anyone wants to chime in:

Regarding navigation. I know the advice is always to have a map and compass, someone recommend what map it is I need? Also given I intend to perhaps walk 10-15km, camp, walk back on a well established trail, does anyone have any advice what apps for the iPhone I could use to orientate myself. Is there an app that allows you to map a walk and then track yourself on it.

I'll be doing this walk in late April, I have all 3- 4 seasons stuff so I'm imagining that will be ok. I have a full length poncho and warm weather gear.

If anyone has any other general advice for this walk I would love to hear it.

Fire away with as many questions as you like Catcher...in a nutshell...you'll be following the Australian Alps Walking Track from the Mt Erica carpark to Phillack Saddle which is about the 15k mark. Have a quick look at these photos, they'll give you an idea the type of area you'll be in.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 19cab3987a

There's a bit of an up to start...nothing too steep...then across the plateau with a few gentle ups and down.

The track is straight forward and easy to follow...you won't have to do any bushbashing as long as you stay on the path.

The map you will need...Vicmap Walhalla 8122-S

I can't help you with info about a phone app.

You'll also need a stove..no fires allowed in Baw Baw NP.

Catcher, being double sure, neurotic and over cautious is fine. My approach is more being paranoid, but then I've had professional assistance. Until you get the hang of it regarding your limits and the gear, be careful. The approach you are using is good.

I'm not sure if there's mobile reception in all the places you will be walking. I suspect on the major hills there may be, and most probably not in the valleys. The tracks are well marked and usually very well defined. Many signposts. I don't know which map to use, as mine is at least 30 years old and is not really needed.

A poncho is fine in the open and calm but not so good in even light scrub or a moderate wind. Camp above the valley floor. Cold air sinks and you can be several degrees warmer higher on the slope. This is why there are frost hollows, lower regions with no trees. It's too cold for them. Being mindful of falling timber, camp under trees. This will shelter you from dew. Try and find something solid to camp beside, such as a rock, the lee of a hill or thickish forest. The wind can be very strong. Except on the summits, the Baw Baw Plateau is fairly unlikely to get strong winds.

Let someone know where you are going, in writing, perhaps with a map. State when you will be back at the car, the registration and make, and where you will be parked. Give a cutoff time to raise the alarm. If you intend to be at the car by 3 pm on the Sunday, have a margin and say the cutoff time is 7 pm. This allows for delay on the track and when driving. If you are delayed, as soon as you can, phone home. Fill in all logbooks.

I'm writing this reply from Mustering Flat right now.

Catcher, as long as you're sensible you won't have any issues. The Plateau is really a sub-alpine environment, with snowgums and woody shrubs being the main vegetation in the higher areas, plus the aforementioned frost hollows. Lot of granite boulders, plenty of small streams.
The track is pretty obvious as it gets a lot of use and, being part of the AAWT, is well marked. Part of it is even an old 4wd track.

Thanks so much for everyone's advice. I really appreciate it.

Hi Catcher

I recently started using Motion X on an iphone. Works a treat in recording a track. For areas without a mobile signal you download the maps in advance at maximum magnification. The phone battery is half gone after six hours recording, iphone 6. Battery would last longer if you just switched it on when necessary to confirm location rather than record the entire track walked.

Happy walking.

Sorry to crap on about this. Just still not clear on where to get water from. I will be leaving from my car at Mt Erica car park and looking for something near Mt Saint Phillack or Mount Saint Gwinear where I'll be camping, The places people have mentioned aren't marked on the map or the 1:50,000 paper map. The image shows my route plotted on the best online map that I can find and download to Motionx on my iPhone.

If anyone can explain to me in the same way they might to a puppy labrador I would be very grateful, thank you for your patience.

Catcher, as I mentioned aboved, being cautious is good. Knowing about water is crucial. I don't have a map with me at the moment, so from memory. As you draw near the turn-off to St Gwinear there's water on the NE (right) side. However, people camp here in winter and poor sanitation may compomise water. If you obtain water as high as possible you should be okay. At the 12.5 kilometre mark there's a major junction, AAWT and to Baw Baw Village. This junction has good sheltered camping and water down to the SW (left) a few hundred metres. You can go NE (right) to Mustering Flat if you like scrub and pain. keep going far enough and there may be a bar open in the village.

Apart from that you may find soaks or water off the ridges.

north-north-west wrote:

Camminata wrote:Phillick Saddle im not sure about water there.

Drop down towards Freemans Flat, plenty of water on the way and even more at the flats.

This is a "map" showing where NNW suggested water on Freemans Flat. (Head waters of the West Tanjil River)
The stream along the trail to Baw Baw Village would most likely have water too and would be about 1km walk from
Phillack Saddle.

Phillack Saddle would be a nice spot to camp as long as there isn't a gale blowing.

There's a pretty obvious pad running down to the flats - with water often running down parts of it - but it fades out once you're down. I've done the cross country route trying to follow the old track and it's very easy to get off-line. Even a GPS with the old track marked may not keep you straight as there are places you have to diverge to avoid fallen timber. Fun, but I wouldn't advise it for a relative newbie.

Catcher, you haven't stated what time of the year you are doing this walk. It's a relevant matter insofar as the quantity of water you'll consume is concerned. If you're not going in mid-summer, I believe you ought to be easily able to carry in all the water you need. But even in very hot weather, for the two-day walk you are intending I would still be carrying enough water and not going looking for any.

For cooking/dehydrating/washing plus drinking, I would use no more than three litres. (Others may disagree, of course.) The walk is about twelve kilometres each day and the climb is about 400 metres, so the effort required to carry that amount of water isn't hugely demanding. Also, drink plenty before you start and have some available for when you get back to the car park.

I intend going end of April. I could carry 5 litres perhaps? I intend driving/walking/camping overnight and then walking back to the car. I probably won't "need" water but it's a learning experience for me and wanted to try out my 'treating water system'.

Catcher, in my view, five litres is more than enough. Late April will not be hot, the climbing is not that much, and the distance is relatively low. It should take 4-5 hours to walk from the car park to St Phillack Saddle, and certain water on Freemans Flat. For a dry ridge walk in mid-summer of about 20 kilometres I carry about four litres, perhaps a tad low but a balance between a heavier pack and enough water.

Again thanks for everyone's time and patience. Much appreciated.

The map is Vicmap 1:50,000 Walhalla. Not sure if someone mentioned that.

The walk from Mt Erica/Mushroom rocks to Mt St Gwinear/Phillack is relatively easy. The trail is well worn, and marked, so you should not have difficulty following it. The trail will cross a stream at the T intersection (of the off the AAWT) that leads to the Talbot/Eric Hut ruin (which is just a chimney). You can’t miss it, as there’s a footbridge over it. As already mentioned, this is a half-day walk ...and unless you spend a lot of time exploring mushroom rocks (btw water in a tank at the scout hut), you may want to consider pushing on and camp at the ruin a few km south of mount Whitelaw. About a 8 hour from the carpark and on fairly flat terrain. The campsite here is similar to Mt Erica with a chimney, and has water. From the ruin, there's a well worn trail that leads down (east), behind some rocks and into the bog ...and leads to a running stream. About a 75m walk from the chimney, if that. The water is fresh (potable) and fairly reliable even in summer.

For navigation I use the gaia ap on my smartphone (was iphone but now using android). To conserve battery make sure it’s in airplane mode and turn on only when needed. I get about 4 days per battery charge (and carry a spare battery and compass + map). Pre download the maps you need, so you will not need mobile coverage/internet. Test everything before you go. There is coverage (about one bar) through most of this area, but drops off around Mt Whitlaw hut. However, I would not rely on this. It's fairly remote, often with dayhikers round the St Gwinear/Baw Baw section, but I would not plan on seeing anybody.

If you are using a GPS for navagation, or looking for info on the walk I recommend visiting Karen Cody excellent AAWT trip summary at http://www.johnevans.id.au/Pages/KC/KCAAWT.html. Download the KML files for day 2 and 3 into Gaia, and you will get waypoints and info on the walk (including terrain profile). Then use Gaia to download the (track) maps for offline viewing. The site also has some references to paper maps for the area you are walking.

As mentioned, the drive to the carpark is easy. A dirt road, uphill, a few potholes and dropped branches, but nothing a (read my) clapped out Ford Metro can’t handle.

The walk from the Mt Erica carpark, north to Mt Whitelaw is perfect for a first overnight trip. My personal opinion is that it's possibly one of the the best in Vic.

FWIW I spent Easter walking from Baw Baw Village, north to Thompson River (and back), and with the cooler weather drank less than 2 litres a day. It was fairly cold overnight, so plan for +5 plus wearing all insulating layers, or a 0c degree bag. It may (actually it will) be fairly damp, so bring rain gear. Interesting that when the cloud rolls in (mist/fog whatever) the trees start raining. The clearings will be dry as a bone, while the rain is literally 'down pouring’ from of the trees. That's what makes the high country magic.

br3n7 wrote: . . . Interesting that when the cloud rolls in (mist/fog whatever) the trees start raining. The clearings will be dry as a bone, while the rain is literally 'down pouring’ from of the trees. That's what makes the high country magic.

Good detailed information in your post. The concludingl sentences about the "magic" and the "mist/fog/whatever" pouring down from the trees are very apt, and not just for Baw Baw.

peregrinator wrote:

br3n7 wrote: . . . Interesting that when the cloud rolls in (mist/fog whatever) the trees start raining. The clearings will be dry as a bone, while the rain is literally 'down pouring’ from of the trees. That's what makes the high country magic.

Good detailed information in your post. The concludingl sentences about the "magic" and the "mist/fog/whatever" pouring down from the trees are very apt, and not just for Baw Baw.

Agree. Great first post. Welcome to the forum br3n7

br3n7 wrote:If you are using a GPS for navagation, or looking for info on the walk I recommend visiting Karen Cody excellent AAWT trip summary at http://www.johnevans.id.au/Pages/KC/KCAAWT.html. Download the KML files for day 2 and 3 into Gaia, and you will get waypoints and info on the walk (including terrain profile). Then use Gaia to download the (track) maps for offline viewing. The site also has some references to paper maps for the area you are walking.

As mentioned, the drive to the carpark is easy. A dirt road, uphill, a few potholes and dropped branches, but nothing a (read my) clapped out Ford Metro can’t handle.

The walk from the Mt Erica carpark, north to Mt Whitelaw is perfect for a first overnight trip. My personal opinion is that it's possibly one of the the best in Vic.

FWIW I spent Easter walking from Baw Baw Village, north to Thompson River (and back), and with the cooler weather drank less than 2 litres a day. It was fairly cold overnight, so plan for +5 plus wearing all insulating layers, or a 0c degree bag. It may (actually it will) be fairly damp, so bring rain gear. Interesting that when the cloud rolls in (mist/fog whatever) the trees start raining. The clearings will be dry as a bone, while the rain is literally 'down pouring’ from of the trees. That's what makes the high country magic.

Thank you so much for taking the time to right such a detailed post. That is extremely helpful. Much appreciated.