best 3 day/2 night walk for a first time solo hiker?

[wendybird]

hi all,

i'd like to try a short solo hike sometime in february. i've done several multi-day hikes in groups before, & feel i am pretty well set up and confident i can manage on my own. i wanted to try something that would be reasonably safe and achievable for a solo first-timer, within 3 hrs drive of melbourne if possible. i'm young & fit and not daunted by tough physical conditions but don't want to have to do a lot of bush bashing and would prefer something reasonably well sign-posted since i'll be alone, however i love a challenge and am keen to improve my navigation skills a bit. circuit walks or somewhere with transport options back to my car would also be prefereable. i've been to the prom several times and would probably prefer somewhere different! what walks should i look into?

many thanks!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Some possible routes in the Alpine N.P. come to mind . If you walk up from the Upper Howqua campsite in the Alpine N.P. up the Howitt Spur to Mt. Howitt and MacAlister springs , Then you can return via Stanley Name spur and make it a kind of circuit.

[damoprz]

My Favourites: The North Prom is good, easy navigation and a lot harder than the south loop. The Ligar-Tamboritha loop near Licola is also fun, a bit rougher, not much of a track in parts and a little more navigation involved. Otherwise there is Tali Karng from above, walking out past The Sentinels and Mt Wellington. If you go a bit further to the Alpine NP there are many choices, but the Drive is longer.

[wendybird]

thanks for the suggestions, guys! i will check them all out.

[GBW]

From Harrietville the Bungalow, Feathertop, Razorback, Bon Accord is a nice loop.

[north-north-west]

Bon Accord is a bit much for a first timer. Great walk but it's a long climb up if you aren't used to hauling a pack up that sort of slope.

[GBW]

wendybird did say she loves a challenge! Yes the Bon Accord is steep in parts but not that dangerous. It was also our intro walk up the BA and while it is a hard slog it's worth it once you get to the top.

[north-north-west]

It's not at all dangerous, and once on the Razorback the route will be well populated, but it's still a long slog. Much further than 3 hours, too.

[wendybird]

Otherwise there is Tali Karng from above, walking out past The Sentinels and Mt Wellington.

if i did this, where would be the best place to park and start walking?
also, if one was hiking this in a group and able to car shuffle, where would be the best places to start & end in order to avoid walking the same route back out?

[wendybird]

wendybird did say she loves a challenge! Yes the Bon Accord is steep in parts but not that dangerous. It was also our intro walk up the BA and while it is a hard slog it's worth it once you get to the top.

this loop sounds awesome.

[north-north-west]

wendybird did say she loves a challenge! Yes the Bon Accord is steep in parts but not that dangerous. It was also our intro walk up the BA and while it is a hard slog it's worth it once you get to the top.

this loop sounds awesome.

It is a brilliant walk. If you're up to the climb it's well worth doing. Be aware that in summer especially, water along the Razorback is severely limited. In fact, once you cross the creek at the base of the spur, you'll be lucky to find any until you reach Federation Hut.

For Tali Karng, the carpark for the Wellington River track is just over the final bridge, which is where the bitumen stops. It is signposted. The top end is at MacFarlane Saddle, which is reached via the right hand road from Arbuckle Junction. Water is not an issue on this one - unless it rains heavily, in which case the river crossings become what is generally referred to as 'interesting'.

[GBW]

It is a brilliant walk. If you're up to the climb it's well worth doing. Be aware that in summer especially, water along the Razorback is severely limited. In fact, once you cross the creek at the base of the spur, you'll be lucky to find any until you reach Federation Hut.

It's beautiful doing the loop anti-clockwise..you can see Feathertop in the distance as you walk towards it but I'd recommend doing the loop clockwise to avoid the need to carry water up the Bon Accord for the trek to Federation Hut. As NNW said, there's no water on the Bon Accord and across the Razorback.

[scoha]

Up Bogong from the west (Mountain Creek either spur) to Cleve Cole Hut or Maddisons Hut Site. Down to Big River and up past Ropers Hut to Edmonsons. Then back via Grey Hill Track, Quartz Ridge and the Bogong Summit down the other spur.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The Bon Accord spur after the creek crossing would be hot as hell in summer. I did it in Sept.'15 with snow shoes strapped to my pack. It was effing tough with the last bit up to the Razorback a real nut cracker. It took a long time to get that far!! The Razorback is hot and fly blown in summer since all the trees were burnt .I am looking at doing this Bungalow spur/Razorback/ BA spur circuit in the next snow season.

[whatevermortal]

From Harrietville the Bungalow, Feathertop, Razorback, Bon Accord is a nice loop.

Is it possible to do this as a one nighter? Or is Champion Spur the only real option for the time limited?

[north-north-west]

From Harrietville the Bungalow, Feathertop, Razorback, Bon Accord is a nice loop.

Is it possible to do this as a one nighter? Or is Champion Spur the only real option for the time limited?

I've done it in the reverse direction, in winter, as a one night trip. Camped up on High Knob. Long first day, but I'm pretty slow.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Champion spur is, as far as I know , a right bush bash , with no track work carried out on the route for ten years. It is not for people who want a first time solo 3 day hike. The Hike I just did was 3 days and 2 nights and it was tough. It was Mt Loch Car Park, Mt Hotham Summit, Diamantina hut, The Razorback, Federation hut , Mt Feathertop .
Day 2 Federation hut , Diamantina Spur, Dibbins hut. :-0
Day 3 Dibbins hut ,Swindler's spur, Derrick Hut , Mt. Loch summit , Mt Loch Car park , finish.

[whatevermortal]

Thanks for the information Will aim to head up this weekend whilst the weather looks promising. I figured Champion Spur was a slog from what I'd been reading, will leave that for another more adventurous time.

[Drew]

The North Prom is good, easy navigation and a lot harder than the south loop

Not sure about this suggestion for someone not all that experienced. If there's been recent track work then it's not hard navigation-wise. If not it could be very hard, with very few landmarks through the swamp and some very thick scrub. You'd also have to lie through your teeth when filling out the mandatory "hiker self assessment form", which is clearly designed to scare off the inexperienced walkers!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

The Northern Prom is often a bush bash that requires some navigation skills. The Southern Prom is for less experienced hikers who can just follow their noses and know that there will be water and a loo at the next campsite.

[damoprz]

The North Prom is good, easy navigation and a lot harder than the south loop

Not sure about this suggestion for someone not all that experienced. If there's been recent track work then it's not hard navigation-wise. If not it could be very hard, with very few landmarks through the swamp and some very thick scrub. You'd also have to lie through your teeth when filling out the mandatory "hiker self assessment form", which is clearly designed to scare off the inexperienced walkers!

I got the impression they were reasonably experienced in groups, just not solo. Now that the swamp has been re-tracked (apparently, I haven't been since) it is slow in parts, but with a compass + map you shouldn't get lost. There is a lot of bush-bashing though, so maybe better left a while.

Otherwise there is Tali Karng from above, walking out past The Sentinels and Mt Wellington.

if i did this, where would be the best place to park and start walking?
also, if one was hiking this in a group and able to car shuffle, where would be the best places to start & end in order to avoid walking the same route back out?

I have done the walk 3 different ways now, the best is with a car shuffle. One at the bridge down the bottom, the other at Macfarlane saddle up the top, then taking it easy walk it in 3 days, camping at Nyimbah camp and down the bottom at the junction of the Riggall spur track. There are a fair few little walks you can do along the way to fill up 3 days, or just relax at the creek/lake. The cyclist in me says walk bottom to top, but my friends disagree .

The second way is just to walk along the river up and back, which is nice, but I prefer loops.

Finally, parking at Macfarlane Saddle, following the track across Trapyard hill to Wellington track. Then walking this track to Millers hut. Drop your pack and go to the Sentinels and camp near Nyimbah camp. On the next day walk down to the lake in the morning, and walk out the Wellington plain track.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I am doing the third way listed above as a route I have not done before. I plan to do it next month in Feb.

[damoprz]

I am doing the third way listed above as a route I have not done before. I plan to do it next month in Feb.

The track over trap-yard hill was bad and it has been a while so I'm not sure what it is like now. I would be prepared for a little adventure.

Has anyone done this bit recently?

[whatevermortal]

From Harrietville the Bungalow, Feathertop, Razorback, Bon Accord is a nice loop.

Is it possible to do this as a one nighter? Or is Champion Spur the only real option for the time limited?

Did this loop over Sunday night, very nice indeed. Camped at Federation hut (water in the tank), fairly easy walk up Bungalow and perfect weather for Feathertop, not a skerrick of wind about. Easily one of the finest sunsets I've seen.

Razorback was a nice wander the next morn with beautiful views, then the tramp down Bon Accord hurt the knees a bit (certainly felt longer than the signed 5.5km?) and made for a fairly longish day out. Great loop though with no car swapping required for those who are limited by the such.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

All the descents along spurs in that area are best done with trekking poles. You'll have better balance, superior pack weight distribution and your thighs and knees will thank you. How was the Log crossing at Washington creek? Don't look down !!!

[whatevermortal]

Admittedly I have never tried out trekking poles, I have an unfortunate shoulder issue and fear the constant use of my arms may exacerbate this. That said I can easily see the advantages.

The log crossing was all good, nice and dry and a well placed shuffle helped to enjoy. Initially missed the track marker at it's end and attempted what I guess is an old track to the left which was quite eroded, and by the looks of the footprints I'm not the only one to fall for this. Eventually decided that it didn't seem right and walked back to said log only to see the marker in all its glaring obviousness.