Mt Feathertop Hiking Trails

Mt Feathertop is a stunning peak to visit, one of the true alpine peaks of the Bright district. Standing at 1922 meters above sea level, it is the second highest peak in Victoria, and is arguably a much more exciting climb than its bigger brother, Mt Bogong.

The peak is climbable in all seasons, however in winter this walk is better left to the more experienced as temperatures are very cold, and the final climb to the summit involves negotiating a large 20 meter snow cornice which has claimed lives in the past.

There are many routes to the summit, each are exciting and offer something completely different, however if you are planning an overnight stay in the area, please plan ahead and do some good reading. John Chapman and John Siseman are two individuals who are extremely knowledgeable about this area, and between them, have published a handful of books which act as a guide to this area, and give detailed track and route notes.

Directions

The majority of tracks to Mt Feathertop are reachable in the township of Harrietvile, and via Hotham Heights. To reach Mt Hotham from Harrietville, the Great Alpine Road is simply followed to Mt Hotham. The road at times is quite narrow, and care needs to be taken especially in Winter when snow chains are generally required in order to travel.

Mt Feathertop Via The Razorback

On the Great Alpine Road at Diamantina Hut near the Mt Hotham Ski Village, the Razorback track begins, and follows the, at times, extremely narrow Razorback Ridge along an open and treeless ridge for some kilometers. Avoid the Bon Accord Spur track junction, and continue to follow the ridge as it descends slightly through light snow gum. Soon, you will begin to climb again over twin knobs. Avid the junction to Diamantina Spur, and continue on for another one kilometer to the track junction for Mt Feathertop. From here, you will climb steeply up the summit ridge on Mt Feathertop. At times, this ridge is extremely narrow and airy, so care needs to be taken, especially in icy conditions. The climb is relatively short, after one kilometer, you will arrive at the very small and narrow summit, marked by a small cairn. Views are extensive. Return via the same route, or one of the below mentioned routes. An overnight stay can also be made at Federation Hut, however please be sure to have an understanding of the weather conditions, as blizzards can occur even in summer.

Mt Feathertop Via Bungalow Spur

This is a longer approach, but better suited to those who would like to start their hike in Harrietville, and finish in Harrietville. From the start of the Bungalow Spur track, the track climbs gently up the slopes of the spur, winding past Picture Point, until after 5 kilometers, Tobias Gap on the ridge line is reached in amongst the tall mountain ash forest. From here, the climb continues steadily for another 5 kilometers past the site of the old Bungalow (water is available here from the spring), and continues from here through stunted snow gum forest, before suddenly breaking through the tree line at Federation Hut. It is advisable to spend a night at Federation Hut, as this is a long approach. Please be sure to understand local weather conditions prior to staying overnight, and be sure to pack the right equipment. From Federation Hut, the track continues to climb for another 500 meters to the track junction for the final climb to Mt Feathertop. The final climb is about one kilometer, and as mentioned in the razorback ridge route, it can be airy at times. The summit is marked by a small cairn, and an extreme level of care is required when the peak is under snow, as snow cornices have claimed lives in the past. You can either retreat via Bungalow Spur, or via North West Spur which provides an exciting alternative to Bungalow Spur, but is extremely steep.

3 Day Mt Feathertop Circuit

Day one starts at the Loch car park at Mt Hotham. The fire trail leads up Loch Spur for two kilometers before breaking through the tree line on the side of Mt Loch. For fantastic views of Mt Feathertop and the Razorback, Mt Loch is easily climbed from here with no track. Continue to follow the fire trail as it begins to descend Machinery Spur, still above the tree line, before diverting east and winding through the forest to the valley floor. Along the way, you will pass the historic Red Robbin Mine. After a few hours, you will see Blairs Hut on the right hand side of the fire track. Camping is available behind Blairs Hut.

On the morning of the second day, be sure to have a good breakfast, pack as much water as you need, as this day is going to be short, but extremely strenuous, climbing Mt Feathertop by what is arguably the most strenuous route, via Diamantina Spur. Continue along the fire track heading north for approximately two kilometers, until you see the Diamantina Spur track leave from the left hand side of the fire track. From here, the track immediately climbs extremely steeply up an, at times, muddy and slippery track. This continues on relentlessly for the first kilometer, where the track appears to flatten out for a short period of time before tackling some rocks below the first major point on the spur. At times, the track can be very hard to find due to the recent bush fires, the key is to stick to the main ridge line, as the track never diverts far from the main ridge. From this point, the track continues to climb very steeply through ash forests, before another very stiff climb to a very distinguishable point that stands at about 1500 meters above sea level. This point marks the worst of the climb being over, although some may argue this as the rest of the climb is very gradual and just as exhausting with what you have just put your body through! From this point, the spur starts to become extremely narrow in spots, and starts the remainder of the climb which becomes quite exciting. Views start to ope up as snow gums start to become more stunted. Views of Mt Feathertop to the north are absolutely stunning. From here, the climb continues for another kilometer with small breaks between climbs, and some great rest spots between climbs. Eventually, after climbing for four kilometers, the track sidles around the north side of the spur, and meets the Razorback track. At this point, you should congratulate yourself for climbing Diamantina Spur, it is the most exciting and strenuous way to climb Mt Feathertop. From here, follow the Razorback track north to Federation Hut. Camping is available on the small plain in front of the hut. You can choose to climb Mt Feathertop from here either today, or tomorrow.

On day three, you simply retrace your steps along the Razorback, and continue past the track junction to Diamantina Spur. You will follow the sometimes extremely narrow Razorback towards Mt Hotham for approximately nine kilometers, until you arrive at Great Alpine Road at Diamantina Hut. From here, follow Great Alpine Road for two kilometers to the Loch car park to complete your walk.

Overnight Walking Warnings

Most of the Bogong High Plains and surrounding peaks involve walking long distances above the tree line at altitudes above 1600 meters. Exposure is very risky in these conditions, with the risk of sunburn being much higher, and exposure to the elements being a severe risk if you are not well prepared in the case of a storm or blizzard.

Blizzards occur all year around, not just limited to Winter. Traveling overnight into this area means that you should have warm clothing, including waterproof pants and a parka. You should have a sleeping back that is rated below 0 degrees Celsius. You should have a good and sturdy tent for camping that will handle bad weather. In al cases, you should leave your walking plan either with a trusted family member, or with the police in case you fail to return on time, and you should always have an exit plan if conditions deteriorate so badly that you need to leave the mountain tops.