Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, 37km over 3 days Crossover event. Grade 4.

Everyone participating in a MVB event must be a member. New members can join as a Guest at no cost for their first one-day event.

Please select Join Now at the top of our website and complete your membership.

GRADE 4

Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.

Sharon O'Toole ph 0400035825, co-leader Dianne Ross

Meeting spot Group A 8am Friday 23rd October at the carpark at C531, Mount Beauty, Vic 3699. (carpark opposite the Mount Beauty service centre). Car pooling encouraged, to be organised prior to the event.

Meeting spot Group B 8am Friday 23rd October at 197 Great Alpine Rd, Harrietville, Vic, 3741. (toilet block near ice-cream shop). Car pooling encouraged, to be organised prior to the event.

If there are enough people interested, we will run this as a crossover event, with two groups starting at opposite ends, and exchanging car keys at the midway point to avoid the need for costly or lengthy car shuttles. Cost to be advised closer to the event if we need to / or choose to pay for a transport company to stay together as one group, depending on final booked numbers.

One of Victoria’s icon walks, the 37km Falls-Hotham Alpine Crossing (FHAC) is a 3 day/2-night walk through the Alpine National Park, linking the resort villages of Falls Creek and Mt Hotham.

Distance: 37km (can be walked in either direction)
Time to Complete: 3 days
Difficulty: Moderate – suitable for bushwalkers who have completed a grade 3 or above overnight hike with the club.
Direction: Falls to Hotham (or reverse for a new perspective)

This journey is perfect for those eager to embrace the great outdoors and take on a rewarding challenge. There are two campsites on the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing: Cope Hut Campsite, amongst the snowgums on the Bogong High Plains, and Dibbins Hut Campsite, on a snowgrass plain near the headwaters of the Cobungra River. Enjoy platform camping at the beautiful Cope Hut and Dibbins Hut sites or opt for wild camping in the national park. Platforms need to be pre-booked and paid if you want to camp on the platforms, wild camping is free and does not need to be pre-booked.

Water will be sourced from natural waterways, water tanks are not reliable, please ensure you have a way to treat your water appropriately.

Group A

Day 1, Heathy Spur trailhead to Cope Hut campsite 14km.

Day 2, Cope Hut campsite to Dibbins Hut campsite 14km.

Day 3, Dibbins Hut to Mt Loch carpark 9km.

Group B

Day 1, Mt Loch carpark to Dibbins Hut campsite 9km.

Day 2, Dibbins Hut to Cope Hut campsite 14km.

Day 3, Cope Hut campsite to Heathy Spur trailhead 14km.

Bushwalk - Multi-Day hike - What to bring

• Up-to-date ICE (In Case of Emergency) form 
• Tent (sharing sections of the tent is an option)

• Sleeping Bag and Liner
• Mattress and Pillow 
• Suitable clothing and footwear. Jeans, denim and cotton pants are not suitable for hiking and can be unsafe, particularly if they become wet. Cotton absorbs water, dries slowly and can contribute to rapid heat loss in cold, windy or wet conditions. Choose quick-drying or wool/synthetic outdoor clothing instead.
• Thermals - top and bottom
• Second layer - top and bottom
• Extra hiking clothes - shirt and hat for sun protection
• Socks - inner socks are recommended with wool socks over the top
• Warm Gloves and a beanie 
• Water-tight bag to keep clothing dry - zip lock - dry bags, etc.
• Waterproof jacket and pants
• Down jacket
• Fleece jacket
• Camp shoes (Crocs)
• Warm Gloves and Waterproof Over Glove plus a Beanie or suitable walking hat.
• Toothbrush and paste
• Medication (please inform leader of any medical conditions, etc). 
• Personal first aid kit.  For the prevention of blisters, packing a blister kit, hiking wool, tape etc, can be a lifesaver.
• Water to drink (2lt per day) and extra to prepare meals (some locations and walks have water on-site or en-route). Leaders should inform the group re: water supply
• Water purification tablets or device (be safe rather than get a bug)
• Poo pot, wag bag or poo tube (to remove poo), toilet paper, trowel and sanitiser 
• Food - Dehydrated is best for weight considerations
  • 3 Meals, plus snacks.  per day.  
• Stove (this may be shared between members). Pot for cooking
• Plate, cutlery and cup
• Optional Items
  • Fully charged and credit-loaded phone
  • Camera
  • Small re-charging device 
• The leader must take a rescue beacon
  • The club has 1 Personal Locator Beacon, 1 emergency SPOT device and 1 Inreach device

Multi-Day Walks

Preparation and planning for multi-day walks can turn into a monumental exercise. There is no substitute for working from a list. The bottom line is to ensure that nothing crucially important is forgotten, and secondly, that you can actually lift the pack off the ground and attach it to your body. Thirdly, it's a good idea to check if you can walk with this encumbrance! 

Your leader may provide you with a detailed list of equipment and food you will require appropriate to the event being undertaken. 

It is also a good idea to become familiar with where you are going. If you can, bring a map or download one onto your phone.  A basic knowledge of the area may be required in case of an emergency.