How far can an older person hike with average ability and a 12-14kg backpack?
the rough rule of thumb is to plan to walk only 8-12 km per day of full pack carrying and count every 100m climbed or descended as an extra kilometre walked.
Camp amongst the snow gums rather than in the lower Mountain Ash areas - Mountain Ash are prone to falling unpredictably
Mt Feathertop
there is NO potable water so bring your own water sterilisation to avoid giardia
at 1922m altitude, it is only 64m from beating Victoria's tallest mountain, Mt Bogong
most hikers camp adjacent to Federation Hut which is some 1.5km from the peak, but which provides wood fire and composting toilet, although sleeping inside the hut is not permitted
the classic sunrise photo of Mount Feathertop is taken from Twin Knobs area along Razorback track so you need to wake early and do a hike from Fed Hut, then of course you can also walk to the peak (leave your backpack at the bottom though)
various walking routes:
Bungalow Spur from Harrietville
~10km, 3-4.5hr walk ascending some 1100m to Fed Hut
1.2km from Fed Hut is a clearing where the old Fed Hut once stood and where you can access water but it must be sterilised!
~2.2km from Fed Hut is a clearing where the Bungalow Hut once stood
really fit joggers can run up this walk in just over 2hrs, while hikers can walk down it in around 2.5hrs
tough 21.5km uphill hike to Fed Hut ascending 1250m and taking 8-9hrs
1st 5km is easy, it’s only about 170m rise
small campsite at the 5km mark near a river suitable for 2-3 tents only and last place for water before Fed Hut
next 3km is tough uphill ascent of 650m to altitude 1278m before it levels off for next 1.5km and 200m before the old Bon Accord ruins there is a clearing where one could camp but no water
from ruins to Razorback junction is another slow 480m ascent making a total ascent to that point of 1250m taking around 5hrs
from the Razorback junction to Fed Hut is another 3.5hrs
Champion Spur may be overgrown, Fed hut down to Harrietville (not the Bungalow Spur carpark though but meets the Bon Accord Spur at the base!) is 12.5km taking 4.5-5.5hrs
Razorback walk from Diamantina Hut near Mt Hotham
park car on side of the road at Diamantina Hut
~13km, 5hr very exposed walk with awesome views most of the way to Federation Hut