Room with a View

Dinner Plain Track Notes

Room with a View

3km (1 hour), Grade 3 Walking Track Fire recovery A short distance from Dinner Plain, this lovely trail is Dead trees along this walk date from the 2003 fires from aptly named and follows a gentle trek through Snow which the landscape is slowly recovering. The regrowth Gum forest and blooming wildflower meadows, of the Snow Gums is uneven depending on both the ultimately rewarding walkers with spectacular, intensity of the fire exposure and where they are uninhibited views of Mount Hotham, Mount Feathertop, growing - in rocky terrain regrowth is much slower than Bogong High Plains and the Cobungra River. in areas where the soils contain higher levels of organic matter. Starting from Dinner Plain Hut, follow Fitzy’s Cirque to the sign marking the crossing point to the northern side of the Great Alpine Road and the track leading to the Forest Walks trailhead which serves three walks – Room with a View, Montane Walking Trail and Dead Timber Hill (see separate track notes). The Room with a View walk initially follows a slightly undulating trail then flattens out.

The track heads north along the eastern flanks of Dead Timber Hill. After 0.5km it drops gently down to a grassy plain and veers west to a marker that designates the track loop. Most walkers prefer to keep to the left route as it descends through snow grass and drops through the Snow Gums to a small clearing - here is the ‘room Starfish Fungus - Image courtesy Parks Victoria with a view’. Directly ahead in the middle ground is the Look out for Cobungra River valley. In the distance the mountain Red Starfish Fungi – Aseroe rubra. One of the Phalloid or range provides a spectacular backdrop, especially Stinkhorn group, this spectacular fungus can usually be before mid-morning on a clear day when the Mt. Hotham smelled before it is seen. Their spores are embedded in a ski field lifts are visible and Mt. Feathertop, Victoria’s slime which stinks like rotting meat to attract the second highest peak [1922m], towers over the landscape pollinating flies which disperse the tiny spores with their like an eagle in flight. The panorama of the Bogong High feet. The first fungus to be described in Australia, in 1792 Plains also takes in Mt. Jim and Basalt Temple, unusual by the French naturalist, Labillardiere, they are among table-topped hills of basaltic blocks whose highly the dozens of species which can be found in the Dinner magnetic composition cause magnetic anomalies with Plain area and are particularly prevalent during wetter compasses. years.

The track loop continues north along the contour and back up to the marker on the open plain from where it returns to the Forests Walks trailhead.

Hovea montana

Burnt Snow gum Burnt Snow Victoria Image courtesy Parks Image - © C. Totterdell, Australian National Botanic Gardens

Dinner Plain Village Be Prepared Room with a View The best months for walking the in the alpine environment are from November through to April, however, weather conditions can change rapidly, and snowfalls and blizzards Grade of Walk: Grade 3, as per The Australian Walking can occur at any time of the year. (The Bushwalking Season is Track Grading System from the November Melbourne Cup Weekend to mid May.) Distance: 3km Time: 1 hour Be prepared with: Gradient: Mostly level with some gradual • Wind and waterproof jackets steep sections • Warm clothing – hat, gloves, sunglasses, and strong Quality of Path: Mostly formed track, with some footwear obstacles • Food and water S Steps: Occasional steps w • First aid kit and sunscreen in d Experience required: Some bushwalking experience ler ’s Ck • l a t Map and compass

F recommended 1400 • Check1300 the weather forecast before departing 1300 • Let someone know where you are going • Mobile phone (reception1500 in some areas) For more information on Dinner Plains Tracks & Trails, visit Mt Hotham

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