Join the Flow Mountain Bike crew as they tackle the challenging Fainters Track, a 40km trail through Victoria's High Country. Not for the fainted hearted (excuse the pun), this bikepacking adventure from Falls Creek to Mt Beauty is described by most as technical, rocky, and fast. 

With aeroe gear securely mounted, this crew of downhill, enduro and xc mountain bikers (self proclaimed bikepacking amateurs) were in for a great adventure – navigating the rugged terrain and learning the ropes of multi-day riding along the way in this action-packed overnight adventure. 

Check out the full-length video of the adventure below!

Read on for a behind-the-scenes look into the adventure – and to discover the crews top-tips, itinerary & gear check for riding Fainters Track. 

The adventure began from Pretty Valley Pondage Carpark. Alternatively, you can start from Falls Creek Village if you're keen on a longer ride.

All the essentials, including Murray's jumbo sized tortilla chip packet, were either squished into two rear bags and one front rack, or strapped securely to bike or rider – ready for the adventure to begin. The first major hurdle; packing, overcome!

"Starting the journey, we found the ride to the Tawonga Huts a pleasantly short one. The trail along the ridgeline and down to the hut area presents some pretty spectacular views back over Falls Creek and surrounds, and the downhill to the Tawonga Huts is the perfect adrenaline spike to end the day."

Checking in at The Tawonga Hut. 

Setting up camp for the night – not a bad view to wake up, don't ya think?

Unpacking previously mentioned 'essentials' – everything needed for a Mexican Fiesta. 

Preparing said Mexican Fiesta. 

"Unpacking fully, Campbell quickly realised that although he had a tent, change of clothes and riding gear, he had forgotten his sleeping mat. Luckily, one of the huts had a built-in fireplace and, in the face of the emergency, Campbell spent the night huddled up next to the crackling embers."

Up and at 'em early for Day 2 – thawing off with a warm cup of coffee.

"From the Tawonga Huts, there is a lot of climbing to push through to the Fainters Lookout. The uphill is by no means easy, either; there are many rock steps and roots to ride over, and we were forced to tap out many times, dragging our bikes alongside us up the hill."

"Riding along the trail, there are plenty of streams crossing the path. This is handy for water refills on the go. Unfortunately for us, this is where we reached hurdle number three (and counting); this time, it was a faulty water filter. However much we pushed and pulled, our filter had given up the ghost and refused to filter so much as a drop of clean liquid. This was not ideal, but we had just enough water to spare to make it safely to the end of our trip."

"The saddle between Mt Fainter South and Mt Fainters North marks the highest point of the trail. The 360-degree views from this spot are spectacular, and the ridge overlooks the Kiewa Valley, where you can see all the way into the town of Mt Beauty and its surrounds."

"This last section winds past Bogong Jack Hut and the ruins of Spring Saddle Hut to the top of Big Hill Mountain Bike Park and into Mt Beauty. From here on out there is a lot of downhill and the white knuckles on everyone’s hands proved this to be no joke."

Only one minor mechanical on the descent = winning.

On the home stretch – hitting some of Big Hill Mountain Bike Park's singletrack on the way to the bottom. Launching into the first double black trail they laid their eyes on!

Arriving to Mt Beauty at 2.50pm – just in time to catch the last meal & milkshake of the day before the bakery shut its doors. The perfect way to wrap up an epic bikepacking trip, in our opinion!

Gear Check:

To carry their gear, the crew were using aeroe Spider Rear Racks with Orange 8L Heavy Duty Dry Bags and Black 12L Heavy Duty Dry Bags, as well as Spider Front Racks with Orange 8L Heavy Duty Dry Bags.

Fainters Track Itinerary: 

• Start point – Begin your ride from Falls Creek Village or, alternatively, from Pretty Valley Pondage Carpark if you are on the lookout for a shorter ride.
• Day 1 – 12km from Falls Creek Village, 5km from Pretty Valley Pondage Carpark; 215m elevation gain, 216m elevation drop.
• Stay – Tawonga Huts, Falls Creek.
• Day 2 – 32km distance; 424m elevation gain; 1692m elevation drop.
• End point – Mt. Beauty township.

Top tips for riding Fainters Track:

• Bring a water filter. Fainters Track crosses many running streams where you can easily refill bottles & water bladders along the way. 
• Pack warm clothes. Falls Creek is an Alpine Resort – and it's no secret mountain weather can be unpredictable. A sunny hot day can quickly give way to a freezing cold night. So, it’s essential to be prepared for any sudden changes in the weather.
• Check, and recheck the weather forecast. Falls Creek is prone to full snow coverage during the Winter (June to late September), so tackling this trail over the Summer months is your best bet. Keep in mind that snow flurries are possible outside of Winter, so staying updated on the forecast leading up to your trip is key.