Winter walks around Guthega?

[Robatman]

Due to quite dramtic incident i had a knee op earlier this year (Axe went through my patella into the joint- thanks DAD!- digging out out tree/roots and i moved when i shouldnt....) and am looking for options for a couple nights snowshoeing.

I have done a stack of snow camping both XC skiing and snowshoe in the past but our usual tactic of parking at Guthega and then heading past Illawong hut and beyond might put a bit of a strain on the old knee.

Was considering this option or similar- parking at the power station and doing towards/around schlink pass,
http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/kosciuszko-np-south/munyang-river-circuit.html
but not sure what the road up from station is like- I can see it goes up for the first 2- 2.5km but no idea what its like. Is it a 30min or 4 hour+ ascent?

Also any other suggestions given the above and preference for parking car not getting transport,
Thanks
Robert

[skibug]

Hey Robatman,

Munyang (the power station) to Schlink pass will take you between two and a half and five hours, depending on your fitness, load, snow conditions, rest stops etc. It is moderately steep, but continuous. Most people (I believe) take the Disappointment spur/aquaduct trail (to the right, across the bridge 50 metres after the power station), rather than the White's River road, as it is a more steady climb, and has a better cover in marginal snow. It joins the Schlink pass road about 2km before the pass.

I should observe, however, that if the relatively gentle trip up to, and past, Illawong would stress your knee, then a Schlink pass loop is only going to be worse. It is much longer, has steeps both up and down, and is putting you up into some weather as well.

Alternatives to test your knee are either start from Perisher and head east, out the back of the cross country trails, or head up the chair at Thredbo and up to Ramshead/south Ramshead, or toward Twin Valleys. Both of those trips are shorter, and allow you to give up and retreat if the knee packs it in. The Perisher option is less scenic but safer in bad weather.

Parking at Munyang, Thredbo or at the ski tube are all pretty safe.

Skibug

[Robatman]

Hey Robatman,

I should observe, however, that if the relatively gentle trip up to, and past, Illawong would stress your knee, then a Schlink pass loop is only going to be worse. It is much longer, has steeps both up and down, and is putting you up into some weather

Skibug

Thanks Skibug- main reason for avoiding illawong and beyond is half of the section to Illawong is traverse and couldnt do it with most weight pretty much on one leg. Thought schlink is mostly over a fire trail so only deal with gradient not off camber walking, if that makes sense.

Robert

[skibug]

Hey Robatman,

Yeah, I get what you're saying - just be careful that you don't take on more than you can chew - that descent from Schlink Pass is a drop of around 500 metres over 6 or 7km -that may be as hard on your knee as a traverse. I'd suggest "baby steps" - start off doing a kilometre around Perisher, then up the North Perisher road, then along the road towards Charlotte's Pass, and so on. I don't know where you're up to with your rehab, but an axe through the knee sounds like a serious amount of damage. Schlink Pass return is an ambitious day trip, and you wouldn't want to get stuck up there with a lame knee.

Take care and I hope the knee recovers so you can get back to your adventures.

Skibug