Beginner snowshoeing recommendations

[philthy]

HI all,

Just wondering if anyone can recommend a good place to do a snowshoeing day hike in Victoria (I live in Melbourne), for beginners.

Thanks

[Moondog55]

Lake Mountain is probably the best bet

[iGBH]

Mt Torbreck is a good option to if you want to get away from the crowds.

[tsangpo]

At the moment Stirling would be the closest place with snow. The system coming through in 5 days or so may remedy that.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

HI
I run/lead day walks in snow shoes with the VNPA. I have one planned for mt Stirling and also at Baw Baw Nat. Park for next month , August 2013.
At Baw Baw NP, Mt Erica, Mt Baw Baw and Mt St Gwinear offer some possible routes for day hikes in snow shoes. I have also snow shoe hiked in deep spring snow at Mt Buffalo.
Another easy option with good scenery is From the Mt Loch car Park [near Mt Hotham] to Mt Loch , and then onto Derrick's hut and back to the car park .
Lake mountain is a good place for snow shoe walking if they have had a decent dump of snow recently other wise it can be very lame and not worth it at all.

[Kinsayder]

I've only snowshoed a couple of times. My first time was a return trip out to the Fed Hut along the Razorback. It was a bit of a plod but well worth it.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

As far as I know, I am meant to be running a day snow shoe hike at Mt Stirling on Sat . Aug . 10th and at the Baw Baw NP on Sat. Aug 24th. These are VNPA walks that I am leading.


The VNPA are running a campaign to save our National parks from greedy developers (who tell the VIC state Tory Government what to do) .
'

[philthy]

Great, I'll try to get along to one

[Nuts]

Do you already have snowshoes? I think there is also a day hire/tour/instruction at one of the resorts (Hotham perhaps). Resort side (or on the way to one) would likely have the most reliable chance of finding snow? Quite easy to pick up, we run Yowies on our OLT and other winter tours (when there is snow... and enough interest..)

[Isis]

@paidal do you need to supply your own snowshoes. What about booking ?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Hi
You hire your own gear at TBJ ski hire shop at the Mt Stirling car park . I was up there on Sat Aug 10th 2013 and it was amazing. 50 cm of snow at the Bluff spur hut and clear blue skies all around.
I am a Mt Stirling man for sure.

Lake Mtn and Mt BB are just not cutting it for snow this winter and spring. They are losing money big time. They both need to be lifted up to 2000 M elevation to be viable businesses for winter snowsports.
e mail / PM me if you want to come on one of my snow shoe hikes.

[Kinsayder]

Snowshoe hire at Ray's in Myrtleford is pretty good for anybody heading to Falls, Bogong, Feathertop, etc. They are open quite late (I think until 12am on Thursdays and Fridays) to accommodate the people coming up from Melbourne. I think they might have gotten some new MSRs in just this season too. I'll know for sure on the 6th of September when I pass through there to pick a pair up.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Hi ,
Yes I got some MSR snow shoes from Ray's ski hire in Myrtleford and my friend and I went out on the Razorback on the last Saturday in August. It was a bit of an adventure.