Accessible walks in winter, no toll, 2WD roads

[Hallu]

Hey guys,
I'm just thinking about driving to the Victorian Alps to do a couple of walks while the snow is still there (probably in a couple of weeks). Since I don't have any snow equipment, I'm looking either for a low walk (1400 m or bellow) with view towards the snow capped mountains, or an easy snow walk, not too deep.

I thought about the SW section, between Licola and Mt Howitt, or is there a way to access the Mt Hotham section or other sections without having to pay the resort's toll ?

Thanks for your help.

[icefest]

Depending on the weather, Bogong is good for Snowplay, both Staircase and Eskdale spur are 2wd accessible.
The snow also hangs around the longest.
.... Just reread your post, might not be the best if you have no on ice traction, it can get slippery in spring.

If you want an easy walk, consider going onto Spion Kopje up the fire track from Bogong Village. Free parking and a large, wide open space to camp. Take a GPS and compass, you do not want to be in a white-out. The best thing is, you'll hardly run into anyone.


EDIT: spelling

[madmacca]

Mt Erica? St Gwinear?

[Hallu]

Already did those 2 last year with the first snow. I'm thinking about the Bogong area. How's the road to Mt Howitt from Licola in winter ? I heard it's pretty bumpy.

[Avatar]

Already did those 2 last year with the first snow. I'm thinking about the Bogong area. How's the road to Mt Howitt from Licola in winter ? I heard it's pretty bumpy.

The road is gated at The Gorge till Cup weekend when all the snow will be gone and deer season will be on.
That's about 25 km to the Howitt car park. Could maybe do it in a day along the road.
You could try accessing Mt Howitt via the Bluff.

Mt Howitt is some distance away from the Bogong area. Check your maps.

Resort tolls end 30 September.

[icefest]

Take a bicycle for the Mt Howwit leg.... I might do that myself one day....

[neilmny]

I think you'll struggle to find snow capped views now.
This is the cams for the various snow resorts http://ski.com.au/snowcams/index.html
they are looking poorly with respect to snow cover and the cover has been supported by man made.
Mt. Stirling from Telephone Box Junction is a very nice walk which has potential views and is not far from Melbourne.

[Hallu]

Yep I was actually thinking about the Mt Stirling walk from the junction, it's detailed in one of my walking books.

[Avatar]

Re tolls.

Buller / Stirling season closed on 22 September. Roads will stay closed for a while yet.
Falls Ck - gold coin entry on last day of season Sunday 29 September.

[madmacca]

It's a long, long time since I've driven it, but does anyone know where the resort entry is when approach Mt Hotham from the Omeo/Dinner Plain side?

[MartyGwynne]

I tried the bicycle thing from the gate to Howit car park last year during snow. Dismal failure. viewtopic.php?f=46&t=10819 see the post.
Even if you got lucky and managed it when there was not much snow, the bike tyres sunk into the road surface so much, I felt like it is a good idea that the track is closed till the snow is gone and the track dries off.
There are other places to walk but it sounds like you want to do the AAWT in snow.

[icefest]

I meant cycle to the snow line.

[Travis22]

There's bugger all snow around Licola now. You can only drive as far north as Arbuckle Junction until the gates open, but personally if your looking for somewhere to walk in that area id head off from Breakfast creek and do the McMillan Walking track to Tamboritha.

Travis.

[north-north-west]

Snow? Now? There was sod all left on the high plains three weekends back when I did the Spion Kopje/Timms/Arthur loop. I'd be surprised if there was anything but a few remnant drifts left at this stage.

Your best chance of getting any white stuff would be to drive to Mountain Creek and go up Bogong. But even that looked patchy three weeks ago. You'd be better off trying for the Main Range. And no, there's no way of getting up there without paying the obscene tolls that Dubber Parks charge in winter.

[AlbinoNeutrino]

Snow? Now? There was sod all left on the high plains three weekends back when I did the Spion Kopje/Timms/Arthur loop. I'd be surprised if there was anything but a few remnant drifts left at this stage.

Your best chance of getting any white stuff would be to drive to Mountain Creek and go up Bogong. But even that looked patchy three weeks ago. You'd be better off trying for the Main Range. And no, there's no way of getting up there without paying the obscene tolls that Dubber Parks charge in winter.

The snow has been coming and going for the past three weeks, but looking out the window now there is some pretty decent snow on top.

edit: I'm talking about/looking at Bogong.

[PTC]

Over the weekend i did a walk from the gate below Bluff Hut to Mt Howitt and back. Day one had snow most of the way there. On the south face and up top of the hills it got quite deep to walk through. On the way back on the second day there was less as it had been raining all night long but still a lot up top.

Also looking across at the south face of Mt Stirling and Mt Buller. There is still a lot of snow there too.

Here is a photo of the conditions we had on the second day. Sorry for the quality only had my basic camera up there with me