Hotham to Buller Snow Hike - seeking advice

[nihil]

I've done snow camps around Baw Baw and I've walked form Walhalla to Hotham, now I'd like to do it in reverse and start out at Hotham and go to Buller. It appeals to me because I can through-hike using public transport.

The things I'd like to know: snow shoes? I have some Yowies but I hear that Australia rarely requires snow shoes; cross country skiing? Will it make it faster? I'd only take them if they reduced the total energy expenditure for the entire trip.

Any general tips for hiking in the snow? I usually make my way with map and compass, but I wonder if a GPS would be the go for navigation. I always take a beacon regardless.

Cheers!

[walkon]

Lol I was just plotting this trip and trying to work out logistics etc. I bought a pair of snowshoes myself for Alpine hiking in winter. Will follow this thread with great interest

[icefest]

IMHO, MSR denali/plastic deck snowshoes are the best for Australian snow. They have good crampons and are nigh indestructible. In the rare case of Australian powder you just need to wait 2 days and you'll have nice and familiar slush again.

I wouldn't bother with skis as you'll be below the tree/snow line often enough that they'll be a huge hassle.

I don't know how great you are at navigating with compass, but you'll need to be incredibly good to be able to navigate with a compass in a whiteout. I'd take the compass and avoid becoming a statistic.

I don't know if you've done any multiday snow hikes before, but beware of condensation-caused loss of SB loft and be prepared to be miserable. if you have the time get a nice week with weather and avoid any weather like what's happening right now.

You'll also need to be comfortable with river crossings and be prepared to be cut off if the weather gets really clagged up.

[Lophophaps]

Much of the route is over 1000 metre, and as such you can expect snow. This week there was snow to a much lower altitude. I can't see that skis would be useful. There are sections of flat open track, if inclined, but much is not. Telemarks and Christies on the Viking seem unlikely. Also, skis are quite heavy and cumbersome to carry, especially in scrub.

Snowshoes would most probably be advantageous for the sections that have snow. Do you intend coming from Speculation on the Stirling Road, and then up Buller? If the snow is deep, it may be easier to walk downhill from Howqua Gap to the next junction about an hour or two away.

The route is fairly straightforward except on the Razor Viking, where rocks give moments of interest. You may wish to take a short length of light rope for lowering packs. Don't forget to go up The Twins. It's not entirely flat but in good weather the views are nice. Also, plan escape routes and write them down, with a copy left with your contact. There was an incident in the region a while ago.

[north-north-west]

... Don't forget to go up The Twins. It's not entirely flat...

[Smeagle]

who needs snowshoes just posthole and glisade

I'm heading in the opposite direction in aug
compass/map and simple gps as back up, every time i take snow shoes i never need them, and just had better luck with crampons, i think this year may be bit different if these weather patterns continue

[icefest]

who needs snowshoes just posthole and glisade

Sounds like Mt Bogong in spring. Great fun. Pick a nice line and you can almost carve downslope when glissading.

i think this year may be bit different if these weather patterns continue [/quote]
Charlottes Pass already has over 1m of natural snowcover, I'm spending next week in the main range and it's looking pretty incredible!

[Smeagle]

Charlottes Pass already has over 1m of natural snowcover, I'm spending next week in the main range and it's looking pretty incredible!

Funny that I was thinking of same place for next week, your not stalking my diary icefest???

[madmacca]

Postholing in deep snow for any kind of distance is seriously fatiguing.

It's worth taking a look at the elevation profile of Hotham to Buller - while a lot of it is around 1200m (where you may encounter snow, but it won't be deep for long), there are also extended sections that are a lot higher. Assuming you are planning this trip for July/August/September, then skis or snow shoes for these higher parts will make your travelling easier.

Parts of Hotham to Buller are seriously overgrown (or at least they were when I last walked it). Carrying snow shoes through these sections rather than carrying skis is probably going to be a lot easier. If anyone has direct experience of this section in winter (mine is in summer), feel free to comment.

One option might be to continue to use map and compass as your primary navigation instruments. If you have to confirm your position in a whiteout, then the GPS in your phone could be a backup.

M@L

[madmacca]

You'll also need to be comfortable with river crossings and be prepared to be cut off if the weather gets really clagged up.

check

If your route from Hotham to Buller had you crossing rivers, I think it is really time you checked the batteries on your GPS.

[icefest]

If your route from Hotham to Buller had you crossing rivers, I think it is really time you checked the batteries on your GPS.

The main track is a ridge-line walk, yes, so not foreseeable river crossings. I'm unsure what bail-out and bad weather routes nihill will plan.
Maybe comfortable is a bad word and knowledgeable would be better - a decent down a flooded Wonangatta could be dangerous. A lack of knowledge with when a crossing might be safe could result in a misfortunate choice to bail out that way.

But yes, it should be quite a fun trip.

[Lophophaps]

who needs snowshoes just posthole and glisade

There are three types of glissading: standing, sitting and involuntary, and they often follow in quick succession. A climber glissaded off the Copeland Pass in NZ, from memory about 4000 feet of descent into the Hooker Valley, in ... 20 minutes. The last tongue of snow ended just above the valley track. The climber may have needed to resole his boots.

[nihil]

Hm yes, the Viking Wilderness is the one place that gives me second thoughts about the hike - I don't mind getting down through the rock chute off the Viking, or the tricky footing along the Razor, but I do mind the idea of getting through all that overgrown section from Barry's Saddle for a day. That was the lowest point in my hike two years ago, and I can only imagine it's more overgrown now. Fortunately, two weeks before my hike in 2012 the track from Speculation to Viking Saddle was cleared, I can't imagine it would be much grown back yet.

I think I will indeed take the MSR snow shoes, and skip the skiing.

Another question: is it worth getting wet-weather boots?

Thanks to everyone who's contributed to the thread. I really rely on this community to make my hikes work out

[Smeagle]

who needs snowshoes just posthole and glisade

There are three types of glissading: standing, sitting and involuntary, and they often follow in quick succession. A climber glissaded off the Copeland Pass in NZ, from memory about 4000 feet of descent into the Hooker Valley, in ... 20 minutes. The last tongue of snow ended just above the valley track. The climber may have needed to resole his boots.

And people pay big money at theme parks for a ride like that!!

[Bodysurfer]

I could imagine the section from Viking Saddle to Catherine Saddle being tricky in snow/poor visibility, even if it has been cleared recently.

[ggorgeman]

Just heard on ABC news of 2 men who had almost perished overnight, near Mt Bogong summit, in severe conditions. Rescued around 4am. Ambulance officers mentioned advanced hypothermia, wouldn't have survived much longer.

I hope it wasn't this trip! Well, you'd hope this doesn't occur at all! A timely reminder.

[Smeagle]

im going there today eekk, also posted in disscussion

[madmacca]

Just heard on ABC news of 2 men who had almost perished overnight, near Mt Bogong summit, in severe conditions. Rescued around 4am. Ambulance officers mentioned advanced hypothermia, wouldn't have survived much longer.

I hope it wasn't this trip! Well, you'd hope this doesn't occur at all! A timely reminder.

Fortunately, it is considerably easier to find sheltered flat areas on the Hotham-Buller section than it is on Mt Bogong. The only really extended exposed sections are Hotham to the snow clearing depot, and the Crosscut saw - the end near hotham has several huts.

[Dutchy]

If considering snow shoes, I'd recommend the Lightning Ascent.... 22", light enough if you have to carry them, great in the snow, and the heel-lift is awesome when going up hill!!!!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I add my recommendations to the MSR lightening ascent snow shoes. They are really good in all conditions in the white stuff.Take poles with you too or you will be rogered !

[sim1oz]

Just used my MSR evo ascent snowshoes today in crunchy snow - they are heavier than the ascent but cheaper. Didn't need the heel lifters today but they have been wonderful on other trips when needed. Love heel lifters!!!! Foolishly took them off for lunch and promptly stepped right through snow the full length of my leg. Needed a hand to get pulled to the surface. No problems like that at all with snow shoes on.

Snow shoes at rest

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[The Perambulator]

I have Evo ascents as well. The retailer had both Lightning's and Evo's in stock but recommended Evo's for Australian use, on the basis that ice in snow may damage the fabric(?) component of the lightning's.