Snow season

[Camminata]

So much snow.
I was out in the Kosci Nat. Park for five nights and four days of skiing.
click here for photos.
https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/horse ... st-5713433

looks great

[Baeng72]

Did you need chains to get up to St Gwinear carpark?

Illegal not to carry them to Gwinear Car .P..... fitted them on the return, snow down to 600 meters

Right. Can you hire chains at 6am near there? Reason or Erica? If not, too much time wastage going to Genoese carpark.

[Baeng72]

Did you need chains to get up to St Gwinear carpark?

Illegal not to carry them to Gwinear Car .P..... fitted them on the return, snow down to 600 meters

Right. Can you hire chains at 6am near there? Reason or Erica? If not, too much time wastage going to Genoese carpark.

*&%$#! autocorrect!
Rawson and Gwinear not whatever was autocorrect’s suggestions. Though I’m sure Genoa is lovely this time of year.

[Camminata]

Did you need chains to get up to St Gwinear carpark?

Illegal not to carry them to Gwinear Car .P..... fitted them on the return, snow down to 600 meters

Right. Can you hire chains at 6am near there? Reason or Erica? If not, too much time wastage going to Genoese carpark.

I think the ski hire shop in Erica opens at 7, why you want to be there for 6am?

[Baeng72]

Just logistics.
I want to be walking at dawn or just after. Leave home at about 4:30, get to carpark about 7:30ish...
That way, I can get a few kms done at my snail pace, before I have to get back to car by dusk.
7am plus faffing about to check they fit, hire, then half an hour to St. Gwinear Carpark (according to google) would mean 8amish start. Probably not too bad.
I'm always later than I expect when I leave home anyway.
Otherwise, go to Mt. Erica carpark to avoid chains and see Mushroom rocks and have a little climb.
Both ways seem fun.

[Camminata]

Just logistics.
I want to be walking at dawn or just after. Leave home at about 4:30, get to carpark about 7:30ish...
That way, I can get a few kms done at my snail pace, before I have to get back to car by dusk.
7am plus faffing about to check they fit, hire, then half an hour to St. Gwinear Carpark (according to google) would mean 8amish start. Probably not too bad.
I'm always later than I expect when I leave home anyway.
Otherwise, go to Mt. Erica carpark to avoid chains and see Mushroom rocks and have a little climb.
Both ways seem fun.

If its dumping snow, you might be forced to walk half way up from on Erica Rd with no wheel chains, or get back to car in afternoon same day and road has snow don't wanna be sliding around off the road, you could have a few hours to explore if you go to Gwinear at 10am or midday (ample time) and be back at car late arvo , or just camp somewhere for the night... makes no sense to go so early, unless you want to walk left or right direction at AAWT junction.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

If it is snowmageddon then the Mt. Erica road will be chains and AWD only.
This weekend 27-28/7/24 the Baw Baw area was hit by a mini snowmageddon. Nearly all the surface tow lifts are now spinning at Mt. Baw Baw. That is unusual.
You can camp at the East Tyers AAWT O shea's mill campsite the night before but that means you'd have to drive back to Erica to get chains in the morning if you did not' get them on the way in.
.
In a 2 WD you would have to park on the side of the South Face road and do a short walk down to O ' Shea's mill camping area. It is not a 2 WD access road IMHO.
Learning to XC ski at Lake Mountain is a good idea while the snow is deep and soft and it is not too insane or expensive.The " green"( easy / learner) trails are basically flat .
The Keppel's hut trip up to Lake Mtn. would be amazing
at the moment because the snow would be quite deep from lower down near Mt. Margaret gap and Lady Talbot Road.

XC skiing the groomed trails is free at Perisher Valley but NPWS will not drive you up there. That is your job.
https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/mr-te ... st-5714017

[Baeng72]

I thought the Mt Erica carpark was at a lower altitude than Donna Buang. You only need chains on Donna Buang when it snows. A bit of rain or sun and the road is good without chains.
Oh well, I might look elsewhere, maybe big hill or if that’s no go, there’s always Feathertop, Bogong, or Mt Spec via Lake Cobbler.

[Camminata]

I thought the Mt Erica carpark was at a lower altitude than Donna Buang. You only need chains on Donna Buang when it snows. A bit of rain or sun and the road is good without chains.
Oh well, I might look elsewhere, maybe big hill or if that’s no go, there’s always Feathertop, Bogong, or Mt Spec via Lake Cobbler.

Don't break your hiatus on Spec Rd..

[Baeng72]

I can’t do an overnighted for the next few weeks. I had 4 days available to explore the Tamboritga-Moroka area but my body didn’t do its bit. So, only day walks. And parking at Gwinear carpark just to walk a couple of kms or start at late morning - after having to hope getting chains….seems a lot of effort.

I think I’ll steer clear of Lake Mountain PCV. I’ll take a wrong turn, get stuck in a thicket and you’ll be discombobulated as to how I managed it.

I might do a day walk up Bon Accord Spur or something. Maybe North-west Spur is worth another look? No need to rent anything for that. It’s not the money, it’s dealing with people that puts me off. I walk to avoid people.
Getting petrol and maccas drive through are the extent of my tolerable interactions. (Kidding, not kidding).

The prom would be pretty empty on weekends now. South point day walk? 30km plus on good tracks….?

[Camminata]

I can’t do an overnighted for the next few weeks. I had 4 days available to explore the Tamboritga-Moroka area but my body didn’t do its bit. So, only day walks. And parking at Gwinear carpark just to walk a couple of kms or start at late morning - after having to hope getting chains….seems a lot of effort.

I think I’ll steer clear of Lake Mountain PCV. I’ll take a wrong turn, get stuck in a thicket and you’ll be discombobulated as to how I managed it.

I might do a day walk up Bon Accord Spur or something. Maybe North-west Spur is worth another look? No need to rent anything for that. It’s not the money, it’s dealing with people that puts me off. I walk to avoid people.
Getting petrol and maccas drive through are the extent of my tolerable interactions. (Kidding, not kidding).

The prom would be pretty empty on weekends now. South point day walk? 30km plus on good tracks….?

Im exhausted reading of the thought of a day walk after 8ish hours of driving ! lol..... im going back to bed

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Mount Torbreck in winter in snow shoes as a day walk is deserted , THERE ARE NO PEOPLE THERE!.....
and is not far from Thornton and Eildon. It is my suggestion for BAENG72.
The place you park is on the side of Snobb's Creek road opposite Conn's Gap road. It is 2 WD standard access . Then you walk up from there.

Here is my trip report from winter 2016.
https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/mt-to ... -16.75707/
More information about hiking at Mt. Torbreck can be found on the www.
I have also walked it in green season and it a was foggy and there were leeches !!

Keep in mind some forecasts suggest a proper snowfall is possible on
11-8-24 so go and walk it and be prepared .

[Camminata]

Took a stroll up Eskdale Spur yesterday knowing a blue bird day was happening, camped at the Granite spur junction , a few backcountry skiers skinning away having a blast of a time,
slogged it up to the top of Eskdale , but too lazy to walk the 500 meters to summit cairn , relaxed the afternoon away sipping on tea and enjoying the views. maybe a another dump incoming???

[crollsurf]

Awesome. With fine weather, there's no better place to be.

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

[Camminata]

Awesome. With fine weather, there's no better place to be.

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

Was beautiful everything was perfect.

[Baeng72]

Awesome. With fine weather, there's no better place to be.

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

Was beautiful everything was perfect.

Nice one!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

We got a welcome ten cms of snow at the Bogong Rover Chalet on 5-8-24. The skiing was then good for the next 2-3 days.

[Camminata]

We got a welcome ten cms of snow at the Bogong Rover Chalet on 5-8-24. The skiing was then good for the next 2-3 days.

Awesome!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/bogon ... st-5725416
Trip report with pictures.
Bogong High Plains . 8 consecutive days of Back country ski touring.

[Baeng72]

Nice work PCV!
I'm not jealous, or envious, or whatever the word is....all you buggers enjoying the white stuff.
It's my fault. If I had have gone back to Spec. Road, the snow gods would have allowed me a nice snow camping.
But no! I had to temp fate, and go to Tamboritha and have been punished with plagues and pestilence ever since.
At least no locusts or frogs have been spotted, so far...

[Camminata]

Looks like the snow is cooked..... wonder what 2025 will look like.

[Baeng72]

Figures! Finally getting back to something approaching healthy and no snow.
2025 will be similar, nothing, then a dump, then a few weeks later, nothing.

[Biggles]

This run of way above average temperatures for the tail end of winter is most unusual, so say the boffins at the Bureau of Meteorology. And as an active road cyclist, I'm lapping up the warmer temperatures with rides of 60 to 90km a day (and rising)!

Not going to start an argument or debate about 'cause and effect' or reason or wont of late-winter temperature oddities, suffice it to be that if you want to go skiing your time is rapidly running out, save for a minor dump coming later on the weekend. I doubt that will not be enough to save its neck. Mount Stirling has nowt but 5cm of snow, with the nearest skiiable terrain almost 4km beyond TBJ. Just like last year Stirling will likely close within 3 weeks, others a bit later, but far earlier than the usual shut up of shop.

I'll be happy with a few vagrant, gleaming white snowdrifts littering the approach to Feathertop for my walk on the Melbourne Cup Day long weekend.

[Baeng72]

This run of way above average temperatures for the tail end of winter is most unusual, so say the boffins at the Bureau of Meteorology. And as an active road cyclist, I'm lapping up the warmer temperatures with rides of 60 to 90km a day (and rising)!

Humblebrag alert! That's impressive.
I got on the bike for the first time in months and rode 5km.
You must have no issues with aerobic stuff chugging up a steep hill.

[Biggles]

This run of way above average temperatures for the tail end of winter is most unusual, so say the boffins at the Bureau of Meteorology. And as an active road cyclist, I'm lapping up the warmer temperatures with rides of 60 to 90km a day (and rising)!

Humblebrag alert! That's impressive.
I got on the bike for the first time in months and rode 5km.
You must have no issues with aerobic stuff chugging up a steep hill.

Once upon a time, a long long time ago (47 years...), 5km for me was a personal record.

Aerobic/Anaerobic are both constantly monitored metrics, along with a swag of others. It's something one doesn't do when bushwalking, but certainly often enough with XC running, among other pursuits.

I only started road cycling in March after a 40-year hiatus (!)

This one is over a 2.44km hill so effectively, burning carbs, not fat.

[Baeng72]

Nice, I'm glad I didn't cause offence!
I meant that to do a long stint of hard work such as walking up the Staircase spur with a backpack, you need a good 'tank', or have a good aerobic capacity.
I reckon regular riding of 60-90km would help with that.
I think this thread has officially gone off-topic.

[Biggles]

Nice, I'm glad I didn't cause offence!
I meant that to do a long stint of hard work such as walking up the Staircase spur with a backpack, you need a good 'tank', or have a good aerobic capacity.
I reckon regular riding of 60-90km would help with that.
I think this thread has officially gone off-topic.

No offence taken at all, but as you mentioned a metric (one of many!), I thought I'd throw in my 2c worth!

Back to regular programming....howzabouts the Bogong via Staircase assault the weekend after Cup Day...
I would otherwise be doing that thumper in mid-January for the wildflowers. My objective this time is to camp on the summit of Bogong, not at CC (a bit on the boring side...).

[north-north-west]

Looks like the snow is cooked..... wonder what 2025 will look like.

Maybe you should consider moving to Tasmania (although it's horrible do not come here). Ben Lomond is having its best snow season for some time and there's more due next week.

[Baeng72]

Nice, I'm glad I didn't cause offence!
I meant that to do a long stint of hard work such as walking up the Staircase spur with a backpack, you need a good 'tank', or have a good aerobic capacity.
I reckon regular riding of 60-90km would help with that.
I think this thread has officially gone off-topic.

No offence taken at all, but as you mentioned a metric (one of many!), I thought I'd throw in my 2c worth!

Back to regular programming....howzabouts the Bogong via Staircase assault the weekend after Cup Day...
I would otherwise be doing that thumper in mid-January for the wildflowers. My objective this time is to camp on the summit of Bogong, not at CC (a bit on the boring side...).

I'd love to camp ontop of Bogong with a bit of snow, but weather isn't good for a 3 season tent this weekend. Bit blowy.
I'm thinking of a day walk up the staircase tomorrow though.
I wonder if worth dragging snow shoes, or if there won't be much there? Not sure I'll go, but if I do, handy info.

[Baeng72]

Looks like the snow is cooked..... wonder what 2025 will look like.

Maybe you should consider moving to Tasmania (although it's horrible do not come here). Ben Lomond is having its best snow season for some time and there's more due next week.

Doesn't Jon Kudelka have a line of clothes/tea towels with that slogan?
Close: https://www.kudelkashop.com/shop/t-shirts/35