Bushwalk Australia

It is summer isn't it? And the forecast wasn't that bad. It was even meant to improve! So there I was, inspired by Pedro's post on the NE Ridge of Mt Anne. He was up there in winter, I was going in summer... turns out that the major difference was just the depth of the snow. The drive in and the view of snow on The Thumbs gave a hint of what lay ahead. I did get to see Mt Anne as I crossed the plains but it was only long enough to get the camera out and then she was gone and not seen at all for the next three days. I started to find snow at 850m and there was more on the ridge. It even started snowing. Like Pedro I camped on the ridge at 1080m. The next day wasn't getting any better by 10am so down I came and off to Lake Judd and up Mt Sarah Jane before heading home.

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Well done MJD - sorry you had lousy weather, but, unfortunately, Anne seems to attract it. The NE Ridge seems to hold its snow fairly well, especially the shaded Pandani Shelf area. When I think back on it, I've had more rough trips up there than good ones. My first trip up there would have been around 1970, before even the current basic track was in place. It was an exhausting climb and in the middle of that first night it poured rain, our tent site turned into a creek and we were washed out of our sleeping bags.

This pic was taken about ten years ago - a Spring trip onto the Pandani Shelf, just to prove that you can actually see Anne from there, even if neither of us has recent photographic proof:


I must say that you did well to have enough energy left to walk around to Sarah Jane after the NE Ridge walk - I'm usually ready to head out for a hot coffee or a cold beer after that first walk.

We certainly haven't had much of a summer yet! not that im complaining an all year winter would be great top photos there, the one from Sara Jane is great.