Here it comes folks!

[puredingo]

The bestest season of them all....WINTER!

Fat people get to utilise the extra layer of insulation they've been lugging around all summer.

Unfit people don't feel the need to put in a 16 hour day walking due to a sun that just refuses to go down.

Sweat actually does it's job when that lovely westerly fans your face as the cooling liquid drips from your brow.

and best of all I can now have a fire for purposes other than cooking AND not have to sit 100mtrs away from it AND not have to check 4 times through-out the night if I put it out properly, just in case....

[icefest]

I lol'd

It's just a pity that we can't have fires in the high country. (I understand why and I agree with the reasons)

[Moondog55]

Which high country are you referring to icefest?
Heck; being able to light a fire is one of the reasons I like winter camping
Bogong and Feathertop I agree with usually but where else in Victoria are fuel stove only this year?

[icefest]

Isn't the entire alpine NP fuel stove only, except in marked fireplaces? Or am I just projecting tasmanian habits on the Vic Alps?

[madmacca]

While keeping fires to established fire places is encouraged in "guidelines", I think the only firm regulation banning fires is on Mts Feathertop and Bogong, and their approaches, and within designated resort areas.

Baw Baw Plateau (which is not part of ANP) is also fuel stove only.

[north-north-west]

The whole of the Viking/Razor Wilderness (from the start of the Crosscut to Barry Saddle) is also supposedly FSO although there are at least two well-used unofficial fireplaces on Speculation and another on Buggery.
To me, it's just commonsense not to bother with fires. Too much trouble. I don't understand the mentality that counts every single gramme shaved from their pack weight as a bonus and then spends all that time and energy hunting out firewood and starting and maintaining a fire. It's just totally illogical.

[madmacca]

The whole of the Viking/Razor Wilderness (from the start of the Crosscut to Barry Saddle) is also supposedly FSO although there are at least two well-used unofficial fireplaces on Speculation and another on Buggery.
To me, it's just commonsense not to bother with fires. Too much trouble. I don't understand the mentality that counts every single gramme shaved from their pack weight as a bonus and then spends all that time and energy hunting out firewood and starting and maintaining a fire. It's just totally illogical.

Plus there are some official (well, purpose built at least) fireplaces in Catherine Saddle.

I guess it's a bit of a social thing. I never bother with fires while soloing, but if I am in a group, it is inevitable that someone builds a fire. Caveman TV.

[Travis22]

Good god this thread went down hill quickly.

PD I cannot wait to get out again, especially when the white stuff starts falling.

Travis.

[stry]

Isn't the entire alpine NP fuel stove only, except in marked fireplaces? Or am I just projecting tasmanian habits on the Vic Alps?

Nope. Definitely not.

I am 100% in agreement with the FSO restrictions in heavily used areas, but like the OP, I love my fire in winter in the high country. Autumn/winter in Vic = best time of the year

Curiously, like madmacca, I tend to not bother with fires nowadays when solo. Maybe there is a natural synergy here - company (human or dog ), fire, cold, cave, food ??. That synergy definitely sharpens up in cold weather.

(To avoid reactions - I understand no dog in ANP !)

[north-north-west]

I cannot wait to get out again, especially when the white stuff starts falling.

They're predicting an el Nino for this winter - not a heavy snow season, in other words. Still, I hope they're wrong. Mt Field under snow is just beautiful.

[Balanced boy hiker]

Best three day treks? Hit me up guys. Bogong was done last week to familiarise myself with the landscape before doing it in the snow.. But hit me up with some other ones, my first winter hiking season and I'm super excited. Victoria would be preferable.

[Moondog55]

BBH Join me at the Pretty Valley camp for a night or two before tackling Bogong in the winter. Winter on Bogong is 3 degrees of difficulty greater at least. Perhaps even 3 orders of magnitude.
Here's hoping El Nino is balanced by a warmer Indian Ocean

[wayno]

in NZ it means, trying to find vegetation dry enough to get a fire going,
cold extremeties... trying to keep enough gear dry to sleep in...
and possibly lots of postholing in snow.

[perfectlydark]

Never seen snow in my life. Must make a trip on of these years.
Would need some significant gear/clothing updates though! All I have is good for coastal/mild winters

[Hermione]

Winter I can't wait!!! Not that we have what you'd call winter here in WA, we usually head to Tasmania for that.

[Moondog55]

What's wrong with this year PD?
I'm sure that winter gear is a perfectly acceptable reason to buy new stuff.

[stry]

in NZ it means, trying to find vegetation dry enough to get a fire going,
cold extremeties... trying to keep enough gear dry to sleep in...
and possibly lots of postholing in snow.

Fire ?? New Zealand ???

[wayno]

in NZ it means, trying to find vegetation dry enough to get a fire going,
cold extremeties... trying to keep enough gear dry to sleep in...
and possibly lots of postholing in snow.

Fire ?? New Zealand ???

aka gas cooker....

[perfectlydark]

What's wrong with this year PD?
I'm sure that winter gear is a perfectly acceptable reason to buy new stuff.

I can dream mate but already got holidays booked with family (heading north)

[stry]

in NZ it means, trying to find vegetation dry enough to get a fire going,
cold extremeties... trying to keep enough gear dry to sleep in...
and possibly lots of postholing in snow.

Fire ?? New Zealand ???

aka gas cooker....

Way to go !!!!

[roysta]

ahhhh that time of the year in NSW.
Fires, red wine, port, nice thought.
It's the best time of the year, particularly July with those temps down around -2 to -5.

[mikethepike]

I guess it's a bit of a social thing. I never bother with fires while soloing, but if I am in a group, it is inevitable that someone builds a fire. Caveman TV.

Yes that's also my practice on solo walks NNW. It's winter and cold but I cook on the stove and go to bed early and have a read. In the morning you can get away earlier after enjoying breakfast and a cup of tea in bed eat in bed. And later on I can get on the bus for an 6 hour drive back home and not smell like an old fireplace though fellow passengers have never thanked me for such consideration. .

[north-north-west]

I guess it's a bit of a social thing. I never bother with fires while soloing, but if I am in a group, it is inevitable that someone builds a fire. Caveman TV.

Yes that's also my practice on solo walks NNW. It's winter and cold but I cook on the stove and go to bed early and have a read. In the morning you can get away earlier after enjoying breakfast and a cup of tea in bed eat in bed. And later on I can get on the bus for an 6 hour drive back home and not smell like an old fireplace though fellow passengers have never thanked me for such consideration. .

How on earth did you manage that? I never wrote that line. I don't walk in groups any more than I do the campfire thing.

[Travis22]

The whole of the Viking/Razor Wilderness (from the start of the Crosscut to Barry Saddle) is also supposedly FSO although there are at least two well-used unofficial fireplaces on Speculation and another on Buggery.
To me, it's just commonsense not to bother with fires. Too much trouble. I don't understand the mentality that counts every single gramme shaved from their pack weight as a bonus and then spends all that time and energy hunting out firewood and starting and maintaining a fire. It's just totally illogical.

Plus there are some official (well, purpose built at least) fireplaces in Catherine Saddle.

I guess it's a bit of a social thing. I never bother with fires while soloing, but if I am in a group, it is inevitable that someone builds a fire. Caveman TV.

Guessing an error while Mike was quoting Macca's post which contained a quote from yourself NNW.

All one needs to do is enter this without the spaces
[ quote="username" ]and this appears. [ /quote ]

and this appears.

[mikethepike]

Yes Sorry NNW. My mistake. Madmacca is right. Thanks Maddy! I pressed the adjacent panel's 'quote' button. Easily done even though the different shades of green help prevent that from happening. I hope that everyone involved can sleep well tonight.

[north-north-west]

And they're forecasting snow showers for Kunanyi Friday & Saturday.
Nowhere else, but. Still, it's a start . . .

[taswegian]

Must say prefer Winter chill to summer frying.

That cold clean fresh blast from the Antarctic. There are days when I actually find it very invigorating and thoroughly enjoyable.

and the bum backed up to the glowing fire.
Starry moonless nights with the crackle of frost underneath.

Those misty moisty times when the rain swirls about the clefts of Mt Roland, hiding some , exposing others, constantly repeating itself.

And if they still exist in 2014, the big dump of snow a northeaster can bring and transforms the local landscape.

[puredingo]

Any snow to report on Saturday. It was *&%$#! freezing here, it felt like there would of been a dump somewhere high?

[Bluegum Mic]

Not much in the snowies. A few cms. From photos I saw it looked like the blue mountains had more. I wonder if forest ducked up to Barrington Tops. They surely would have got some.

[GPSGuided]

Winter is the time to put all the gears to the test... Summer, not much can be tested of a T-shirt.