Snowsense - Backcountry advice for Aus

[J M]

Hi all, just stumbled across a new website that's dedicated to providing information on current conditions for backcountry trips in Australia. It could be pretty handy and looks well set-up so I'd recommend having a look if you're heading up into the high country at all this winter

[url]snowsense.net.au[/url]

[Tortoise]

Not enough snow these days in Tassie to rate a mention?

[Tortoise]

Howwit

??

And there's a renegade apostrophe in Watson's Crags. And then there's Jugungal... What's the world coming to?

But the site still might be really good. Sorry, feeling linguistically sensitive tonight. Might be useful to have the right spelling for people to discover the site, though, if they're googling place names.

[J M]

And there's a renegade apostrophe in Watson's Crags. And then there's Jugungal... What's the world coming to?

Haha yeah it looks like there are still a few kinks to iron out! Presumably with time they'll expand to Tassie as well

[highercountry]

Potentially a useful site and I realise it's still in it's infancy but the advisory notes and weather forecasts were last updated 11 days ago.
Not much use at the moment.

[SnowSense]

Hey guys, We have updated, thanks for the feedback. we are strong with ski patrollers and park rangers, not proof readers. Thanks guys. can you let the forum know two things, we would love to cover Tas as we see it as important area. Although we don’t have any takers to run regular observations. Probably a parks resource would be required. The site has a broad audience that takes into consideration everyone from walkers, climbers, skiers and snowboarders. Our aim is to maintain relevance to all users at all times. In particular to walkers our observations around rime ice, metamorphosed white ice and bed surface wind scours should be noted.

The research behind the delivery pointed out that Hypothermia (75%) is the greatest danger by far, followed by uncontrolled slides (20%), then avalanche (5%). The most likely instance in which your people will end up in a PSAR helicopter is from slides. You guys are spot on with your hypothermia awareness, leave that to the snowboarders. And Avalanche hazard is only really lurking on slopes over 25˚, the skiers / snowboard and climbers domain. But to lose your footing on rime / white ice on a slope of as little as 10˚has repeatedly seen the undoing of many a walker. SnowSense is actively advocating walkers carrying firstly crampons or articulated snow shoes, and a walking axe if you plan on travelling and spending time above 1700m anywhere in Aus. Anywhere else in the world, this kit is standard. Yet walkers here have considered themselves largely immune to the hazard. A stoic, make-do attitude that doesn't really match up with mountain safety practise globally. White ice and rime glaze is treacherous, wether its on a glacier (OS) or on a the windward aspect of a ridge line (AUS). Quick note on snowshoes is that they are known to fail traversing on ice beyond 10˚ so its worth keeping that in mind.

Any other feedback regarding the advisory and its relevance to walkers, our door is wide open. Thanks.

[Moondog55]

And Welcome to the forum

[Tortoise]

Thanks for your graciousness, Snowsense. Apologies for my flippancy. Looks like it'll be an excellent resource.
I'm happy to do a bit of proofreading.