Snow camp recommendations?

[Stinky Pete]

Hi,
I'm in Melbourne for a few months and I'm looking for a recommendation for an overnight walk next weekend in the snow while it's still winter-ish (can't really do that in Queensland!).
Of course, this assumes a favorable weather forecast.
I'm thinking somewhere on the Baw Baw plateau? Or is it worth traveling further to the higher mountains?
In terms of experience, I've been up Ruapehu in NZ a few times in winter, so I'm comfortable with crampons and axe. I haven't used snow shoes before. I do have plenty of other bushwalking experience (qld and nz north island mostly).
So what would you recommend?

[GregR]

Mt Stirling. Hire the snow shoes at Telephone box Junction and enjoy.

[Travis22]

Mt St Gwinear - Hiring Snowshoes / poles etc at Erica on your way.

You can hike out to Baw Baw and back, or just out onto one of the Flats - ie. Mustering flat for an overnight snow camp.

You could do quite a few variations, ie. Hike from Mt Erica instead, through Mushroom Rocks and up into the snow cover around Gwinear / Baw Baw.

Otherwise, Lake Mountain? Or Mt Stirling would be another great option.

Travis.

[Stinky Pete]

Just had a look at stirling. Sounds pricey for a solo walker at $42 to get in and $25 to park.
St Gwinear is looking better for now!

[Travis22]

St Gwinear is my fav because its free, easy access and by far the closest to me.

On the weekends while there is snow the carpark is manned by Parks Victoria staff and there are Ski Patrol people there for first aid/ saftey just in case.

If you dont have a 4wd vehicle then you should hire snow chains, you can hire them in Erica too where you hire your snowshoes etc.

Some mornings if there has been recent snow Parks Vic staff will make 2wd vehicles fit chains for the final 500m - 1km drive to the carpark. Never heard of a proper 4wd vehicle needing chains to get in (but the 'are' required by law to be carried by all vehicles).

Following heavy rain last week there is little / no snow at the carpark, but i believe there is still good snow cover once you start walking up the track towards Mt St Gwinear summit and beyond. There is still a chance for more fresh snowfall so the conditions at the carpark can and does change all the time.

Travis.

[Lophophaps]

For a longer commute you can have more certainty of snow, such as it is. There are buses to Falls Creek and Hotham from Melbourne and the valley towns, Mt Beauty and Bright.

[David M]

I recently did this walk at Mt Stirling. https://youtu.be/C_lmzMQHMBs

[Stinky Pete]

I ended up at st gwinear... walked up to st phillack under a perfect blue sky and spent the night up there. This morning was cloudy, but still a very pleasant stroll back down.
Thanks for the advice everyone!

[sim1oz]

David, looks like you had a great trip to Stirling. Thanks for sharing!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

What might be my last snow camp of the year is coming next weekend (2,3,4/10/15 ) out the back of Mt Nelse. yaaaaaaay. Then again Roper's hut campsite might be thawed out by all this sunshine.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Roper's hut on 3,4/10/15 was not a snow camping trip ( I took snow pegs ) but Edmonson's hut area still looked to be whiter than green. I think I will do a September snow camp at Edmonson's hut in 2016. It is just the road bash from/to Windy corner that is not so inspiring but in September The BHP road could still be white and not black top.

[Xplora]

September is still a risk. We have done it a few times and depending on the season you can get grass or snow but you can expect patches of both until you get higher. This year was good early in Sept. We never go in from FC and avoid BHP. Still a bit of white on the aquaduct and BHP toward Cope. We biked in a couple of days ago and had to walk the bikes a bit. No doubt the scattered sections on the road will be cleared by machinery in the coming weeks and the road will open. Also the XC skiers don't like snowshoes on their groomed tracks either and although spring snow is solid in the morning the shoes really make a mess of it when it softens (if that sort of things matters to you). You could cop some abuse from a tall skinny person in colourful lycra. Ouch!

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I always thought Snow shoes were kosha on groomed XC ski runs. It is the noobs in boots in the snow on the back country ski runs who are the real villains. I am not afraid of strange confrontational people in lycra. We had one for a Prime minister for 2 years. It felt like 10 years to me.