Snow season

[north-north-west]

Maybe you should consider moving to Tasmania (although it's horrible do not come here).

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

It's a FirstDogontheMoonism and a recurring gag on the Grauniad comments section under his cartoons whenever Tassie is mentioned.

ps: I am getting myself that Tshirt, however. Thank you.

[Camminata]

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.

I need to update my passport and I don't have a scar on my neck....

[Camminata]

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.

I reckon microspikes would be fine , or nothing as its showing its bare path now


Pic from Dec 2020 near summit cairn

[Camminata]

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.

I can ride 80 to 100 kms down beach rd from Brunswick return from Frankston feel tired but ok, I mainly ride hills a 40km ride with a 7 to 800 elevation gain I am cooked, your much fitter than me 60km a day! you earning the brag rights

Yep thread has gone off topic , but so has the snow.....

[Biggles]

[...]
I reckon microspikes would be fine , or nothing as its showing its bare path now

I was going to suggest microspikes too over snowshoes; the NE has had a number of frigid mornings (I can imagine the fog engulfing Mountain Creek!!) but more recently way above average warm days; some pics I have seen on family FaceAche pages of the NE show a receding snow profile on Bogong and Feathertop's approach. I wouldn't think there is much snow — if any — up to Michell Hut; anything in the full, warming sun won't last.

Not so textbook use for microspikes...
Recent experiences (ok, back in February!) I used my titanium microspikes to afford a grip on rock strata at Aire River Crossing in the Great Otway National Park. No hope of traversing the slippery rock barefoot or with shoes, so on with the shoes, on with the spikes and I was across! The microspikes were last used for their intended purpose at Stirling in July last year with firm packed-to-ice on the climb away from Bluff Hut at the time.

@Baeng72 Saturday (tomorrow!) looks — amazingly! — the cream of the crop with bright sunshine and again much warmer temps, to do a up-and-back of Staircase — before that blitzer cold front makes its presence felt on Sunday. Not for me though. I'll be riding (again! )

[Camminata]

[...]
I reckon microspikes would be fine , or nothing as its showing its bare path now

age warm days; some pics I have seen on family FaceAche pages of the NE show a receding snow profile on Bogong and Feathertop's approach. I wouldn't think there is much snow — if any — up to Michell Hut; anything in the full, warming sun won't last.

Would be interested to see a pic of Feathertop at present if you can share......

[Baeng72]

Microspikes for sure, if I go. I could wake up at 4am and think, 'Nah, screw that!' or not wake up until it's too late.
I suffer from chronic laziness, and so can find an excuse to back out of most things.

Regarding misuse of microspikes: I went up Staircase and back down about a year ago.
I had microspikes on from above the treeline back to Staircase trailhead.
The last hour was in the dark and raining, so slick as.
The microspikes worked a treat, but got a bit of a flogging on the rocks and sticks below Bivy hut.

You guys are just so much fitter than me. I can't compete with that.

[Camminata]

Microspikes for sure, if I go. I could wake up at 4am and think, 'Nah, screw that!' or not wake up until it's too late.
I suffer from chronic laziness, and so can find an excuse to back out of most things.

Regarding misuse of microspikes: I went up Staircase and back down about a year ago.
I had microspikes on from above the treeline back to Staircase trailhead.
The last hour was in the dark and raining, so slick as.
The microspikes worked a treat, but got a bit of a flogging on the rocks and sticks below Bivy hut.

You guys are just so much fitter than me. I can't compete with that.

Not sure where Biggles got his weather from but forecast looks grim for tmrw.... pack a rain jacket!

[Baeng72]

Microspikes for sure, if I go. I could wake up at 4am and think, 'Nah, screw that!' or not wake up until it's too late.
I suffer from chronic laziness, and so can find an excuse to back out of most things.

Regarding misuse of microspikes: I went up Staircase and back down about a year ago.
I had microspikes on from above the treeline back to Staircase trailhead.
The last hour was in the dark and raining, so slick as.
The microspikes worked a treat, but got a bit of a flogging on the rocks and sticks below Bivy hut.

You guys are just so much fitter than me. I can't compete with that.

Not sure where Biggles got his weather from but forecast looks grim for tmrw.... pack a rain jacket!

If you're trying to talk me out of it, you're doing a good job.
Partly cloudy, rain early morning. 0-5mm. But windy. BOM meteye says about 30km/h from late morning in the Falls Creek and North area.

[Camminata]

Microspikes for sure, if I go. I could wake up at 4am and think, 'Nah, screw that!' or not wake up until it's too late.
I suffer from chronic laziness, and so can find an excuse to back out of most things.

Regarding misuse of microspikes: I went up Staircase and back down about a year ago.
I had microspikes on from above the treeline back to Staircase trailhead.
The last hour was in the dark and raining, so slick as.
The microspikes worked a treat, but got a bit of a flogging on the rocks and sticks below Bivy hut.

You guys are just so much fitter than me. I can't compete with that.

Not sure where Biggles got his weather from but forecast looks grim for tmrw.... pack a rain jacket!

If you're trying to talk me out of it, you're doing a good job.
Partly cloudy, rain early morning. 0-5mm. But windy. BOM meteye says about 30km/h from late morning in the Falls Creek and North area.

Next Saturday looks better and maybe a dusting of snow prior will make for a better day walk sight see experience...or could be ideal for a summit camp.. I reckon the Falls at Strath creek would be and diggers gully would flowing now

[Baeng72]

Maybe next weekend then....same old story, another lurgy.

[Biggles]

I suffer from chronic laziness, and so can find an excuse to back out of most things.

Regarding misuse of microspikes: I went up Staircase and back down about a year ago.
I had microspikes on from above the treeline back to Staircase trailhead.
The last hour was in the dark and raining, so slick as.
The microspikes worked a treat, but got a bit of a flogging on the rocks and sticks below Bivy hut.

You guys are just so much fitter than me. I can't compete with that.

Not sure where Biggles got his weather from but forecast looks grim for tmrw.... pack a rain jacket!

How dare you insult the integrity of my ever-reliable crystal ball, mind you, it's probably due for a battery change after 30-odd years of gazing... besides which, forgive me a minor error (or the crystal ball's, whatev...) and accept that we have no control over the weather...and even less control over a cloudy crystal ball.

Instead of walking, I went...cycling! (again...)

114.2km (Castlemaine-Bendigo return).
Aerobic 4.3 || Anaerobic 2.5
Lowest speed (16.44km/h UP Big Hill); highest speed 78.4km/h (DOWN Big Hill, Ravenswood).

Early start tomorrow for the deep south: is walking in the Great Otway National Park, for sure.
I kid you knot, the weather is about to take a tumble for the worse, hence I recommended a cuppla posts ago that whoever he is should be up Staircase today, this day, not tomorrow unless he wants to get soaked.

[Camminata]

I suffer from chronic laziness, and so can find an excuse to back out of most things.

Regarding misuse of microspikes: I went up Staircase and back down about a year ago.
I had microspikes on from above the treeline back to Staircase trailhead.
The last hour was in the dark and raining, so slick as.
The microspikes worked a treat, but got a bit of a flogging on the rocks and sticks below Bivy hut.

You guys are just so much fitter than me. I can't compete with that.

Not sure where Biggles got his weather from but forecast looks grim for tmrw.... pack a rain jacket!

How dare you insult the integrity of my ever-reliable crystal ball, mind you, it's probably due for a battery change after 30-odd years of gazing... besides which, forgive me a minor error (or the crystal ball's, whatev...) and accept that we have no control over the weather...and even less control over a cloudy crystal ball.

Instead of walking, I went...cycling! (again...)

114.2km (Castlemaine-Bendigo return).
Aerobic 4.3 || Anaerobic 2.5
Lowest speed (16.44km/h UP Big Hill); highest speed 78.4km/h (DOWN Big Hill, Ravenswood).

Early start tomorrow for the deep south: is walking in the Great Otway National Park, for sure.
I kid you knot, the weather is about to take a tumble for the worse, hence I recommended a cuppla posts ago that whoever he is should be up Staircase today, this day, not

tomorrow unless he wants to get soaked.

i suspect the crystal ball was brought from a $2 shop

[Baeng72]

Web cam from Hotham looked good earlier today. Was a bit blowy though according to weatherzone.
Whoever does 78.4km/h is courting danger.
No skin and broken stuff if you come off.
Nope, not interested.
Anyway, whatever, I'll investigate modes of exercise that don't require 8 hrs driving to get to and from or riding down a steep hill.

[Camminata]

Web cam from Hotham looked good earlier today. Was a bit blowy though according to weatherzone.
Whoever does 78.4km/h is courting danger.
No skin and broken stuff if you come off.
Nope, not interested.
Anyway, whatever, I'll investigate modes of exercise that don't require 8 hrs driving to get to and from or riding down a steep hill.

Get yourself a exercise bike, I believe getting your cardio fitness up helps with bushwalking also eating healthy imo

[Biggles]

Web cam from Hotham looked good earlier today. Was a bit blowy though according to weatherzone.
Whoever does 78.4km/h is courting danger.
No skin and broken stuff if you come off.
Nope, not interested.
Anyway, whatever, I'll investigate modes of exercise that don't require 8 hrs driving to get to and from or riding down a steep hill.

Get yourself a exercise bike, I believe getting your cardio fitness up helps with bushwalking also eating healthy imo

Or a Wahoo Kickr Rollr (as I have), if you have a road bike — but a fear of high speeds, sweeping downhills (not steep hills!), long drives, suicidal beaut ute drivers...and sunburn...

https://tinyurl.com/2zmhr6jr

An holistic approach to eating, regular exercise / varied activity is a lot better than one sole activity; an old addage that was once common among the vehemently strident old guard of bushwalking clubs went something like, "only bushwalking prepares your legs for bushwalking, not cycling!". Oh, you don't say now...interesting that I have conveniently outlived those pundits!

I have pursued many active interests, bushwalking among (a natural progression from my Queen's Scout days), cycling, swimming and running for 47 years ... and all that is with a kidney transplant first done in March 1977...and is still going! Go figure.

[Biggles]

i suspect the crystal ball was brought from a $2 shop

Darn right. The earliest form of such a shop at Queen Victoria Market!
When it is not predicting miracles, mishaps and miserable weather, the cat gets to play with it. She loves it.

[Camminata]

i suspect the crystal ball was brought from a $2 shop

Darn right. The earliest form of such a shop at Queen Victoria Market!
When it is not predicting miracles, mishaps and miserable weather, the cat gets to play with it. She loves it.

Geez I wonder if the doughnut van was there then.?? from off topic to talking crap....

[Camminata]

Back on topic, a pic captured today 25/8/24 from another member , the razorback looking towards Feathertop

[Avatar]

Great photo. I was wondering what the view was today. Looks like plenty of snow. Cloud, some snow and wind forecast next week. May be worth a ramble up Bungalow with snowshoes when it clears.

[crollsurf]

Now the Vic ski season is over (and NSW maybe), I was wondering what the policy is regarding reopening the Bogong High Plains Road past Falls Creek. If there is a particular date or if it reopens whenever?

Also the Dargo High Plains Road

Once this weather clears, it could be nice to get up there for a look around.

[Avatar]

[Xplora]

Now the Vic ski season is over (and NSW maybe), I was wondering what the policy is regarding reopening the Bogong High Plains Road past Falls Creek. If there is a particular date or if it reopens whenever?

Also the Dargo High Plains Road

Once this weather clears, it could be nice to get up there for a look around.

Opening BHP is complicated. Falls Creek resort exerts power over the road that it does not legally possess but it has been allowed to get away with it for years. It closes the road to stop entry from the east but the road is managed by the Alpine and East Gippsland shire after being handed over with a lump of money by Vic Roads. The road is actually part of the National park from the dam wall so Parks Vic should have some say but it never has. There are many considerations that effect the opening even if the snow season has finished. It has to dry out. Sounds weird but being covered with snow and so much moisture is a problem for this road. It was not sealed properly and the surface under the bitumen gets wet which in turn prevents heavy vehicles driving over it. I have seen the water coming through the bitumen near Langford West and when I jumped up and down on the road it responded like a water bed.

In a normal snow year (maybe this is the new norm) there are two problematic snow drifts that need machines to clear. One near the basalt quarry (that is the small one) and one near Cope carpark. That can be metres deep in October but not this year. So once the road is clear and dry it will be inspected and if the resort has determined the season is over then the road should open. There will be a bit of fallen tree clearing to be done as well but that is mostly on the lower sections near Trapyard Gap.

I don't see the resort giving up entirely too soon but it may close early. About 6 weeks of the official season to go and if the high pressure systems return to bring cold nights the resorts will continue to make snow. I heard some mutterings quite a few years back in a poor snow season about the resort opening the road from the dam but keeping it closed at Trapyard Gap so only resort guests could venture out into the park. It would not be prudent for it to do that again.

The road does not normally open until late October but perhaps we will see it open sooner this year. It is still a bit soon for me to annoy my contact about any proposed date.

[Xplora]

Regarding Dargo HP road, considerable work has been done on parts of it during the last summer. The Alpine shire manages the top section and will want to protect the work from damage so it may hold off any opening until we are through this wet period. The forecast is for a wet spring. Don't hold your breath for this one to open early but I could be wrong.

[crollsurf]

Thanks Xplora, thats interesting but sounds like the road(s) wont open for some time yet.
I thought maybe I could walk out from Falls but until October 6, looks like the resort wants to charge $64/day to park my car, so forget that.

[Biggles]

Mount Bogong from Chris R., visited last week.

He's gone up again this am for another 4-6 days (!)
This vid shows Bogong losing a fair amount of cover last week, even less cover expected now. Firm and packed on top, with poor vis.
He encountered a wild 'river' coming down the track on the final approach up. Camped on a neat snow-less meadow.

No spikes needed on Staircase, but muddy and slippery.

https://youtu.be/7YoLI3saB8Q?si=ccGd1R5f2oBP_D_U

[Baeng72]

Web cam from Hotham looked good earlier today. Was a bit blowy though according to weatherzone.
Whoever does 78.4km/h is courting danger.
No skin and broken stuff if you come off.
Nope, not interested.
Anyway, whatever, I'll investigate modes of exercise that don't require 8 hrs driving to get to and from or riding down a steep hill.

Get yourself a exercise bike, I believe getting your cardio fitness up helps with bushwalking also eating healthy imo

OK, thanks I guess. That's the reason I mentioned cardio or aerobic fitness to Biggles, so you're banging on an open door.
Not that it matters, but I've got an exercise bike, but 14 year old eldest who has just gotten taller than me, and weighs 80kg, but thinks he's still a dainty 5 year old busted it, so I guess I had an exercise bike..
I have a mountain bike, and I ride when I can, but for the last 6 weeks, I've been various states of unwell*, so apart from a few short rides and the odd bit of jogging, just walking about 5km a day with dog and going to gym.
I'm doing pretty good on the eating front, but I'm not a food nazi.

[Baeng72]

Web cam from Hotham looked good earlier today. Was a bit blowy though according to weatherzone.
Whoever does 78.4km/h is courting danger.
No skin and broken stuff if you come off.
Nope, not interested.
Anyway, whatever, I'll investigate modes of exercise that don't require 8 hrs driving to get to and from or riding down a steep hill.

Get yourself a exercise bike, I believe getting your cardio fitness up helps with bushwalking also eating healthy imo

Or a Wahoo Kickr Rollr (as I have), if you have a road bike — but a fear of high speeds, sweeping downhills (not steep hills!), long drives, suicidal beaut ute drivers...and sunburn...

https://tinyurl.com/2zmhr6jr

An holistic approach to eating, regular exercise / varied activity is a lot better than one sole activity; an old addage that was once common among the vehemently strident old guard of bushwalking clubs went something like, "only bushwalking prepares your legs for bushwalking, not cycling!". Oh, you don't say now...interesting that I have conveniently outlived those pundits!

I have pursued many active interests, bushwalking among (a natural progression from my Queen's Scout days), cycling, swimming and running for 47 years ... and all that is with a kidney transplant first done in March 1977...and is still going! Go figure.

I have CKD, working on not needing a transplant/dialysis. But not sure of the cause, the being overweight/high blood pressure and taking too much prescribed ibuprofen type drugs for sarcoidosis seems to be main culprit, so haven't touched ibuprofen in 2 years (which is a bugger because neurofen/movic was great when sarcoidosis flared), and have dropped 15kg in last couple of years. Also, could be the sarcoidosis or heamachromatosis (I seem to collect chronic diseases) damaging kidneys, so specialist is not sure.

[Biggles]

My 2c worth of another dramatic veering off-topic, off-track, off-plot and anything else (you started it! )

CKD is progressive, not static, and not helped at all by ^^BP!
They will need to get sarcoidosis sorted before anything else.
You will likely need one or the other (HD/TX), (likely both) culminating in a tx at some time.
Just to mention it, Ibuprufen is prohibited for use in established renal tx patients.

I am fairly outspoken as not supportive of the current generation of immunosuppressants for tx; they are toxic to the transplant, resulting in failure after +/- 10 years. There are folks who would like me to shut up about that. Well folks (dead and alive), that aint gonna happen.

[Xplora]

Thanks Xplora, thats interesting but sounds like the road(s) wont open for some time yet.
I thought maybe I could walk out from Falls but until October 6, looks like the resort wants to charge $64/day to park my car, so forget that.

While I can see the benefit in taking the hard work out of getting some vertical by car there is another way that will not cost you dearly if you are prepared to walk a few hours more and it won't cost you much more driving time from Sydney. It will mean 850m vertical over 11km so quite moderate (that is only 600m more vertical than starting at Falls. Basically a half day walk to put you at 1750m. From there you have the entire BHP to explore for free. There might be the odd TAFE or school group out and about but by and large it will be very quiet. If you are interested you can send me a PM and I will give you details.