Archived trip from old website run by Jessica.Hancock
Frankly, the snow report this weekend looks pretty awful. But fingers and toes are crossed, and this trip is to a relatively sheltered and accessible spot, so we shall carry on with high hopes!
Guthega (1640m) is the best place to be this weekend, being out of the winds of the high peaks and above the melting lower slopes of the mountains. We'll leave Canberra early on Saturday morning (read: 6am or earlier) and drive to Guthega village, where we'll set off towards "New Farm Creek." I've never been here before, but the prospect of leaving from the convenient Guthega and then NOT travering sidewards across a slope all day is terribly exciting, and should make for some wonderful skiing. We'll make it into the valley by lunch time and decide there how far we want to go before setting up camp. Side trips up to the trigs and other features will depend on weather and skier ability, but this is a good trip for beginners as it'll be short and relatively easy. We'll camp in the snow on Saturday night, then on Sunday we'll retreat back to Guthega and the non-snowy world of Canberra.
Pre-trip is at The Coffee Grounds (in the ANU Sport and Recreation building) at 5:40pm on Thursday, which will give us time to very briefly discuss the trip and car pooling before the gear store opens at 6pm. If you haven't skied with me before, include a description of your previous skiing and snow camping experience when signing up.
The Grasshopper's Report (http://www.mountainwatch.com/snow-forecasts/Australia/Perisher):
On Thursday we start to pick up a moderate north-westerly wind as a low approaches from the west - which is where it all starts to go a bit tits up.
On Friday the low throws a front over the Aussie Alps. The winds will strengthen to gale force and it will rain on all but the highest peaks.
Saturday and Sunday will stay mild with overcast skies and periods of rain or drizzle. The good news is that (at the moment) it doesn't look like we will see huge rainfall amounts. Temperatures will be hovering around the 5c mark during the daytime and struggle to get below freezing at night. We will start to pull in colder air on Monday as the low moves east and high pressure builds in from the north-west. There is the possibility of a dusting of snow. High pressure will then take control again from the 25-28 of August. We may have to wait until September until it relinquishes its' iron grip. Oh the humanity.
Frankly, the snow report this weekend looks pretty awful. But fingers and toes are crossed, and this trip is to a relatively sheltered and accessible spot, so we shall carry on with high hopes!
Guthega (1640m) is the best place to be this weekend, being out of the winds of the high peaks and above the melting lower slopes of the mountains. We'll leave Canberra early on Saturday morning (read: 6am or earlier) and drive to Guthega village, where we'll set off towards "New Farm Creek." I've never been here before, but the prospect of leaving from the convenient Guthega and then NOT travering sidewards across a slope all day is terribly exciting, and should make for some wonderful skiing. We'll make it into the valley by lunch time and decide there how far we want to go before setting up camp. Side trips up to the trigs and other features will depend on weather and skier ability, but this is a good trip for beginners as it'll be short and relatively easy. We'll camp in the snow on Saturday night, then on Sunday we'll retreat back to Guthega and the non-snowy world of Canberra.
Pre-trip is at The Coffee Grounds (in the ANU Sport and Recreation building) at 5:40pm on Thursday, which will give us time to very briefly discuss the trip and car pooling before the gear store opens at 6pm. If you haven't skied with me before, include a description of your previous skiing and snow camping experience when signing up.
The Grasshopper's Report (http://www.mountainwatch.com/snow-forecasts/Australia/Perisher):
On Thursday we start to pick up a moderate north-westerly wind as a low approaches from the west - which is where it all starts to go a bit tits up.
On Friday the low throws a front over the Aussie Alps. The winds will strengthen to gale force and it will rain on all but the highest peaks.
Saturday and Sunday will stay mild with overcast skies and periods of rain or drizzle. The good news is that (at the moment) it doesn't look like we will see huge rainfall amounts. Temperatures will be hovering around the 5c mark during the daytime and struggle to get below freezing at night. We will start to pull in colder air on Monday as the low moves east and high pressure builds in from the north-west. There is the possibility of a dusting of snow. High pressure will then take control again from the 25-28 of August. We may have to wait until September until it relinquishes its' iron grip. Oh the humanity.
Trip category
Skiing
Date and Time
—
Estimated Costs
None