Trip Overview:
On Saturday morning we will leave Canberra at 6am and drive to Guthega Dam, aiming to head out at 10:00am. We will skin along Illawong track, over the swing bridge and set up camp in the trees east of Little Twynam. We will do a couple of runs off the eastern faces of the Twynams before returning to camp. Sunday we will ski in the same area before packing up in the afternoon and driving back to Canberra.
Difficulty:
This is for those with skiing experience who are new to the backcountry. It will require a good level of fitness because ski lifts won’t be hauling your ass up those slopes! The primary purpose of the trip is positive exposure to the joys of the backcountry so we will pace ourselves and not push it. If the weather is poor, we may cut the trip short.
Other notes:
We will do a backcountry skills night prior to the departure date. This will include an overview of an AT setup and how to use it, backcountry avalanche safety (i.e. beacons & EPIRBs), plus general tips for snow camping, food, water and body temperature management.
Departing Guthega, the skin to camp should not take more than an hour. We will need to carry our packs so a little disclaimer that you might feel off-balance on the approach. It gets better soon though I promise! There will likely be existing dugouts where we plan to set up the tents but be prepared to do some digging in the snow to create tent platforms and a sitting area for some après-ski relaxation.
See above