We will be Alpine Touring (AT) backcountry skiing from Guthega to set up a camp near Little Twynam for two nights. During the second day we will adventure around to Blue Lake and try some basic mountaineering, such as steep snow climbing and self-arresting, and providing we have someone on the trip that is comfortable with teaching some ice-climbing, we can do that too.
This trip is also weather dependent and if it is not looking favourable I will postpone it to the following week.
I would LOVE for someone with mountaineering experience to come and share their knowledge, on things such as: ice-climbing; snow, rock and ice anchors.
Logistics and Plan: We will leave ANU Sport at 6am, and drive through to Guthega to arrive before 9. This gives some room for traffic and some skiing before we settle down at camp. The following day we can rise when people feel like it, but it would be nice to begin breaking track before 9:30am. We will skin up between Little Twynam and Mt Twynam, traverse around Mt Twynam before descending the gully down to Blue Lake. Here we can enjoy some mountaineering and skiing (both activities have great access to beginner and advanced difficulties) and otherwise chill on the frozen lake. When we are satisfied, we can ski down to Hedley Tarn and then around back to camp. The following day we can enjoy some skiing and then skin over to Mt Tate, and depending on level of skiing, either descend straight down to the creek, or go via Consett Stephen Pass down to the creek and then skin back to Guthega across the dam. We should arrive at the cars before 1, and arrive back at ANU Sport at 4:30 pm.
If weather turns unexpectedly bad during the trip, we will take refuge at camp. Should an event occur in which this is no longer viable, we either proceed back to Guthega on foot or dig an emergency shelter.
Gear: The correct gear on this trip is very important, and I will ensure everyone has correctly working gear at the pre-trip meeting at 6pm Thursday the 29thAugust in the ANUMC Gear Store.
Participants: 2 cars worth with skis, so 6 people in total. Participants need to be reasonably fit, however you do not need mountaineering experience. You must have previous skiing experience and be comfortable doing easy downhill skiing. Note - most of the time is spent skinning rather than skiing. A single person with mountaineering experience will be preferred so that some ice-climbing can be enjoyed. Please detail your experience in your application of interest (note: I will select people appropriately so that there is a mixture of experience and inexperience).
A second car is also required, and if not 4wd, must carry chains.
Above.