20/08/2016 – 27/08/2016 Falls Creek – Bogong Rover Chalet – Wallaces Hut – Mt Cope – Mount Jaimathang – Spion Kopje – Crows Nest – Pretty Valley Pondage – Day Trips
Bogong High Plains, VICTORIA
Jaitmatang country
Distance: 137km Total Ascent: 4910m Total Descent: 4910m
Time: 43 hours Track Info
Participants: Damien Aggio, Natalie Anderson, Jennifer Blaikie, Nicholas Chappell, Katharine Chase, Chris Cole, Stephen Davies (Photos), Charlotte Duff, Rob Galea, Brett Gardner, Darren Gardner, Bryce Gibson, Jonathan Gobin, Erica Gooley, Chris Gunther, Matt Holt, Colin Jones, Joanna Landstra, Mark Landstra, Mandy Leimann, John Litvan, Stephen O’Brian, Daniel Salmond, Mark Schammer, Heather Siebert, Michael Simpson, Lachlan Smith, Joel Stanley, Anton Steketee, Clare Williams
Day 1: Saturday 20/08/2016 Falls Creek – Rover Chalet
Max elevation: 1661 m
Total climbing: 433 m
Total descent: -332 m
Average speed: 4.45 km/h
Total time: 03:09:22
A 6:00am wake up call, a quick breakfast and pack up saw us underway from the community hall and at the bus stop for our 7:15am bus trip to Falls Creek. Here each of us collected a package of vegetables and meat to carry in for our meals. Non-perishables having been driven up in bulk during autumn and stored in the metal lined (native marsupial proof) pantry.
Once geared up our group of 35, mostly Rovers, were on our way in very cool, misty, breezy conditions. The fresh snow, still falling gently amongst the wind, provided fantastic glide for the duration of our 12km journey into the Rover Chalet.
Approaching the Rover Chalet along Langford West Aquduct
Upon arrival we each selected some floor space for our mattress in one of the upstairs dormitories. I was one of only two newbies, as such we were given a introductory tour to the lodge and a run through operating protocols. As we were staying for a week we were divided into groups of four and allocated jobs, which were to be rotated between groups each day. My group, as the Cooks, were kept particularly busy between 3:30pm and 7:30pm.
Day 2: Sunday 21/08/2016 Rover Chalet – Wallaces Hut
Max elevation: 1703 m
Total climbing: 225 m
Total descent: -258 m
Average speed: 4.85 km/h
Total time: 01:50:27
As the Cooks our group we were up at 6:00am to prepare a cooked breakfast. After clearing the snow off the outside BBQ, working out the five cylinder gas system connected to it and filling the five burner barbecue with bacon, I was finally being productive. The rising heat of the barbecue had me dodging the melting snow that began falling from the over head balcony. My cooking duties were soon done.
After splitting into two groups I was off for a short tour with several side runs with Jo in a group of 11. Mostly were extremely competent telemark skiers.
We returned to the lodge having completed a circuit via Wallaces Hut. There was a good fresh but very heavy and quiet wet cover into which we sank around 20cm. A light breeze and very wet snow (slush) persisted most of the morning.
Wallaces Hut
A couple of hours were taken off for lunch, for which we enjoy spaghetti bolognese.
The afternoon started with renewed efforts to get the rope tow operational. After a few false leads and a considerable amount of time it was up and running. As the snow remained very heavy I opted out, returning to the lodge after a single run.
Day 3: Monday 22/08/2016 Rover Chalet – Mount Cope return
Max elevation: 1708 m
Total climbing: 574 m
Total descent: -559 m
Average speed: 5.70 km/h
Total time: 05:55:54
Colder conditions saw a few centimetres of drier snow to top up the cover. A group of 23 of us headed out for a tour which saw us summit Mt Cope around lunch time. We saw very little due to a low cloud cover but cool overcast and quite still conditions ensured a pleasant ski.
Climbing up through Middle Creek
After our lunch stop below the summit we managed a few runs on the southern flanks towards the creek below. A huge variety of telemark techniques were on display.
We returned via the road to reach the chalet around 4:30pm.
My attempted star trail time-lapse from the balcony was increasingly covered in condensation as the sequence progressed.
Day 4: Tuesday 23/08/2016 Rover Chalet – Mount Jaimathang return
Max elevation: 1850 m
Total climbing: 1169 m
Total descent: -979 m
Average speed: 7.37 km/h
Total time: 08:05:00
The day started with a memorial service just beyond the top of the rope tow for 28 year old Cam who had passed away late last year.
From here several groups formed and headed off in different directions. One to Mt Mackay chasing some turns, the second to a local waterfall and the group of six I was part of headed off towards Mount Jaimathang (previously called Mount Niggerhead).
Led by Sham, Damien, Uncle (Chris), Nat, Anton and myself traversed kilometres of open country on a largely thin cover of dry snow sitting on top of a firm base. Skiing was easy and at good pace with good grip on almost all hills without skins being used once.
The final climb to the trig was steeper and a little slower. Views from the top were sensational covering all the renowned Victorian peaks of Bogong, Feathertop, Hotham, etc. There were quite a few clouds hanging over surrounding peaks with the summit of Bogong obscured.
There were lots of thick deposits of sustrigi on the higher more exposed trees.
An excellent ski run from the summit became more challenging as we descended towards Towlong Huts as the trees became closer set and a couple of creeks with sinkholes needed to be negotiated.
View down Towonga Hut Creek
We stopped for lunch outside Towlong Huts under clear skies before we proceeded on our return journey to the chalet. This largely retraced our morning journey but was accompanied by increased cloud cover and a short fall of light sago.
The final descent down the home run was made interesting by the surface crust which was in the process of forming.
We were all happy to be back after completing our 26km tour.
Day 5: Wednesday 24/08/2016 Rover Chalet – Mount Nelse return
Max elevation: 1910 m
Total climbing: 609 m
Total descent: -599 m
Average speed: 6.52 km/h
Total time: 06:40:01
Jo, Jono, Damien and I set off about 9:30am for tour to Mount Nelse. Commencing by following the aqueduct before crossing it at the covered bridge. From here we climbed uphill through the trees, checking out the regrowth, then crossing the creek and following its open valley up and across to the road. The road was followed for a short distance only before the final climb to the Trig station at the summit of Mount Nelse. The weather was lightly overcast and calm until our lunch break on the summit when it managed to quickly cool considerably. The snow cover was complete the entire route and for the most part it was firm and offered good glide.
Mount Nelse summit
Our descent off Mount Nelse had us bag of few more turns before sidling around and then descending to Edmonsons hut. Here the immediate surrounds have a glorious stand of living snowgums.
As we proceeded home the cloud cover increased, thickened and descended with some very dark patches. This eventually forcing us to complete the return by the lower route via Wallace Hut. By the time we had arrived the cloud had descended to join us. As we completed the last kilometre along the road we also had a little sago shower.
Another great day out with some faint recollections of familiarity around the Mount Nelse area from my two visits to the area about 40 years earlier.
Day 6: Thursday 25/08/2016 Rover Chalet – Spion Kopje – Crows Nest return
Max elevation: 1901 m
Total climbing: 1110 m
Total descent: -1137 m
Average speed: 6.77 km/h
Total time: 09:08:52
The earliest start of the week was necessary in our groups attempt to reach Spion Kopje and Crows Nest. Led by Anton, Damien, Brett and I departed at 8:45am and made steady progress past Mount Nelse and onto the ridge leading to Spion Kopje. Although the weather initially looked good with only a few distant clouds and calm conditions it wasn’t too long before we saw it was building to something.
We dropped our daypacks part the way along the ridge for an absolutely awesome run down to the treeline and beyond ,on a very consistent cover of hoare frost sitting on a firm base. After skinning back up we proceeded to the Spion Kopje trig where we stopped for lunch as the surrounding peaks started to disappear behind cloud. Before we had finished eating we had began to be enveloped in cloud and a much cooler air mass. We could also make out the sound on distant thunder. This prompted us to get moving onto Crows Nest where we had glimpses of some outstanding views.
The now very flat lighting and all-enveloping cloud had us proceeding cautiously on our skis and thinking much more carefully about our route back along the ridge.
Approaching Crowsnest
We were lucky, since as we progressed visibility improved, even revealing areas of blue sky for a while. Tempted by the thought of another downhill run we headed to the summit of Mount Nelse. This proved a waste of time as the cover was quite inconsistent, the wind had picked up and visibility had become very poor again was we go there.
Once down from Mount Nelse our sole aim was to get back to the chalet. This we did just as it was getting dark.
The day had presented us with often changing apparent temperatures, which had us all in and out of layers of clothing all day, often not having it right and ending up too hot or cold.
A magnificent day overall covering about 35km and climbing just over 1,000m, catching some great views, seeing dramatic changes in the lighting and collecting a lot of good downhill runs.
Day 7: Friday 26/08/2016 Rover Chalet – Pretty Valley Pondage return
Max elevation: 1783 m
Total climbing: 744 m
Total descent: -747 m
Average speed: 6.71 km/h
Total time: 06:25:06
Clear, cold and calm conditions with the snowpack having remained dry throughout the week led to great skiing conditions yet again. Fast and firm.
Our entire party headed up and just beyond the head of the creek behind the chalet to formally induct three club members as Bogong Ski Rover members. After the “public” ceremony non-induced Ski Rovers played on a nearby slope whilst the new inductees had a members only meeting. Once complete we split into groups, the group I joined headed off to have lunch at “Stockyard” Hut.
Stockyard Hut
After a quick visit to Pretty Valley Pondage we commenced our return leg. Near Pretty Valley track the group split again with Mark Lanstra (Telemark), Jono, Uncle and Clare completing a few runs on a great very cruisy slope before returning home via Wallaces hut.
As darkness arrived I set up for another star-trail time-lapse on the balcony, this being impacted by smoke from the chalet’s fire drifting past at 7:50pm.
Day 8: Saturday 27/08/2016 Rover Chalet – Falls Creek
Max elevation: 1625 m
Total climbing: 132 m
Total descent: -235 m
Average speed: 6.21 km/h
Total time: 02:17:13
In order to ensure everyone made it onto the 10:15am bus from Falls Creek we all had a 6:00am wake up call. The prospect of getting caught up in the annual Hoppitt cross country race (being run today) which formed part of our route also factored into our start time.
We were divided onto four groups according to likely travel time and departed accordingly. A faster group were assigned the final cleanup and lock up duties.
Sunrise along Langford West Aqueduct
A wonderful sunrise greeted us early along the way. Again we were very fortunate with amenable weather and fast firm snow. No problems at all on our return, in fact some of us could have easily snuck onto the earlier bus.
After retrieving our cars from the bus terminal at Mount Beauty we adjourned to a local bakery to make up for our small breakfast before we headed off in different directions. We had people from South Australian, NSW and of course Victoria.
Clickable icons on a world map which open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries and other content
Amazing! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!