28/09/2018 – 3/10/2018 Guthega – Pounds Creek – Mount Anderson – Three Rocks Creek – Mount Anton – Mount Twynam
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Distance: 71km Total Ascent: 5,100m Total Descent: 5,100m
Time: 34 hours Track Info
Participants: Damien Aggio (3 days), Marg Baz (3 days), Stephen Davies (Report, Photos), Paul Davis (3 days), Murray Gibbs (3 days), Ian Houghton (3 days), Paul Marsh (3 days), Stephen Poole, Claire Sim (3 days)
Day 1: Friday 28/09/2018 Guthega – Pounds Creek
Max elevation: 1958 m
Total climbing: 673 m
Total descent: -502 m
Average speed: 3.71 km/h
Total time: 07:00:29
A lot of preparation was required for this trip as I was planning to stay at the snow until 24th October! Two tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags to cover both snow camping and car camping. The cooking, dehydration and packing of 14 main meals, making and packing another batch of home-made toasted muesli, planning repackaging lunches and snacks etc etc.
Arriving after 6:00pm on Thursday night I was lucky to catch staff at the park entrance to buy a new twelve month National Parks Pass. Here I was told the entrance station is unmanned after 7:00pm and that they photograph all numbers plates as you come and go – so don’t forget to pay your full dues on the way out if it is unstaffed when you arrive.
The beautiful still night at Island Bend lasted until about 10:00pm when a windy change swept through and stayed overnight. It was however still again by breakfast time.
As expected the “ski” out from Guthega included lots of walking over grassy patches but the snow cover was almost complete past the trees. A party of four snow-shoers were heading out to Mount Twynam for a day trip at the time as me.
Past the Illawong suspension bridge I was by myself, taking my time as I worked my way up the hill with a heavy pack. The clouds were obscuring the sun and a strong wind to 70km/h kept the apparent temperature very low. The numerous gusts hitting me head on hampered progress intermittently, as did some stretches of softer, north facing slopes which fell away in sections under my skis during traverses. It certainly felt more difficult than usual.
New arrivals at camp
I arrived at our agreed campsite at the big bend in Pounds Creek at 1:30pm. After setting up camp, I sheltered in the tent for a long lunch. Becoming quite cold by 3:00pm I headed out for a short ski further up along Pounds Creek before managing a few forced telemarks in the slow, soft snow on the return to camp. Six members of our party had just started setting up camp as I was arriving back.
With the wind still blowing cold we had all retired to our own tents (we had one each!) before 8:00pm.
Day 2: Saturday 29/09/2018 Pounds Creek – Pounds Creek Valley
Max elevation: 1851 m
Total climbing: 1088 m
Total descent: -1088 m
Average speed: 5.20 km/h
Total time: 06:41:35
It had been a bit blowy overnight with some light snowfalls which continued until after dawn. Along with a little fog there seemed to be no hurry to get up. It was a good morning for breakfast in bed.
Our morning ski had us heading off to the north-east over the first bump before our first descent down the valley lower down along Pounds Creek. The wind had blown most of the fresh snow into small patches leaving a very hard base elsewhere. It was not the most enjoyable run down due to the irregularities and inconsistencies but we all managed plenty of acceptable turns.
Skiing up along Pounds Creek
I ventured a bit further down than the others, remembering a couple of good short runs from last season. The upper one which faces south turned out to have accumulated a much more extensive and even cover of fresh snow than we had found elsewhere. So I informed the others and we all spent the rest of the day heading up and down its 80m of vertical, savouring each descent.
Our tracks near Pounds Creek
Lunch was enjoyed under now clear skies on the grass next to Pounds Creek before we returned to further carve up the same slope. Although we had earlier tried another lower, east facing slope where there was less fresh cover and inconsistent slide speed, there were no takers for repeats there. No surprise!
On my planned last run it proved impossible to pull my skins off with my skis on due to a layer of snow balling up and adhering to the skins under my boots. So the skis had to come off for the job. Unfortunately, just as I was attempting to secure my binding to my boot my other foot broke through the snow and instantly sank, wherein I lost my balance and my unsecured ski made an rapid escape. With it turning straight down the hill and quickly picking up speed I had but an instant to decide to dive full stretch down the hill in pursuit. Although I managed to get my hand around the tail of the ski it already had too much momentum and broke free, continuing on it way straight down the hill at breakneck speed. Eighty metres below and just before the creek it became airborne and landed about ten metres into the grass on the other side. My lucky day, there wasn’t a scratch on the ski and it had also passed just 20m upstream of five people from our group.
Shortly after, we followed Pounds Creek back to camp. After putting on a few more clothes we found a sheltered spot on the grass next to Pounds Creek out of the cold breeze for a night out together. From here we could hear the Perisher resort fireworks and enjoy the stars coming out in their full splendour under clear skies. Still cold it was only a fairly short night out before people started heading back to their tents.
Day 3: Sunday 30/09/2018 Pounds Creek – Mount Twynam – Mount Twynam’s Northern Spur – Watsons Crags
Max elevation: 2192 m
Total climbing: 1305 m
Total descent: -1305 m
Average speed: 6.18 km/h
Total time: 07:16:34
Greeted by nice weather everyone was ready to head off to Watsons Crags by 9:00am. With the clear skies the snow was softening nicely as we progressed around the top of Mount Twynam.
Departing camp
With a week trip based on Mount Twynam planned for the end of the week I opted out and instead completed two 350m vertical runs down along Mount Twynam’s northern spur to the east of Watsons Creek. Although not as steep as runs off Watsons Crags, this spur can easily be followed down to the unnamed creek on its eastern side where water is often easily accessible. The run has good width its entire length and was free of obstacles such as exposed rocks and trees. It also provides sensational views, especially towards Watsons Crags and any skiers or boarders who may be there testing their skills on it’s steep descents. To my mind, the spur I was skiing was plenty steep enough, to ascend! With this under consideration I try to get as many telemark turns in as I can on each descent, which makes it almost as demanding as the climb.
Jagungal from Mount Twynam
During the second climb I kept close to the Crags side to admire the views and take photos along the way. After picking up my daypack I climbed to the summit of Mount Twynam for the third time of the day before heading back to camp, collecting some enjoyable final telemarks for the day on the return run on rapidly firming snow.
The rest of the party had a great day out on Watsons Crags themselves. Margaret especially enjoying a successful first descent down along Watsons Creek.
Sunday night out at Pounds Creek
We again went out for dinner, down behind the big rock on the grass beside Pounds Creek. Two nights out in a row!
Day 4: Monday 1/10/2018 Pounds Creek – Mount Anderson – Three Rocks Creek – Mann Bluff
Max elevation: 1979 m
Total climbing: 1033 m
Total descent: -1033 m
Average speed: 5.92 km/h
Total time: 06:27:15
Everyone apart from Stephen Poole and myself were finishing their trip today. The rest of the group again decided to head towards Watsons Crags before returning to camp mid-afternoon and then heading back to their vehicles at Guthega. Stephen and I opted to head in the opposite direction, first summiting Mount Anderson before skiing onto its northern ridge. From here we ended up completing four excellent runs down to Three Rocks Creek, near it’s weather station, either side of lunch.
Stephen and my tracks down Mount Anderson’s north ridge
After our down-hilling runs we followed Three Rocks Creek downstream to take in a change of scenery. As we turned away from the creek around Mann Bluff we could see snow continuing as far as we could see down along the creek. Our traverse around Mann Bluff was opening up views beyond the next unnamed creek but was also showing many areas of trees and bushes. At this point we had decided to continue around Mann Bluff to get yet another new perspective of the area. Here, just as I was taking my skis off to put skins on for the climb I discovered half of the lever on one of my bindings was gone. This immediately forced a change of mind and direction.
Fortunately, both the small plastic component and its securing screw were found on our tracks a couple of hundred metres back from where we had come. From here we now continued to the saddle at the top of Three Rocks Creek before traversing around the eastern side of Mount Anderson back to camp.
Another satisfying day under clear skies with only the occasional light breeze to keep us from getting too warm.
Day 5: Tuesday 2/10/2018 Pounds Creek – Mount Anton – Mount Twynam
Max elevation: 2142 m
Total climbing: 627 m
Total descent: -627 m
Average speed: 5.79 km/h
Total time: 04:35:33
We awoke to some heavy looking clouds on an overcast sky so were both content to take our time getting up.
Soon after 10:00am we headed straight up onto the saddle behind camp before traversing around the southern side of Mount Anderson, aiming for the knoll to the west. There are a couple of nice runs to be had over there, one each off it’s northern and southern sides. Although the cover looked great on those runs, there were lots of grassy sections to cross to get over there, the same as for my previous visit last year.
This time, however, we changed our minds enroute and instead headed southwards past Mount Anton in the process being forced to remove our skis a couple of times to cross bare stretches.
We paused numerous times to take in the panoramic views and record them on our cameras before reaching the top of the creek which runs down from the western side of Mount Anton. This provided an uninterrupted descent to the creek flowing north from Mount Twynam. From here our climb of Mount Twynam began, up along the ridge running parallel to the creek we had just crossed.
Stephen Davies on western flank of Mount Anton
The purpose of this section of our trip was to check on some of the details of possible campsites for our next trip starting Friday. My aim being to find somewhere suitable to camp with the best views along the ridge. After examining a couple of options a choice was made. We now just need to hope the weather cooperates, as the exposure to poor at the selected site is extreme.
From our selected camp there was only a short climb before we could traverse around the northern side of Mount Twynam and cross over into Pounds Creek and return to camp.
It was only a short day but at least we had the satisfaction of securing a fantastic location for our next adventure and could savour a multitude of sensational viewpoints along our route.
It appears that my timing has been impeccable for once. We had planned our food rations around departing this trip tomorrow morning, just as the clouds have started rolling in. The next two days are forecast to be showery and windy with a possible thunderstorm in the late morning. Time to leave!
Day 6: Wednesday 3/10/2018 Pounds Creek – Guthega
Max elevation: 1925 m
Total climbing: 394 m
Total descent: -566 m
Average speed: 7.26 km/h
Total time: 02:33:51
This morning the clouds are heavy and dark and look ready for action. Despite waking around 6:00am we weren’t packed and ready to leave until 8:30am. Additional time was required packing as we had two different destinations in mind for our gear, leaving what we could somewhere out nearby, whilst taking what we needed back out.
As Stephen decided he was going to camp at Jindabyne he was only leaving a daypack full of gear. I was carrying out a daypack and leaving everything else behind.
Once away and heading up along Pounds Creek it was heavily overcast and looking likely to rain at any stage. After ascending about 100m I noticed a large rock supported horizontally across two others. We headed over and found it to be an ideal place to leave our gear – out of sight and with good shelter from the wind and rain (how much so we’ll discover in a couple of days).
Our gear stash above Pounds Creek
From our now GPS flagged stash we continued around the grassy ridge along the snow until we passed over to the Snowy River side. A quick run down to the Illawong suspension bridge followed, with only a short 10m stretch off grass to cross on the flat section above the last incline. This looked like a great campsite for future use as it had a stand of beautiful snowgums.
Once across the Snowy River it mostly involved walking due to the recent rapid loss of snow. We followed the walking track which made it much easier that trying to ski the snow drifts higher up amongst the trees as this usually involves lots of short up and downs.
Back to Guthega comfortably before 11:00am we encountered a police patrol. I pulled them over to question them about the post ski season policing of the parking signs around Guthega. They indicated they did not police it and one of them indicated that he had just completed a backcountry trip and parked “illegally” past the official overnight signed areas. They also indicated National Parks could but would be very unlikely to take action since the official ski season was over.
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
