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Ski Touring, Bogong High Plains

Mike

29-Jul-2002
11:15:06 AM

Okay, not related to climbing, but I just got back from ski touring around the Bogong High Plains. I've put up some pictures here, if anyone is interested.

nmonteith

12-Aug-2002
11:52:01 AM

I am fairly keen to do a similar trip this year. Where exatcly did you go? I am thinking about just walking betwen perhaps Falls Creek and Bogong or Hothum and Falls. Is this a stupid idea becasue the snow is too deep? Did you spot any iced up rock that looked climbable in the area?

Cheers,

Neil

Mike

12-Aug-2002
1:02:39 PM

Neil,

On our last trip we just circled around the Falls Creek area, going up Mt Nelse for a bit of fun (Stayed in Edmunson Hut, Cope Hut, and two nights in the tent, see pics). The advantage of milling around the Falls Creek area is that it's reasonable flat, at least if you stick to the ridges. And there's a plethora of alpine huts and well established tracks. However getting out to either Bogong or Hotham will incur some very steep effort and possibly a bit of navigation skill.

Bogong To Falls:
I've hiked up Bogong (steep!, though Cleve Cole Hut is great), down the other side (also steep, and not easy to find the track!), across the icy river, up Mt Nelse, around to Cope Hut, and across to Falls Creek once before (3 days), incurring the first snow of the year. We didn't expect snow so early and had a real epic hiking out without snow shoes through waist deep snow. I don't recommend tramping around up there, in winter, without skis or snow shoes. Also the river crossing between Bogong and Mt Nelse is likely to present a formidable problem. We crossed it quite early in the year (there's a chain to hang onto), and nearly froze our feet off. By now the river will probably be quite high, and may not be crossable at all.

Falls To Hotham:
I've never done this in snow, but a friend of mine has. From memory he described it as quite a slog. If you're intent on this one I can give you his email address.

I've done Hotham to Feathertop, and down to Haretville before in snow, and that's a far easier hike (with snow shoes), along the ridge line. People jog it in a few hours during summer.

As for iced up rock. No didn't spot any. I did see a cliff face not far out of Falls Creek, but it didn't look iced up. You'd be better off trying Blue Lake at Kosi for ice climbing. That's a nice snow shoe hike (a good half day), from the lower ski buildings out of, I forget the town, Jinderbine maybe? Or you could hike across from Thredbo, and sumit Kosi, also a nice hike, though higher.

Good Luck!

nmonteith

9-Sep-2002
9:01:36 AM

This is a bit late... Jono and I did the hike betwen Bogong and Falls over 2 days without skis or snowshoes and found it snowy but icy. We walked on the ice crust in the morning.. overtaking several XC skiers at various points. The creek crossing felt rather tame, about calf deep but ok. All in all it was a great few days out, but we didn't find any new ice to climb. However on the drive down from Falls we got a good look at the cliffs on Quartz Ridge... they look impressive an dhigh enough to get ice. Anyone know how hard it is to get to the base of this ridge by car? Photos are online at

http://www.mrppp.com.au/nhb/reports/250802%20Bogong%20Falls/index.htm

oweng

12-Sep-2002
12:49:09 PM

Neil, enjoyed reading you post/site about high plains ski touring. Good Stuff! In relation to possible ice, it may be well worth checking out Mt Wills (about 20km southeast of Bogong). Its got a granite summit, is higher than the horn on Buffalo, has a two bedroom hut with watertank on the summit, and is only a 45 minute walk from the omeo highway. Never been up there in winter, so cant comment on the ice, but certainly has potential. Lots of bolted climbing potential (but less than youd first think given the acres of rock up there). If all else fails the views from the summit are stunning!

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