The ranges have been hammered by the rain. Going from a good cover of dry fresh snow that stayed around for opening weekend, the ranges have seen up to 140mm of precipitation since then. This has had a devastating impact on backcountry snow conditions.

While the resorts are operating, with limited terrain, the backcountry is not looking so good at present. With a patchy base that has been firming up in cooler conditions, it’s probably a better move to enjoy a few beers indoors or go for a walk at present. The immediate forecast still isn’t good, with mild conditions and a few days of ‘snow showers’ without any major falls expected. But once the snow does come in again, make sure you check the Mountain Sports Collective (MSC) backcountry conditions bulletin before you head out.

MSC produces summaries for NSW, North East Victoria and the Central VIC Alps. If you’re skiing near, or leaving from, a resort it is wise to also check the snow report on the relevant website for that resort. Most will include a brief section on backcountry conditions.

Remember you can find out about backcountry training, including avalanche courses, and backcountry related events here.