For the third year, we have produced a print version of the Mountain Journal magazine, with content from the Mountain Journal website and many new stories.

You can read the magazine as a PDF here: MJ3.

Look for print mags in your local resort, valley town or favourite mountain hut soon.

CONTENTS

Introduction

News from Home – environmental news from lutruwita/ Tasmania and the Australian Alps

Around the Fire – chats with mountain people

Mountain Culture

Off track

Introduction

Although we are well past the covid lock downs, the years still seem long, and time seems more malleable. Life feels different but familiar. 2022 seemed to go forever – perhaps because we had a whole year for unbridled exploring and adventures.

Thankfully we had another mild summer, with no large fires in the mountains.

There were incredible early snow falls, making Opening Weekends fun across the mountains, and resulting powder frenzy madness in the resorts – overcrowding, car parks full, record numbers of people, and the continual growth of the ‘snow play’ visitors. Businesses are (finally) making some money, and there was plenty of work for those who wanted it. There were, of course, the same old staff accommodation pressures. The backcountry was great, with quite a bit of avalanche activity at times. And then, mid season, there was that depressing, massive rain event followed by wet snow (hello, climate change). Although snow was lost at lower elevations, we saw the season out with decent snowpack.

As Weatherzone noted at the end of the season: ‘high elevations of Australia’s mainland snow country saw the third-best peak snow depth of the 21st century, but at lower elevations it was a dismal year, while Tasmania barely saw any consistent snow cover at all.’

Then we had a wet spring, which created fantastic conditions for paddling, including many rivers that are not normally viable (check the ‘Offtrack’ section for more on that).

And then we experienced a third mild summer, as floods and fire caused mayhem in many other parts of the continent. The mountains felt like a cool, green refuge through the wild weather extremes of 2022. Of course, El Nino is back on the horizon, so next summer may be very different.

I hope you have been enjoying the year, and getting out into some wonderful and wild landscapes.

News from Home

Environmental news from around lutruwita/ Tasmania and the Australian Alps

A recovery plan for the snow gums

A rescue plan for the Snow Gums

The Kunanyi cable car saga is over! Or is it?

What is happening with the Falls Creek development Cross Country Skiing Association Victoria

What’s happening with the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing?

The time has come to create a truly magnificent Alpine National Park in Victoria Peter Jacobs

Forests at risk in the Victorian mountains

https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/mountain_forests_miss_out_on_protection

Alpine Islands  Scott Jukes

End to an End – Running to Save the Great Forest

The Cleve Cole Hut and the ‘Bogong Diaries’ Laurence McDonald reflects on his connection with the mountain.

Tali Karng – a jewel in a changing landscape

Around the campfire

Chats with mountain people

Studying the Alps Hawkweed and Maisie’s plots – long-term records of change Clare Brownridge

Vale Peter Hull

Vale Alec Costin AM  Judy Thomson

We all have a passion for the snow, and we want to give back, and protect our mountain community Bec Roberts

Henry Wajswelner – the Hotham Physio (and Venison Guy)

Mountain Culture

Backcountry festival is on in 2023!

https://backcountryfestival.com.au/

The First Hike project

https://firsthikeproject.org.au/

Backcountry Companion

https://www.victorianbackcountry.com/home

Chasing the Mountain Light

http://www.snowgumpress.com.au/index.html

Sharing our wild places: a little reflection, by anonymous.

https://lnt.org/social-media-guidance/

Alpine Resorts Victoria takes on managing resorts

Daveys Hut   Pauline Downing                                                                                                                        

Offtrack

The upside of a wet spring

https://themountainjournal.com/2022/11/22/the-upside-of-a-wet-spring-lots-of-river-running/