It’s Labour Day Weekend. It’s March and, across the state, outdoor events are being cancelled because of the heatwave (even the Moomba parade in Melbourne!). Much of the state is on high fire risk. There is even a heatwave warning for lutruwita/ Tasmania. It’s a weekend to hunker down and stay out of the heat. And possibly day dream about colder weather and winter adventures.

I recently posted a short video about a group of women who rode their pushbikes through a section of the European Alps, climbing and then skiing/ riding mountains along the way. That got a response from various people including Tom Wainwright, who shared the details on his first trip to the Bogong High Plains, which included a bike ride and ski. They rode to Mt Fainter going along the Fainter Fire Trail.

Tom’s adventure > https://stuventures2016.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-fainters-back-country-skiing-with.html

That cheered me up no end and got me thinking about my winter adventures.

Of course the forecast is for a dry warm autumn, so its hard to get too hopeful about winter. But to be a skier or rider in Australia is to be a professional optimist, so here’s hoping something amazing happen and we get a long winter dominated by cold air of deep snow.

Plus, of course, there are great winter community events in the mountains – here are a couple planned for 2024.

August 24

Kangaroo Hoppet – Bogong High Plains

‘The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia’s premier long distance cross country ski race

The week leading up to the Kangaroo Hoppet provides a feast of skiing at Falls Creek, together with a host of social and festive activities in Falls Creek and the nearby sub-alpine town of Mount Beauty. Hoppet week has a range of social and sporting activities leading up to the race itself on the fourth Saturday of August.’

https://hoppet.com.au/

31/08/24

Splitfest Downunder – Snowy Mountains

‘Splitfest 2024 will officially start at Guthega Ski terminal carpark at 8.30.
This location is the gathering point for the 3 scheduled tours that will be taking place on the Saturday’.

http://www.splitfest.com.au/2024-agenda.html

Victorian backcountry festival – Mt Hotham

Friday August 30 – Sunday September 2.

The festival is back for 2024. Mt Hotham – tours, workshops, speakers program, ski in outdoor bar and more.

https://backcountryfestival.com.au/

HEADER IMAGE: Vic backcountry festival.