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Mountain Journal

Environment, news, culture from the Australian Alps

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Cam Walker

I work with Friends of the Earth, and live in Castlemaine in Central Victoria, Australia. Activist, mountain enthusiast, telemark skier, volunteer firefighter.

Defending the mountain

I live on Dja Dja Wurrung country in central Victoria. When I need a bit of mountain time, I head to Mt Macedon for some cooler air and deep green forests. The two small pockets of snow gum that exist on the highest points of the range always draw me, and it is a treat to wander through vigorous regrowth forests of snow gum intermixed with alpine ash.

I just spent the better part of a week trying to stop Parks Victoria from destroying almost a hectare of snow gum forest on the Macedon summit in order to restore a historic view towards Melbourne.

Despite a spirited campaign led by local people, contractors devastated the slopes immediately south of the summit last Friday (April 17). On the Sunday, a planned community rally went ahead and turned into something of a vigil to reflect on the destruction that had just happened. There was grief, sadness, anger and determination. What really struck me was the depth of feeling that so many people expressed for the mountain. Many of us see the mountain as a personal refuge. This destruction of a rare forest has impacted many on a deep level. I heard so many stories of people’s personal connection to the mountain last week.

If you are one of those people I would welcome your story for inclusion here. Send it through: cam.walker@foe.org.au

Continue reading “Defending the mountain” →

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A final attempt to save snow gums on Mt Macedon

For the past 2 days, community members from Melbourne and the area around Mt Macedon have occupied an area on the mountain where up to 0.8 hectares of snow gum woodland is scheduled to be cleared in order to reopen a view to Melbourne.

The snow gum woodlands on the Mt Macedon Range are isolated and unique, and part of only about 20 hectares of this vegetation type left in central and western Victoria.

However it seems that logging will start tomorrow (April 17).

Continue reading “A final attempt to save snow gums on Mt Macedon” →

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The pencil pine

The pencil pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides) is a much loved and wonderfully charismatic tree of the Tasmanian mountains where it is largely restricted to sub-alpine areas above 800 metres. It is one of the Gondwanan species – dating back to the times of the Gondwana super continent – and often grows around tarns, streams and lakes because of its intolerance to fire. Pencil pines can reach ages in excess of 1,200 years, but have little chance of recovery after a ​fire.

 

It is hard to imagine the mountains of lutruwita without these wonderful trees.
I recently got the chance to visit some of my favourite pencils pines, in the northern section of the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair national park. In a warming world of ever greater fires, it is always a relief to see them thriving.

Continue reading “The pencil pine” →

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Visiting the Canning Peak fire 13 months on

In February 2025, more than 20 fires were started by dry lightning strikes in western lutruwita/ Tasmania.

Some small blazes were quickly extinguished, and those that got away went on to burn more than 90,000 hectares of Tasmania, especially public land and within the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair national park.  The Canning Peak fire burnt sections of the famous Overland walking track (around 860m of boardwalk and a foot bridge were damaged), precious sections of pencil pine and other fire sensitive communities were impacted, and a hut belonging to a guiding company was lost.

A year on, I managed to get in to have a look at the eastern edge of the fire, along the section that burnt across the Overland Track.

Continue reading “Visiting the Canning Peak fire 13 months on” →

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The snow gum summit declaration

Friends of the Earth recently hosted the second ‘snow gum summit’. It was held in Jindabyne and around 120 people gathered to hear from experts in the fields of snow gum die back and the threats of more frequent and intense wild fire.

There was a strong First Nation presence at the forum, which is reflected in the summit statement, reprinted below.

Continue reading “The snow gum summit declaration” →

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Snow gum paradise

A big chunk of my time is spent campaigning for the protection of snow gum forests from the combined threats of climate change driven fire regimes and the spread o dieback (a natural phenomena which is also being exaberated by the effects of climate change).

At the recent snow gum summit that we hosted at Jindabyne (report here) the news about the spread of dieback was even grimmer than at the 2025 summit. There are no large scale treatments currently available to slow the spread of dieback. And the death rate from infestation continues to grow.

So on a recent walking trip in lutruwita/ Tasmania, it was an absolute delight to be able to wander among old groves of healthy snow gums. Dieback doesn’t impact the TAS snow gums in the same way, and among the fire sensitive mountain trees, snow gum is probably faring better than the old Gondwanic species like the Pencil Pine.

Continue reading “Snow gum paradise” →

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Snow gum summit: Scientists warn climate change threatens ecosystems and water security

Top scientists have issued a dire warning that the widespread death of key eucalypt species in Australian ecosystems could be imminent, due to global heating. Scientists from leading institutions gathered at the Snow Gum Summit in Jindabyne last weekend March 14-15, 2026 to discuss combating the loss of an iconic tree of the Australian Alps, the Snow Gum.

Dr Matthew Brookhouse, a leading researcher investigating snow gum die-back at ANU, said proactive investment from government and industry was needed to contend with the unprecedented territory researchers and land managers are navigating.

“This is not just about snow gums – this is about climate affected change in ecosystems. This is a real warning. Wherever you are, die-back events could be coming for you,” said Dr Brookhouse.

The Snow Gum Summit, convened by Friends of the Earth Melbourne, was the second convergence since 2025 of top academics from Australian National University, Curtin University and Latrobe University, as well as ecologists from land management organisations from the ACT, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Ngarigo Custodians and Taungurung Land & Waters Council also spoke powerfully on the rights and capacities of First Peoples to respond to ecological challenges in the Alps.

Continue reading “Snow gum summit: Scientists warn climate change threatens ecosystems and water security” →

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Listing snow gums as a threatened ecological community

Australia’s alpine landscape is a living archive of our continent’s cultural and environmental history. These stories can be found in First Nations Cultural Heritage, glacial landscape features, fossilised fish bones, and the fascinating physiology of our endemic alpine species. In recognition of its unique social, ecological and aesthetic values, the Alps are recognised as a National Heritage Place and largely protected in National Parks.

However, these measures have been insufficient to hold back the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, including rapid ecological decline in Snow Gum Woodlands. We are now seeing the beginning of ecosystem collapse – drought, dieback and successive fires have altered the structure, composition, and condition of snow gum woodlands dramatically. We must intervene and develop a robust recovery plan if these ecological communities are to remain viable into the future.

The first step towards a coordinated recovery effort is to recognise the risk of extinction nationally. This will trigger the development of a national recovery plan, increase opportunities for funding, and support research, monitoring, and management interventions.

Friends of the Earth has initiated a plan to have snow gum woodlands recognised as a ‘Threatened Ecological Community‘ under federal environment laws.

You can add your voice at support the proposal by signing this open letter.

If you are a researcher and would like to actively contribute your skills and experience to the application to list snow gums under the EPBC, please fill out this form so we can get in touch to discuss.

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Inside the world of Mittagundi

Mittagundi is a famous outdoor education centre located under the eastern edge of the Bogong High Plains. It provides young people with often transformative and life changing experiences on a working farm in an inspiring environment.

In the next installment from the 2026 Mountain Journal magazine, Lily Begg describes her experience of working at Mittagundi in 2025.

Continue reading “Inside the world of Mittagundi” →

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Snow gum summit – final program launched

The second snow gum summit will happen on Ngarigo Country in Jindabyne over the weekend of March 14 and 15.

There will also be guided walks and a tree planting afternoon on monday March 16.

We are delighted to announce the line-up of speakers.

Continue reading “Snow gum summit – final program launched” →

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Mountain Journal magazine #6 is out

The MJ magazine is an annual print run of 1,000 copes that is circulated for free to mountain and valley towns between Melbourne and Canberra.

The 2026 edition is currently at the printers (thanks to Charley and Jenny, the wonderful crew at Black Rainbow in Gippsland) and we will start distribution in early March. In the meantime, you can find a pdf version of the magazine here.

You can find general information and previous editions here.

Thanks, as always to Tess Sellar for the lovely design, and Dylan Robinson and Mike Edmondson for the cover images.

If you like this self funded project and want to see it keep going, you would be welcome to sign on as a Friend of Mountain Journal.

Continue reading “Mountain Journal magazine #6 is out” →

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Backcountry film festival 2026. Melbourne, May 5

The backcountry film festival is a pre winter institution in Melbourne. We have been screening the festival each year since 2011. The program is put together by Winter Wildlands Alliance, and celebrates the power and spirit of humans in winter.

Now in it’s 21st year, the festival will screen again in Naarm / Melbourne, Tuesday evening May 5 at RMIT in the city.

The event will run from 6pm, with films starting at 6.30pm.

We will have speakers from a range of backcountry groups, info and merchandise stalls, and the Winter Wildlands program (close to 2 hours of films).

Co-hosted by RMIT Outdoors Club and Friends of the Earth.

Continue reading “Backcountry film festival 2026. Melbourne, May 5” →

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