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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.

Human-Powered Mountaineers

Image: Human-Powered Mountaineers
Image: Human-Powered Mountaineers

I love these people: Human-Powered Mountaineers use bikes to access the peaks for their adventures (as well as promoting sustainable food production and lifestyles).

Human-Powered Mountaineers is a grassroots organisation that was started by Justene Sweet and Christopher Bangs.  Their mission involves climbing mountains completely under their own power all the way from their own doorstep.  To accomplish this they incorporate the use of their bicycles to get them from their homes to the trailheads, and then they start climbing from there. They are based in Bozeman, Montana.

They say:
 Our mission is to inspire people to be passionate about environmental stewardship through bicycle advocacy, and local organic farming. We aim to educate people about creating a positive change in the world  through simple daily actions, while continuing to live life to the absolute fullest of  potentials.

A current project they have this (northern) winter is to climb and ski the highest peak in each of the 7 mountain ranges that surround Bozeman. All 100% human-powered on a 100% plant based diet.

This project is raising money for our grassroots networks; BIKE TO FARM, and School Slide Show Series.

They attempted all 7 peaks and summited on two.

As they say in the wrap-up,
winter human-powered ski mountaineering IS REALLY FREAKING HARD!!!!!!!

Check the site for some excellent videos of their attempts on the peaks.

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How well has the Napthine government managed our environment?

Sealers Cove, Wilsons Prom NP
Sealers Cove, Wilsons Prom NP

The following is from the Victorian National Parks Association.

With a Victorian state election due in November this year a survey has been launched asking people what they think of the Napthine Government’s environmental policy.

If you are concerned about the way the Victorian Government has handled conservation issues please take the survey, it only takes a few minutes at most.

You can do the survey here.

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Splitfest 2014

Splitfest – Australia’s backcountry boarding festival

4201417Now in it’s third year, the Splitfest DownUnder is THE gathering for anyone interested in trying out splitboarding or just meeting other people who are into backcountry boarding.

Details below and on the festival website.

The NSW Splitfest DownUnder will be held over the weekend of the 29th – 31st of August in the NSW main range.

You can register here.

Facebook page for the event here.

We will be holding the Friday night entertainment at the Banjo Paterson Inn Starting @ 6pm (1 Kosciuszko Road Jindabyne Snowy Mountains New South Wales 2627).

IMG_00000903There will be all the usual trimmings, T-Shirts, give a ways, raffles and loads of fun. Some of the prize categories include worst DIY job, most inventive Splitboard design etc. etc.

An official list will be out soon so stay tuned!

You have the option to stay in Jindabyne, camp in the National Park or my favorite camp on the peaks.

There will be rental gear available to those who need it. Jump on board and meet some new touring partners, the more the merrier!

This is a free event, there are no guides so you must be able to make your own terrain decisions.

Organised by FirstLight boards.

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when backcountry trips go wrong, there is always a Plan B

glacierbay-336x190Ok, it’s late summer. Its been stinking hot, dry, and fires have been going for weeks in East Gippsland and a number of spots in the high country. We still have a long warm spell ahead of us.

We all need some cheering up. This short film from Mark Allen, and coming via Backcountry magazine may do the job. Nine days of snow storms sounds kind of like a nice option when compared with the smokey humidity of late February … Enjoy.

The blurb about the film:

“Outdoor Research Athletes Mark Allen and Sheldon Kerr have grand ideas of first ski descents in a remote area of Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast Alaska. After hiring a bush pilot to fly them deep into the park from Haines everything goes well, at first. The ski mountaineering powder fest turns in to some major tent time and days filled by camp maintenance while pinned in a storm for 9 days. The two try to figure out how to stay fed with 7 days of rations in an unchanging situation. Once the two learned the pilot was not coming back, the adventure began”.

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cattle grazing in Alpine Park ‘before winter’?

Rob Harris provides an update on the alpine grazing proposal in the Weekly Times.

You will be pleased to know you have a full 10 days to provide input on more than 20 documents. The paperwork is available here.

Environment Minister Ryan Smith with mountain cattle graziers, Wonnangatta Valley. source: MCAV
Environment Minister Ryan Smith with mountain cattle graziers, Wonnangatta Valley. source: MCAV

Cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park could return after a full assessment of a proposed grazing trial

CATTLE could graze again in the Alpine National Park before winter after the Commonwealth agreed to a full assessment of a proposed trial.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt last week opened a 10-day consultation period.

Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victorian president Charlie Lovick said the decision for a “full federal environmental assessment” made sense.

“No doubt it’s a polarising issue and it’s going to continue to be, but this takes some of the politics out of it and now the worthiness of a trial can be accessed,” Mr Lovick said.

“The 10-day period and assessment means we could still get up there by late March and a short trial this year before returning next year could certainly be advantageous.”

The proposed three-year grazing trial of 60 cattle would take place in the remote Wonnangatta Valley.

Projects deemed by the Commonwealth likely to have a “significant impact” on nationally protected areas requires federal approval.

The process requires the State Government to publish assessments that “clearly articulates any impacts” and will also take into account expert scientific advice and public submissions.

A decision is expected by the end of next month.

Victorian Environment Minister Ryan Smith was asked to submit more information about the trial – particularly a survey of native flora – to the Commonwealth last month.

Grazing in the national park was banned by the Bracks government in 2005.

Mr Smith said the Coalition Government believed there was a “clear need to investigate”.

Past scientific studies, including one by the CSIRO, have ruled grazing did not reduce the risk of fire in Alpine areas.

The Victorian National Parks Association criticised plans to return cattle as “a back door way of getting cheap grazing for their mates” while the Australian Society of Native Orchids has written to the federal minister opposing the return of cattle.

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Alpine grazing proposal sent for assessment

alpine grazingTom Arup from The Age newspaper is reporting that the Victorian government’s cattle grazing proposal has been referred for assessment by the Environment Department. It is good to hear that the poorly developed proposal hasn’t been approved and will require further investigation.

However, with the tendency of this government to approval destructive projects, the threat is not yet averted. The state government could use the additional time to actually inform people about the plan by providing more details on how the proposal has been framed. Without additional data, it seems like a deal for some mates rather than a well thought out scientific proposal to see if grazing can reduce fire risk.

Victoria’s alpine cattle grazing trial will face an assessment

Victoria’s cattle grazing trial in the Alpine National Park will face an assessment under the federal environment laws, scuppering any chance of cattle grazing the park this summer.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has deemed the project a ”controlled action”, meaning that first it will need an assessment by his department, and then his approval. The trial, which the state government says is necessary to see if grazing reduces bushfire risk, would see 60 head of cattle released into the Wonnangatta Valley for three summers.

A larger trial was blocked by the federal government in 2012 under national environment law for the threat grazing posed to the natural and heritage values of the region.

For background on the proposal, check here.

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Land of No Use – Montana wilderness ski project

Ry Phipps in the Bob Marshall Wilderness
Ry Phipps in the Bob Marshall Wilderness

This is a great project. A group of back country skiers from Montana have joined together to make a film that looks at wilderness in their state – the first in the USA to create wilderness. Designated wilderness areas prohibit mechanised recreation like the use of snowmobiles. The US phenomena of ‘slednecks’ is a huge issue across a lot of the mountainous public lands in the ‘States.

They say:

Land of No Use is a two year documentary project using winter recreation to explore the value of Montana’s public lands.  The title comes from an old bumper sticker and slogan for opponents of wilderness designations (i.e. motorised recreation enthusiasts and timber corporations) that reads, “Wilderness = Land of No Use.”  The narrative of the land management debate will shadow that of a group of young athletes exploring terrain where humans are mere visitors, in a state named for its mountains.

The people behind the project recently successfully crowd sourced funds for the filming and production.

They plan to have it ready for distribution later this year.

Their blog has some great images and videos of their back country adventures.

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Valhalla showing in Melbourne

Valhalla.Two years in the making, Valhalla is the latest film from Sweetgrass Productions. The premise of the film is that as we get older we lose our passion for life, that sense of wonder we had as a child, but can find it again.

This is a tale about the search to rediscover the freedom of youth.

Valhalla is like a psychedelic version of ‘Into the Wild’, but with a bit of nudity, a lot of skiing and boarding, a happy ending, and a simple message: Go out there. Find yourself. Bring yourself back and find your place. It’s a homage to ‘70s era surfing and skiing films and counterculture lifestyle, with a sound track to match.

But as with any Sweetgrass film, its also got incredible skiing and boarding footage in some beautiful terrain.

We will also be showing a couple of short films from Sweetgrass before Valhalla: Desert River, a nice flowing piece set in Alaska, and Skiing the Void, about skiing and coming to terms with the loss of friends.

This is being shown as a fund raiser for climber and all round great guy Lincoln Shepherd and his family.  Their house was burnt down in the recent Grampians fire. Feel free to make a donation of any size.

This film is being shown at
LongPlay
318 St. Georges Rd.
North Fitzroy 3068
Tuesday 25 February

Arrive at 6.30 to get a drink and have a chat
Shorts start at 7 (Skiing the Void, Desert River)
Valhalla starts at 7.20pm

Please be aware that LongPlay only holds 35 people so please rsvp if you’re coming along. We have 14 rsvp’s by facebook and email, so please let me know if you’re attending.

Entry by donation – all money raised will go to Lincoln.

Further info: cam.walker@foe.org.au

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VIC government opens more parks to prospecting

Prospectors get green light to search in national parks

The Age has reported that the state government has approved for new national parks. The following is an excert from an article by Tom Arup.

Five parts of the Alpine National Park, one area of the Lake Eildon National Park and two sections of the Lerderderg State Park will now be opened to recreational gold hunters who are often known as prospectors or fossickers.

The use of metal detectors and hand tools will be allowed, but the government has ruled out the use of more elaborate motorised devices sometimes used by prospectors.

A review of the environmental and cultural impact of the decision will occur after one year.

Phil Ingamells from the Victorian National Parks Association said national parks were there for nature, not for digging up.

prospecting”The government acknowledges that prospecting damages natural areas, so it is disappointing that the activity will be allowed in new areas in national parks,” he said.

The decision to open up new areas follows a Victorian Environmental Assessment Council investigation – commissioned by the government – of nine national and state parks to determine which would be most appropriate to allow prospectors access to.

While the council recommended the new areas adopted by the government on Tuesday, it warned in its final report there was clear evidence the practice could damage the natural values of national parks, especially rivers and creeks. It also said prospecting did not sit well with the purposes of national and states parks.

Read the full article by Tom Arup here.

Read background info here.

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Buffalo Chalet facing partial demolition, renovation, reopening

Image: Sustainable Melbourne
Image: Sustainable Melbourne

The Mt Buffalo chalet is more than a century old, and an icon of the Victorian mountains. There is nothing else remotely like it, inter twined as it is with the post invasion history of the Buffalo Plateau. The chalet is included in the Victorian Heritage Register for its architectural, historical and social significance.

It was closed in 2007, and has been in deterioration since then.

There have been various attempts to save the Chalet, get it renovated and reopened, but as time goes by, the damage to the building continues to grow, making any plan to re-open the whole building for accommodation ever more unlikely.

There are now plans to lift heritage protections to allow demolition of several sections of the lodge.

The Government wants to re-open the publicly-owned building as a visitor day centre and cafe in a $7.5 million restoration.

There is a good story from Chris McLennan of The Weekly Times about the current state of the Chalet and the plans to demolish part of it and reopen the front section of the building.

 

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Woods Point bushfire refuge deemed illegal

With bushfire season still in full force, the kindest thing that can be said about the Victorian Government order to the community of Woods Point that they abandon their fire refuge is that it is very badly timed.

Woods Point is one of the most isolated towns in the state, in a valley in the Victorian high country. Long sections of heavily forested country must be traversed if people are to leave in the case of fire threat and the need for a community refuge is both obvious and necessary.

The following report comes from The Weekly Times, written by Chris McLennan.

Fury as Woods Point bushfire refuge deemed illegal

Woods_Point_Bridge_Street_005A SMALL Victorian town will defy a Victorian Government order to abandon their fire refuge.

Woods Point residents rely on the old gold mine tunnel which has saved the town’s population once before.

Despite the tunnel being the state’s only officially recognised fire refuge for years, new rules governing the construction of refuges have seen the government and local council in the last few weeks refuse to accept legal liability for the structure.

Signs nominating the tunnel as a fire refuge are to be removed and residents fear a gate on the entrance will be padlocked.

”Do they want us to die?” member of the town’s safety committee, Margaret Martyn said.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley yesterday said the tunnel, known locally as the adit, did not meet the new building requirements to be a community fire refuge.

The Country Fire Authority yesterday began an assessment of the tunnel hoping to reclassify it as a “Neighbourhood Safer Place” but the question of legal liability remains.

Mr Lapsley said the CFA, Victoria Police and the Fire Services Commissioner would continue to work with Mansfield Shire Council to resolve the issue.

He said before the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, there was an adhoc and inconsistent approach to the designation of community fire refuges.

You can read the full story here.

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More fires – less snow gums?

IMGP6629Snow gums are the quintessential alpine tree on mainland Australia, generally growing at heights between 1,300 and 1,800 metres asl. Forests and woodlands of Eucalyptus pauciflora can look quite uniform from a distance, but up close they have such character.

But wildfire has been devastating large swathes of snow gum habitat, with significant fires in the Victorian High Country in 1998, 2002/3, 2006/7 and 2013 and in the Snowy Mountains in 2003.

Research is showing that if we want to allow snow gum forests the chance to recover from these fires, we need to keep the cattle out and do our best to stop any future fire activity.

This story available here.

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