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Mountain Journal

Environment, news, culture from the Australian Alps

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Author

Cam Walker

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

Stupid ideas part 1 – car racing at Lake Mountain

“An epic all-wheel-drive battle for the 2010 Lake Mountain Sprint podium has been fought and won by the White Hot Lamborghini Gallardo of nephew-uncle combo Jason and John White, only seconds ahead of Steve Jones and Ben Searcy in their LF performance Nissan R35 GT-R”.

Well, thats very exciting for them, I’m sure. But honestly, don’t we have enough places for people to rip around in hotted up cars in Victoria already, without races in the mountains?

Anyway, the Sprint has been and gone again this year, and the next event up on the mountain is a mountain bike trail building working bee on Saturday 24th April.

The resort is calling for people to help: the “Lake Mountain plateau provides a great setting for a bike ride. Mountain bike riding has been identified in recent years as a rapidly growing sport with the number of mountain bikes being sold each year increasing. Whilst Lake Mountain has an extensive cross country ski trail network available offering a perfect platform for beginners, the process is underway to create an extensive trail network offering trails for all levels of ability”.

To get involved or find out more, check here.

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review: Old Growth. Australia’s remaining ancient forests

This book was published in 2009 and is a wonderful and evocative appreciation for old growth in Australia – in all it’s forms, including alpine trees across Tasmania and the Australian Alps.

Image: Peter McConchie

It brings together the work of 16 photographers in a beautifully presented book, drawn together by Mornington Peninsula-based photographer Peter McConchie.

A review can be found here.

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‘Healthy Parks Healthy People’ Congress

Next week, Melbourne will host the inaugural International Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress 2010. This “ground breaking event explores the many ways nature and parks significantly contribute to our health and wellbeing”. It has a great line up of speakers, although sadly the $1,100 registration fee will exclude lots of folks who would otherwise attend.

You can find details on the program here.

on the Razorback, VIC

As a strange side note, Sir Gustav Nossal AC is the Congress Patron. Given he has been a vocal supporter of nuclear power – which necessitates the destruction of indigenous lands here in Australia and the dumping of waste on indigenous communities – who are struggling to protect their country – he does seem like a strange choice of patron.

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Glen Wills logging

This stream provides water to Glen Valley Mountain Retreat. Logging is planned for the ridge immediately above it

Out beyond the Bogong High Plains, and about a 45 minute drive north of Omeo is the lovely valley of Glen Wills. This small community is increasingly gaining a reputation as a place where low impact eco tourism provides a reliable income for locals. From ski touring and walking on the High Plains to rafting on the Mitta Mitta and a range of other activities, Glen Valley is a real oasis.

We are currently working with some local land owners and tourism operators to get a number of logging coupes removed from the cutting schedule. This is partly because there will be considerable visual impacts along a section of the Alpine Walking Track (the major trail that goes from Walhalla to Canberra) and also because there are plans to harvest directly above the water supply of the Glen Wills Mountain Retreat.

Please check here for details on a letter you can send to the Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Gavin Jennings.

Many thanks.

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W Tree

W Tree is a small vibrant community of about 85 people in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains in East Gippsland, Victoria, about 80 km from Lakes Entrance and 20 kms north of Buchan.

W Tree is the home of two ecovillages – Mt Murrindal co-op and Sunrise Farm, one Tibetan Buddhist center , a number of different ecosensitive businesses and very creative & entreprenurial people .

It is surrounded by forest, both rainforest areas and State Forest. Rainforest in the area includes such species as Muttonwood, Lilly Pilly, Sassafras and Sweet Pittosporum. The Snowy River National Park and the Alpine National Park are both within an hours drive, the world famous Buchan Caves are 20 minutes away. The Snowy River is popular with both tourists and locals, and rafting and whitewater trips are a fantastic way to see the magnificent gorges.

In 2009 they hosted a spirit of place festival (details here).

For further information on the community, check here.

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Why the snow sports community should speak out on climate change legislation

Jeremy Jones

The following is an opinion piece from snowboarding legend Jeremy Jones. This has been widely published in newspapers across the USA.

Here in Victoria, we have a promise from the state government to deliver a Climate Change Bill.

If prominent Australian skiers and boarders expressed this type of sentiment – and followed up with activism – it would bring a new dimension, perspective and sense of urgency to the climate change debate here.

Check here to read Jeremy’s letter.

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“People, Parks & Climate Change”.

Mount Loch & the Basalt Temple, from the High Plains

The ‘Truth in Art’ Awards are challenging artists from around the world to interpret how people feel when they encounter nature first hand in parks, and to explore the effect of Climate Change on the connection between people and nature. The parks include both land and water based environments.

Entries close this Friday – the 2nd of April.

Details here.

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a skyway on Mount Buffalo?

view of the south side of The Gorge, taken near one of the possible skyway routes

The Buffalo Plateau is a wonderful granite plateau that sits out to the north west from the main ranges of the Victorian Alps.
At present there is consultation going on about plans to build a ‘skyway’ up on to the Buffalo Plateau (no definite route has yet been selected).

Check here for details and a poll on whether you think it’s a good idea.

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getting started

It could be a while before this has much content. The plan is to slowly bring over stories and links from other sites that I like.

Hope you’ll check back soon to see whats arrived

thanks.

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