Lets Split is an interesting development in the Australian backcountry scene. They offer trips in NSW and Victoria for people to experience split boarding. They describe their trips as being different to guided tours: ‘rather they are an opportunity for like minded folk to come and experience Splitboarding, with people who are experienced on that terrain’.
They’re offering a range of day trips this winter, in both states (including one up Mt Bogong).
The Living Bin program is an organic waste recovery program which has been running in Falls Creek and other major alpine resorts in north-east Victoria since 2011. It aims to divert food waste from being dumped in landfill.
Lauren McKechnie explains how the system works and how it benefits the environment.
Continue reading “The Living Bin program – reducing waste in the VIC Alps”
Reid Singer, writing for Outside Online, said recently (The Outdoor Industry Will Decide the Next Election) that the growing power of the outdoor industry was starting to influence national land politics in the USA.
“Not so long ago, the outdoor industry had essentially zero influence in state and national politics. Though individual companies played a role in conservation campaigns and other causes, there was little collective muscle to push issues … the way, say, Big Oil can fight against higher fuel-efficiency standards in cars”.
(The lack of influence has) “started to change in recent years, thanks to two developments. First, in 2006, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) began publishing an annual report detailing the massive impact of recreation on the U.S. economy, now responsible for $646 billion in annual consumer spending (twice what Americans spend on pharmaceuticals) and 6.1 million jobs (a big enough number that recently proposed legislation could require the Commerce Department to start tracking it). Second, in 2013, Sally Jewell, then CEO of REI, became secretary of the interior, instantly guaranteeing that recreation would be a part of every major discussion about the use of federal public lands”.
Continue reading “‘The outdoor industry will be the next NRA’”
The long running campaign to stop the development of a cable car up the face of Mt Wellington/ kunanyi in Hobart just had a fantastic victory. The owners of the Cascade Brewery, whose land is needed for the project to be viable in it’s current form, have ruled out selling or leasing land to the proponent.
Continue reading “CUB rules out providing land to cable car on Mt Wellington/ kunanyi”
Alpine Access Australia is an accredited Avalanche Canada AST Provider which runs AST1 courses in NSW and Victoria. Avalanche Canada sets the global standard for providing avalanche awareness programs. Participants acquire new skills and knowledge to help them keep safe in the backcountry. As say AAA note: ‘Yes avalanches do happen in Australia, and AST1 is also essential if you and your friends venture into the side or backcountry when skiing or snowboarding overseas’.
They offer a two day AST1 course, which has a theory day and a field day. They are now bringing their training to Mt Buller and Mt Stirling.
Continue reading “Avalanche training at Mt Buller/ Mt Stirling”
The North Face has announced The North Face Speaker Series Australia, welcoming Conrad Anker, Captain of The North Face Global Athlete Team, on his first visit to Australia to present an inspiring presentation in Sydney and Melbourne – Conrad Anker: A Life in Adventure.
The master of technical mountaineering, Conrad has over 30 years of climbing and mountaineering experience under his belt, and is still chasing first ascents. He’s a visionary, a champion for the environment, a pioneer and the best comrade you’ll find at 25,000 feet—he’s dedicated every ounce of his being to this life.
Continue reading “Presenting Conrad Anker: A Life in Adventure, Live in Sydney and Melbourne”
The backcountry festival is the product of a lot of volunteer effort and good will. Falls Creek Resort Management Board, Falls Creek Cross Country, and a range of businesses and individuals have offered help and support in various forms. Bogong Equipment has provided some funds.
We hope to be able to give back to some worthy causes while we hold the festival.
Its time for our own festival! This set of short films comes from a number of different producers and features some lovely stories and stunning scenes from some of our grandest skiing and riding terrain.
Continue reading “The inaugural Australian backcountry film festival”
East Gippsland is the only place on mainland Australia with continuous forests from the alps to the sea.
The vision to see the Emerald Link created seeks to protect this precious landscape and biodiversity and create a viable economic future based on nature tourism.
Last year, Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) shot a stunning film about the proposal. Produced by award winning cinematographer David Franjic from Colour Chorus. The Emerald Link film captures the wild beauty of East Gippsland’s forests and the stories of the people who love it. It is being launched on July 7.
Alpine Access Australia is an accredited Avalanche Canada AST Provider. We run AST1 courses in NSW and Victoria. Avalanche Canada sets the global standard for providing avalanche awareness programs. Participants acquire new skills and knowledge to help them keep safe in the backcountry. Yes, avalanches do happen in Australia, and AST1 is also essential if you and your friends venture into the side or backcountry when skiing or snowboarding overseas.
Our Avalanche Canada Accredited Instructors are David Herring and Luka Szczepanik.
They are offering AST 1 courses this winter in the Snowy Mountains, Mt Hotham and Mt Stirling.
Continue reading “Alpine Access Australia AST1 avalanche courses”
We have previously reported that it appeared that Snowy Hydro 2 was seeking to avoid full scrutiny about the likely environmental impacts of the proposal to convert the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme into a pumped hydro system.
While the concept itself is an excellent one in that it will provide a huge ‘battery’ of hydro power for the eastern seaboard, it is essential the work be done in a way that minimises impacts on the environment of the Snowy Mountains. (Check here for a summary of possible impacts of the current proposal).
Recent news reports seem to confirm fears that Snowy Hydro is trying to ‘cut corners’ on the approvals process in order to fast track the development.
Continue reading “Snowy Hydro seeks ‘fast-tracked environmental approval for pilot works’”
The NSW ‘Splitfest DownUnder’ will be held on the weekend of the 24-26th of August in the Main Range of the Snowy Mountains.
It’s always a great event – meet some great crew, camp out at Island Bend up in the Park, and join a tour on the Saturday that leaves from the Guthega resort. Splitfest is organised by Adam West. You can Register here.
The weekend kicks off on Friday night at the Jindabyne Bowling Club in the downstairs room starting @ 6pm.
Full details on what’s going on and what to bring can be found here.
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