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NSW’s inaction on horses causing problems in ACT

Have you ever lived next to a bad neighbour who doesn’t care how their actions impacts on you? If so, then you probably know how Victoria and the ACT feel about NSW’s unwillingness to control the herds of wild horses that range in the Snowy Mountains.

The enormous environmental impacts of wild horses are widely documented. In spite of this, the NSW government has aligned itself with the ‘brumby lobby’, which wants to keep wild horses in the Kosciuszko national park for ‘cultural reasons’. They have legislated to protect the horses from culling. Given that there is no fence between the mountains in NSW and adjoining states, this negligence is impacting Victoria and the ACT.

Continue reading “NSW’s inaction on horses causing problems in ACT” →

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Backcountry film festival – Melbourne, April 30

The Backcountry Film Festival is produced each year by Winter Wildlands Alliance as a celebration of the human-powered winter experience and a gathering place for the backcountry snowsports community.

In 2019 it features a program of ten films, including productions from Colorado, Washington state, California and China.

Tuesday April 30

7pm – 9.30pm.

Co-hosted with RMIT Outdoors Club.

Storey Hall (RMIT), 342-344 Swanston St, Melbourne.

Suggested donation: $8 conc & students/ $15 waged. Tickets at the door. There will be plenty of room.

There will be a bar run by the RMIT Outdoors Club before the films start.

Facebook event page for Melbourne available here.

You can check the trailer for the 2019 season here.

Check here for the full list of films.

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Cradle Mountain Film Festival

The Cradle Mountain Film Festival is an adventure festival like no other in Australia! Screening a range of adventure films on the fringe of the wilderness in unique locations, plus a Wellness Program including the Dove Lake Classic Trail Run, acro-yoga and Nia Dance, Cold Water Therapy and canyoning in the rivers.

There will be art exhibitions, Kids’ Films, panel discussions, World Premieres on the Green Carpet, the Tasmanian exclusive screening of Mountainfilm on Tour, the Mountain Huts Film Trail, plus encore screenings of the biggest climbing blockbusters The Dawn Wall and Free Solo, and short film programs the Women’s Adventure Film Tour and European Outdoor Film Tour (courtesy of Adventure Film Tours).

March 29 – 31.

Continue reading “Cradle Mountain Film Festival” →

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“We are not out of the woods yet”

The Bureau of Meteorolgy has released its national climate summary for January 2019. As expected, it shows that it was the country’s warmest January on record for mean temperatures (2.91 °C above average), maximum temperatures (3.37 °C above average) and minimum temperatures (2.45 °C above average). Rainfall for the country as a whole was 38% below the long-term average for January, and Tasmania had its driest January on record.

After a dry winter and spring in the south east and then a sustained heatwave, its fairly obvious why its been a horror summer for fires. Tasmania and Victoria still have a significant number of fires which are not contained, let alone under control. And there is no obvious break coming to this hot, dry weather. The ecological costs of this summer’s fires are already becoming apparent.

Continue reading ““We are not out of the woods yet”” →

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Do you want to get involved in the 2019 Backcountry Festival?

The 2nd Victorian Backcountry Festival will happen at Mt Hotham over the weekend of September 7 and 8.

This is a call out for people who want to offer to lead a tour, hold a workshop or skillshare, present as part of our speaker’s program, or be involved in planning the festival.

Continue reading “Do you want to get involved in the 2019 Backcountry Festival?” →

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Outdoor and snowsports industries stand united against climate change

The Trump administration’s sustained attacks on conservation areas in the USA has mobilised the outdoor industry in unprecedented ways. Now the key forces in the outdoor and snow sports industries – the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Snowsports Industries America (SIA) have joined forces to step up action on climate change solutions.

Continue reading “Outdoor and snowsports industries stand united against climate change” →

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Impending tragedy in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

As uncontrolled wildfires rage across Tasmania The Wilderness Society and Nature Photographers Tasmania have called on the Premier of Tasmania Will Hodgman and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to urgently request international amphibious water-bombing assistance to combat the unfolding tragedy at some of the world’s most important and iconic natural sites, in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Continue reading “Impending tragedy in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.” →

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Fires still threaten Tasmania’s south west and central plateau

A considerable number of fires continue to threaten Tasmania’s protected areas. These happened as a result of more than 9,000 lightning strikes which have happened since tuesday 15th January. Increased dry lightning strikes, prolonged dry summers and high temperatures are consistent with what climate science says is coming in terms of fire risk in Tasmania.

While the large Gell River fire raised concerns about impacts on fire sensitive plant communities early in the month, some of the new fires also threaten non fire adapted vegetation in the south west and the Central Plateau.

Continue reading “Fires still threaten Tasmania’s south west and central plateau” →

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Fires in the VIC High Country

There are a number of fires in the Victorian high country.

These include:

  • Three bushfires ignited by lightning strikes on Wednesday afternoon North west of Dargo are not yet under control.
  • A 13 ha bushfire 3.3km South West of the Mt Buller Village at Little Mt Buller, which is still not yet under control.

If you’re heading to any of these areas, please check the Emergency Victoria website first to ensure it’s safe to visit.

[IMAGE: this is an old image of a previous fire near Dargo, from the Gippsland Times].

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Taking a break

A belated Happy New Year to you all. Apologies for recent lack of content on Mountain Journal. I’m off on an adventure, and very distracted by big mountains and deep snow in the Central Rockies.

If you have a suitable story for MJ please send it through and I’ll post: cam.walker@foe.org.au

Normal programing will resume in early FEB. In the meantime, hope you’re having a great summer.

[PIC: heading towards Crystal Peak, 10 Mile Range, Colorado]

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TAS fire grows to 10,000 ha. ‘There’s no way of stopping it at this stage’.

A fire is burning out of control in the south west of Tasmania. It started as a result of a lightning strike on December 27. It is being reported that it has already grown to 10,000 hectares and currently considered ‘out of control’ and hence fire services are unable to contain it. The ABC reports that 150 members of the Tasmanian Fire Service are currently fighting it but ‘there’s no way of stopping it at this stage’.

It threatens iconic areas like Lake Rhona and is moving towards Mt Field National Park and the towns of Maydena, Tyenna and National Park. A westerly change which is passing through the state could change direction of the fire so check the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) website for details if you’re in the area (see below for all links).

Header image of the fire comes from http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Continue reading “TAS fire grows to 10,000 ha. ‘There’s no way of stopping it at this stage’.” →

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RePete Goods – reducing impact in the wilderness

RePete is a great new local initiative based in Canberra which aims to help make environmental best practice the easy choice when managing waste when travelling in the wilderness. RePete has launched their debut product, the ROW bags (recycling, organics, waste), which is a system of three reusable, lightweight and durable bags that enable optimal waste management in the backcountry.

You can read a background, and purchase the bags, here.

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