As part of the 2019 Victorian backcountry festival, we are hosting an extended speaker’s program. This will happen on the afternoon of Saturday September 7, upstairs at The General, Mt Hotham.
The program will run from midday to 4pm (and will be followed by a ski in outdoor bar from 4 – 6pm).
Check below for the program. We have a few more things coming, so times will vary slightly before we get to the final program.
With continued snowfalls expected this week, we’re looking as if we will have a proper (settled) base across higher ranges and hence an early start to the ‘season’ (yes, ‘ski season’ is just a capitalist construct).
You’re probably planning trips. Here are a few resources that might help:
The Victorian Backcountry Festival will happen at Hotham, over the weekend of Sept 7 and 8. The program has just been released and is available here.
So far the program has 27 tours and workshops, from beginner to advanced, covering snow shoeing, splitboarding, alpine touring, telemark, and cross country. There will be skillshares in fat bikes, snow and avalanche safety, navigation, snow camping, rescue and a film making workshop.
The program:
Please remember to buy tickets for the weekend if you haven’t already (it’s $10 a person for the weekend)
There will a screening of the 2019 Backcountry film festival (BCFF) happening at Harrietville on Saturday June 1.
The BCFF features 10 great films, including an edit of the Ode To Muir splitboarding film.
There will be soup, bread and drinks available by donation.
All funds will go to the Avalanche Training Centre planned for Mt Hotham.
Harrietville community hall, Great Alpine Road, Harrietville from 6pm.
Alpine Access Australia started as a guiding company and now provides a range of snow safety programs and avalanche training. Many in the backcountry will know Dave and Pieta Herring and instructor Luka Panik. AAA operate both in the Snowy Mountains and a growing number of mountain areas in Victoria.
AAA are the avalanche safety course providers at this year’s VIC backcountry festival (September 8 and 9) and will be offering courses in the Hotham area before, during and after the festival.
The program for the 2nd Victorian backcountry festival will be released via the website next week.
People who have pre registered (you can register for $10 for the weekend here) will receive early notification of the program, and be able to sign up for tours, by the end of this week.
The program looks fantastic, with offerings from Hotham ski school, Traverse Hotham, LetsSplit, Melbourne Nordic Ski Club, Mountain Sports Collective, Bushwalking Search and Rescue, and many individuals.
With a growing number of businesses and groups offering backcountry tours and skills, we will run some profiles to give you a sense of what’s available.
Check this earlier profile of Lets Split and check below for details on Snowy Mountains Backcountry. More profiles of other businesses coming soon. You can check here for details on all the courses and touring companies that I’m aware of here.
In all parts of the skiing and snowboarding world, interest in the backcountry – those areas outside the sections of resorts serviced by lifts – continues to grow.
While backcountry is still a ‘niche’ thing, advances in gear technology and a range of guided tours and safety courses are making it easier for resort skiers/ riders to travel out of bounds, and the backcountry community continues to grow.
Here are a few of the backcountry themed events and opportunities I’m aware are happening this winter.
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. There will be a screening of the classic splitboarding film Ode to Muir, featuring Jeremy Jones and Elena Hight.
Tuesday April 30
Get there early for a drink: Bar from 6.30pm. Films from 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. Sorry, cash only sales.
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.
Full listing of films available here.
This screening is family friendly.
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.
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?”
We’re delighted to announce that the second Victorian Backcountry Festival will be held over the weekend of September 7 and 8, 2019, at Mt Hotham.
Celebrating all things backcountry – splitboarding, cross country, alpine touring, snow shoeing, telemark, and mountain culture.
Mt Hotham, Sept 7 – 8
Continue reading “VIC Backcountry festival 2019 – dates and venue announcement”
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