World telemark day is an annual event that was established by Telemark magazine.
In the southern hemisphere, there will be a get-together on Saturday September 3. There is an event planned for Mt Hotham. All tele and Alpine Touring skiers and split boarders welcome.
This year will mark 25 years for this race from The General at Mt Hotham to the Dinner Plain Hotel. Saturday August 6, starting at 11am.
It is billed as “an event for skiers of all ages and abilities, and you’re likely to see first year skiers lining up with Australian champions. While we encourage everyone to get involved, the event does require you to be able to ski the 12 kilometres without assistance within 2 hours or thereabouts and be able to cope with the wild conditions this mountain can often produce. Entry fees remain at $20 for adults and $5 for juniors, and as always if we get a good rollup then the excess funds can go into more bottles of wine as spot prizes!”
The Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is one of our iconic alpine species. It lives in rock screes and boulder fields, and is also the only Australian mammal restricted to alpine habitat. There are only three main populations remaining.
It faces a number of threats: habitat destruction, climate change and predators. The construction of ski resorts in the alpine regions in which the mountain pygmy possums inhabit has been one of the greatest factors attributed to population decline.
This recent story from the ABC by Lucy Barbour outlines an innovative program which aims to protect the species from feral cats.
Continue reading “A new protector of the Mountain Pygmy-Possum”
Tourism North East has called for feedback on the master plan for the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing walk. This has been billed as an ‘iconic’ walk which links the two resorts via the Bogong High Plains and Cobungra Gap, and is generally done over three days. A permit is required to camp at the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing campsites.
There is a proposal for a major re-alignment of the walk, which instead of skirting the High Plains, cuts out to Tawonga Huts then down into the Kiewa Valley and up Mt Feathertop. This new proposal would require substantial new track building up the Diamantina Spur. The initial public consultation period for the Plan is over.
Continue reading “Major re-route of Falls to Hotham alpine crossing proposed”
This news is from the end of winter, but still worth noting. Mt Hotham has announced it is investing $4.4m in snow making for winter 2016. The investment includes 18 Techno-Alpin fan guns. These guns are often said to be amongst the most efficient that are available. The company claims that in the last “ten years we have been able to decrease energy consumption by 30%, or, leaving energy consumption static, increase snow production by 30%”.
General Manager Belinda Trembath says “This is the single biggest investment in snowmaking at Hotham since we partnered with government in 2008 to install the Loch snowmaking dam.”
The expanded snowmaking will cover more trails on Heavenly Valley, the intermediate terrain serviced by the Roadrunner lift, and the Beginner terrain in the Summit area. Installation will happen through summer and autumn, with a substantial new network of pipelines being put in.
There has been a long planning process around how the alpine village of Dinner Plain should be developed. Most businesses struggle with the extremely seasonal nature of the tourist trade, and residents can struggle because the small number of permanents makes it difficult to sustain basic services like the supermarket through out the year.
The 7 Peaks Ride is an iconic set of rides up seven mountains in the Victorian High Country. You do each ride when it suits you, but has a five month window, with riders being encouraged to do at least four of the rides. The riding season starts this week.
The peaks are Mt Baw Baw, Mount Buffalo, Mt Buller, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Hotham, and Lake Mountain. Each ride involves a serious ride from the valley.
As you go you get your 7 Peaks passport stamped.
You can tackle the 7 Peaks any time from October 16 2015 to March 31 2016.
Full details here.
Mt Hotham Ski Patrol is offering a weekend backcountry skills course.
September 11 – 13.
It will provide training in snow safety, and features an overnight camp.
It starts at 5pm on friday September 11, at Mt Hotham resort, then has a weekend of activities in the backcountry, returning at 3pm on the sunday. This will be a fantastic opportunity to learn hands on skills with experienced people from the Patrol.
Ideally people will be able to provide their own camping gear and tents, although some equipment can be arranged. Participants will need either touring skis or snow shoes.
There is room for up to 8 people to attend the course, and the cost is $300 per person.
To register, please contact David Wilson, Mt Hotham Ski patrol. davidjwilson921@hotmail.com
Following the northern hemisphere world tele day, the southern hemisphere event will be on saturday September 5.
This is an initiative of Telemark Skier magazine who see it as “a day for telemark skiers to get together and go telemark skiing. Wherever you might be around the world let’s gather at our local hills and drop a knee together!”
In Australia, there are events planned for both NSW and Victoria.
All welcome.
Plans are shaping up for the first World Telemark Day gathering in the southern hemisphere.
It will be held over the weekend of September 5 and 6.
There is an event planned for the Hotham area in Victoria, and possibly the Main Range in NSW.
All backcountry skiers/ splitters welcome. Come along, pitch in, and meet like-minded people.
Full details here.
Sugar Mountain is an Australian ski film set in the wilds of Alaska. Described as a ‘cosmic ski odyssey’, its a great film about a bunch of Australians who head to Alaska in search of the mythical peak. It is directed by Richard James, and produced by Oscar and Watkin McLennan.
Now its being toured through the Australian Alps, with three shows planned for this winter.
“Now is the time to hit the Australian slopes and here is where you can couple your Aussie skiing adventure with a quite or rowdy night at the movies”.
MT Hotham – With DJ EDDY
SUN . JUL 26 | Banjo Paterson Inn | 8:00 pm
Mountain Journal 
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