In March of 2014 six women set sail from Ísafjörður, Iceland with the intention of sailing across the Denmark Straight and up the south-west coast of Greenland. They hoped to explore the remote coastline, pioneer new ski descents, and collect scientific data in some of the most incredible wilderness on earth.
Continue reading “Nat Segal. Greenland and the future of skiing”
We now have a date for the Melbourne showing of the Backcountry film festival:
Monday May 2
‘Public Lecture Theatre’ in Old Arts Building
Melbourne University, Carlton.
Map available here.
Suggested donation: $8 conc & students/ $15 waged. Tickets at the door. There will be plenty of room.
All proceeds go to the Friends of the Earth climate campaign against new coal and gas drilling in Victoria.
7 – 9pm. Films start at 7.15pm. There will be a short intermission.
Hosted by Friends of the Earth and Melbourne University Ski Club.
Facebook page for the event here.
For a listing of the films (and details on the April 30 show in Sydney) please check here.
For further information: Cam Walker 0419 338 047 cam.walker@foe.org.au
It’s April: two months til winter… Which gets us all thinking about what type of season it will be.
Most Australian snow enthusiasts know about The Grasshopper, who writes snow forecasts for MountainWatch (‘resident meteorology sensei’ at MountainWatch).
The first prediction for 2016 has arrived.
Continue reading “The Grasshopper prediction for winter 2016”
People who visit the Australian high country know how badly it has been impacted by bushfires over the past decade.
In Victoria, we experienced the Eastern Alps fire of 2003, which burnt 1.3 million hectares, and also in 2006/07 which burnt almost 1.3 million hectares. Then over the summer of 2012/13, the Aberfeldy-Donnellys Creek and Harrietville fires also burnt large areas of the mountains. Some sections have been burnt three times in a decade, with loss of significant stands of Alpine Ash and snow gums.
I have often wondered what the fire impact might mean in terms of snow cover. Obviously where there is the classic open canopy of a mature snow gum woodland, at least half the ground is at least partially shaded from direct sunlight. Often snow will stay in better condition under the trees when its getting sun affected in the open areas. And equally you will often get snow lingering in the forests once it is mostly burnt off in adjacent treeless areas.
Mountain Journal has often covered the various sustainability initiatives by ski resorts and the snow/ outdoor industries.
It has also noted the fact there here in Australia, the resorts and industry have either given up all pretense of even caring about climate change or simply have never done anything on the issue. In theory most resorts at least support the ideas behind the ‘Keep Winter Cool‘ initiative, but when was the last time you saw any of them promote climate change or sustainability measures in their materials?
It will be interesting to see if the sale of Perisher Resort in NSW to Vail Resorts will have any impact on the local industry. Vail has at least signed on to some initiatives like “Target 10” aiming for a 10% reduction in energy use.
As we get closer to the climate negotiations which will happen in Paris in late November, the stakes keep getting higher. With the current global agreement (the Kyoto Protocol) due to expire shortly, it is essential that world leaders agree on the framework for the agreement which will replace it.
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.
Two Lake Mountain cross country skiers are showing their potential for the international stage by snapping up major Australian national titles this season and with the promise of more to come.
Twenty-year old Casey Wright and Kat Paul, 19, recently won their first open women’s national titles at Perisher which Kat quickly followed up with a clean sweep at the Junior National Championships at Falls Creek on the weekend of August 1 and 2.
There is a profile on Casey and Kat available here.
After a good, early start to the season, the dreaded El Nino influence has seen very ordinary conditions across the Alps since opening weekend in early June…. Most resorts are getting by with very limited terrain being open, and snow making being the source of the skiable stuff. The backcountry, at least in Victoria, is bare, and the Main Range looks pretty basic.
So, this report from The Grasshopper at Mountain Watch is bringing hope to lots of folks:
“The good news: “The best hope of some decent snow is still 11 to 14 July, but unfortunately there’s a bit less agreement amongst the various computer models today. Cold air does not look like it will be an issue; with high pressure to the west and low pressure to the east we’re assured of several days of cold south-west to southerly flow.”
“The big question is whether we get the moisture to combine with that cold air to create snow. Yesterday, I was getting good signals wherever I looked and so 30 to 50cm was the call if those forecasts could hold. Today I’m just seeing a couple of uncertain wobbles in the weather pattern which means I’m going to hedge my bets a little wider and call this 10 to 50cm. Long story short, the upside potential is still very much in play, but a bit more downside has crept in. It happens.”
Check MountainWatch for updates as we get closer to the 11th.
And if you’re getting out amongst it, why not post some photos on the Mountain Journal facebook page?
[Header image: fantastic early snow on Mt Thetis, Tasmania, April 2015]
Having received an overwhelmingly positive response from its original screening in Mansfield, the AdventurePro Video Festival is now going on tour.
A grassroots adventure film competition organised by AdventurePro is due to reappear for a screening at Mount Buller in July.
The collection of locally-produced adventure films was shown at Mansfield’s Armchair Cinema last month and provided an opportunity for independent filmmakers to win a cash prize.
Continue reading “AdventurePro Video Festival to show at Mt Buller”
The ANU Mountaineering Club is hosting the Backcountry Film Festival.
Thursday, 23 July 2015 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
A chance to get together and more importantly fire up the stoke for the ski season. We’ll be showing the Backcountry Film Festival put together by the Winter Wildlands Alliance.
The screening will be in the Haydon Allen Tank on ANU, starting at 6:30pm, Thursday 23 July.
We ask for a $5 entry donation from members and $10 from non-members with proceeds going to the Australian Himalayan Foundation.
Further information available here.
For details on the films, check here.
With the snow season just around the corner, Lake Mountain Ski Patrol (LMSP) is recruiting additional volunteers to help look after the thousands of weekend day trippers who head to the resort each winter for some fun in the snow.
To be well prepared for the season, the patrol’s 2015 training weekend will be held at Lake Mountain on the weekend of June 13 and 14 and prospective volunteers are invited to attend. Continue reading “Lake Mountain needs new ski patrollers”
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