Ski Touring 2-3 May 2009 - Alice Rawson Peak
The chance to ski on a solid cover of snow in early May doesn't come up very often - not in Australia anyway - so i jumped at the opportunity. Left Wagg around 6am and had a stunning drive to Charlotte Pass via Tumbarumba and the Alpine Way. The drive consisted of morning light on the green hills, mist in the valleys and snow covered mountains in the distance. Fantastic.
View from Scammels Spur early Saturday morning.
I got away a little later than i would have liked. I was very surprised to find i could ski down to the snowy river from the Charlotte Pass lookout. Had to go through a few bushes but typically with these early season falls the only skiable stretch down the hill is the thin cover over the pavered walkway. This is usually managed by a power snow plough the whole way to the river. After the obligatory dunk of the ski boots in the Snowy River i was off - but not for long. Eight months of no decent excercise was taking it's toll. I struggled my way up Mt Clarke and then Northcote. This trip would probably take a normal person about an hour but it took me 2!
The golden eagle run down the north east face of Mt Northcote looked inviting so i dumped my pack at the top of the slope and dropped in for the first real turns of 2009. The snow was nicely corned up and i managed a few decent turns. Had to side track a bit to get some continuous fall line as the sun was starting to kill off some of the cover. All in all a run i would have been proud of in mid winter.
First turns for 2009 - Down a modified Golden Eagle run.
View back to Guthega from Mt Northcote
View of Mt Kosciuszko from Mt Northcote
View to Lake Albina, Mt Towsnend and ALice Rawson Peak from Mt Northcote
Mt Lee and Carruthers Peak from Mt Northcote
Townsend North Spur - Intended camping spot was the rocky knoll middle left of photo
By the time i got back up to my pack all thoughts of having another run were gone. I made my way down into Lake Albina and traversed across to the base of the southern racecourse run. I never realised how rugged this little strip was - more short ups and downs than a brothel on cheap Tuesday.
View of Lake ALbina from halfway down Northcote
Making my way across the ups and downs west of Lake Albina
By this stage the legs were starting to feel it. I slogged away up the Racecourse run toward Alice Rawson Peak. I could only manage about 20 metres every two minutes and was very close to setting up camp half way up.
Views kept me going up the Racecourse
Had a sip of harden up and that gave me enough to make it up the the relatively flat area on top. Then it was a short ski down hill to the camping spot. I was going to camp on top of one of the knolls but saw a much more photogenic location on the way and quickly changed my plans.
Nearly at the top of Alice Rawson
All down hill from here
In the words of Mr Darryl Kerrigan "now it was time for some fun". I had been dying to test a new shelter i bought in September last year. A Mountain Hardware Kiva Lite. Teepee style pentagonal floorless shelter - my first go at this style of shelter. Setting up went very well. Up in around 15 minutes. The relatively shallow snow pack wasn't optimal for the tent as it's best feature is the option of digging out furniture inside. I made do with what i had.
My Camping Spot
The Kiva doing it's best impression of The Sentinel
About the time i finished setting up mother nature got into action to deliver a very picturesque late afternoon lighting display. All day huge fluffy clouds had been hanging around the western slopes. They completely dissapeared in about 30 seconds just before the sun went down - this tends to happen alot in the mountains.
Another Tent shot
Afternoon colours on the western faces
Afternoon colours on the western faces
Last light of the day
Had one of the calmest nights ever. Tent went well except for some condensation issues whilst brewing up inside. Top sleep on the other bit of new gear - a downmat - another thumbs up here.
I was so impressed with the Kiva that i stayed outside so i could look at it!
Woke to weird looking skies. Cloud hugging the distant ridges but mostly fine. Thought i was in for a fine morning but as soon as the sun got up i was in the cloud and couldn't see much at all. Then when i was about to pack up the sun popped out again. Had a nice morning sitting in the tent with door open and sun beaming in.
View out of the tent on Sunday morning
A clear spell on a cloudy sunday morning. And did i mention that i got a new tent.
Misty cloud stuck to the main range most of the morning
Given the lack of fitness and soreness from saturday i decided i would be happy to ski back to the car without having any runs. Skied down to Lake albina then straight up to Mt Lee. I was pretty keen to ski down Mt Lee as it should have been perfectly corned up in the morning sun. I got to the top and peered over, only to find it was tracked out from saturday. Bastards. There was still enough unmarked snow for me to have a run down. Made a few good turns but it's always hard to ski confidently with 15 kg's on your back. Made it down without a pack stack so was pretty happy about that. Then skied all the way back to the car.
By the time i was leaving the more exposed slopes were thinning quite quickly. I'd say they won't last to long. All the lee slopes olong the spine of the main range looked pretty solid and should last through till winter. The more rugged areas need a bit more snow for the cover to be solid. All pretty good for the first weekend in May though.
Still a few more photos to come when i get a chance.......