Ski Trip #4! - Overnight Ski-Hike @ Falls Creek to Mt Hotham! :-D

We have an expression in Australia - "Going to the snow." It's my favourite time of year! Our fourth outing will be our overnight Ski-Hike. We'll be doing almost the same trail we hiked last year (not on skis) so we know the terrain well and know where the huts are, have good maps, and have backup plans.

There's no ski school on this trip! We strongly advise against this event if you haven't skied cross country before.

We start early to give us more daylight hours in the white stuff, and the plan is to do a little cross country ski from Falls Creek, stay in a hut overnight, and then ski on to Mt Hotham the following day.

Rough Plan of the trip

Day 1
10am - Meet at Bogong Ski Centre Mt Beauty and pick up snow gear. (If you need a lift, leave a comment! Pickup time from the city is 7am.)
10:30am - Leave Bogong Ski Centre Mt Beauty and head for Peak Carpark (past the reservoir.)
11:30am - Arrive at Peak Carpark. Put our gear on. Start skiing.
12 noon - Arrive at one of the shelters. Have a picnic/bbq (I'll bring my portastove.)
4pm - Stop at a ski hut, light a fire, have dinner. Go to bed.

Day 2
7am - Wake up, have breakfast.
9am - Ski to Mt Hotham Reservoir Carpark
1pm - Arrive at Mt Hotham Reservoir Carpark. Have lunch. Drive back to Peak Carpark Mt Hotham to collect other car.
4pm - Return gear to Mt Beauty, drive home.
(Expect to arrive in the city around 9pm.)

Cost

You should allow ~$110 for equipment hire plus extra for the second car, plus some more if you are being given a lift.

Transport

If you need a lift, leave a comment. If you have a car you're willing to share, leave a comment. Contributions to car hire and petrol is encouraged if someone is giving you a lift. We will need two cars for this trip!

Equipment

Your equipment will need to be as light as possible. This will be the most difficult part, since weight is a concern when skiing but you need equipment to survive overnight comfortably.

You will need:

• A small backpack that can fit all your stuff.
• A Camelback reservoir or similar integrated water-holding system.
• A sleeping bag rated to subzero temperatures (-8 to -10).
• A small camping stove and pot.
• A flint or lighter.
• Emergency instant heat packs.
• Emergency space blanket (a.k.a. Thermal blanket, "Shiny sheet")
• Food and drink.

Clothing

Wear warm clothes! Scarf, gloves, all your winter warmies! Most importantly, wear wet-proof pants! ($10-$20 at most hiking/sports shops) High-visibility clothing (reflective strips, bright colours) is also strongly encouraged! Bring minimal changes of clothes (or a separate bag to change at the end.) e.g. Socks and underthings only. Not only is everything weight you don't need, but you also lose heat really quickly if you try to change!

Food

Pack small, dense, fillling, high-protein food that will survive overnight. 1-2 hot meals only.

Anything else?

I'm always open to suggestions to make this even funner. :-D

What if there's no snow???

We'll give you at least 48-hours warning if it's postponed due to insufficient snow.

**This is not a tour company. We presume you have adequate ambulance cover and/or health insurance. Participation is at your own risk and is always your own individual choice.