Snow camping trip on Mt Stirling and Craig's Hut, Victoria
My first snow camp... It was the coldest I've ever felt, I swear the bones in
my skeleton were frozen. I think it dropped to -6C with wind chill it was more
like -18C. When cooking, I burnt my fingernail on my thumb not realising that
the Trangia stove was alight.
This trip was from Mt Stirling to Craig's hut via the Clear Hills track.
Craig's hut was the set for the 1982 film The Man from Snowy River
This was the second snow camping trip I did with the Melbourne Nordic ski club
and indeed that I have done at any time. Camping with a good group of people
in a famous location in the Victorian high country from sun to high
winds.
Chill: it was the coldest I've ever felt, I think it dropped to -6C with the
wind it was more like -18C. When cooking, I burnt my fingernail on my thumb
not realising the stove was alight ! This is nature throwing the good
and bad at me and I am in it, I am hooked and want more.
It is so exhilarating to awaken to the sun beaning down on your tent, admire
the beauty and expanse of the hills, snow laden trees and the azure sky: then
quickly snuggle back into the sleeping bag! The group leaders and others are
very skilled, providing many pointers and help when needed, assuring good
enjoyable weekends.
5:30am. who created such an hour ? Any normal red blooded young male would be
busily recovering from the previous night's booze up. The morning was grey
with rain laden clouds, adding to that unwillingness to do anything. I managed to
arrive at Richard's place at 6:00am as arranged, only to find that Richard had
succumbed to the very thoughts I had for the day's beginning. So, we left an hour and a half later for
Mt Stirling and also delayed further picking up Robert, Richard's brother.
Choosing to travel via the Hume Hwy via Euroa proved to be efficient making
for a quick arrival of 2.5 hours. The rest of the party, 9 of us met at much
the same time at the telephone box junction day shelter. Some camped overnight and had a fire going.
And up the hill we go ; and up , and up, and........ "only one more rise (encouragement c/o Richard ) ~ and up........ (I learnt the truth of these little statements) and up.......
And up the hill we go ; and up , and up, and........ "only one more rise (encouragement c/o Richard ) ~ and up........ (I learnt the truth of these little statements) and up.......
I soon discovered my fitness level (which didn't account to much ) and the
importance of choosing good equipment for skiing. I hired some skis from E.M.
which had loose fittings, loose basket on the stock and were too long for me.
So check your gear before leaving the shop and do not accept inadequate
equipment, it's your weekend at stake !
We reached a hut known as the Geelong Grammar school hut and paused for lunch
& recuperation. It was fun entering the hut and playing blind man;s bluff
until our eyes adjusted to the light.
After lunch we dropped down the side of the mountain to find camp in a
sheltered area. The snow proved to be so dry an packed that it was easy to
pitch the tents.
Richard, seeing the quality and depth of snow, found a good blow deposit on
the side of the hill and proceeded to dig a snow cave. With group enthusiasm
we had the cave finished in good time. We even attempted an igloo entrance,
but somebody got too enthusiastic and dug the door opening before the key was
in place.
Ray & Richard were temporarily submerged in large chunks of snow as
a result. We put off any ideas of repairing the igloo and decided against
adding the spa bath and billiards room.
Some of us headed to the summit of mount Stirling to take advantage of the clear weather, and wonderful powder snow. I was even told off by Ray and Sue for damaging the untouched snow on their intended descent whilst I was ascending !
On the peak, the weather turned foul: whiteout. All that beautiful snow - oh! Coming down was a guessing game of balance and interpretation of the surface conditions.
Some of us headed to the summit of mount Stirling to take advantage of the clear weather, and wonderful powder snow. I was even told off by Ray and Sue for damaging the untouched snow on their intended descent whilst I was ascending !
On the peak, the weather turned foul: whiteout. All that beautiful snow - oh! Coming down was a guessing game of balance and interpretation of the surface conditions.
Six of us remained on the mountain for an overnight stay. Michael went off to
sleep and the rest of us convened in the cave. The evening seminar in the cave
proved to be profitable, where we indulged in Richard's fruit cake and Peter's
chocolate biscuits ( that required a special excursion to his tent, the
temperature now dropped to -4C ) and brewed coffee. Many a tall story of
adventure was told by the side of a candle lantern.
I exited the cave and slept in my tent. During the night I awoke thinking it was snowing in the tent. It turns out that the moisture in my breath was freezing on my sleeping bag and the condensation the tent inner froze. Chill: it was the coldest I've ever felt, I swear the bones in my skeleton were frozen. , I think it dropped to -6C with wind chill it was more like -18C. When cooking, I burnt my fingernail on my thumb not realising the stove was alight !
The sunrise was breathtaking, and what a beauty to awaken to. It was still very cold, but what the hell, such brightness was not to be wasted. so, we made an early start on the mountain ( that is around 9:00am) and headed for the clear hills track.
The snow was so deep that most of the trees were submerged and we had to traverse around to get to the trail. The trail needed good navigation as it for all intents was gone in many places.
I exited the cave and slept in my tent. During the night I awoke thinking it was snowing in the tent. It turns out that the moisture in my breath was freezing on my sleeping bag and the condensation the tent inner froze. Chill: it was the coldest I've ever felt, I swear the bones in my skeleton were frozen. , I think it dropped to -6C with wind chill it was more like -18C. When cooking, I burnt my fingernail on my thumb not realising the stove was alight !
The sunrise was breathtaking, and what a beauty to awaken to. It was still very cold, but what the hell, such brightness was not to be wasted. so, we made an early start on the mountain ( that is around 9:00am) and headed for the clear hills track.
The snow was so deep that most of the trees were submerged and we had to traverse around to get to the trail. The trail needed good navigation as it for all intents was gone in many places.
Robert was feeling ill, so he bailed early and returned with Peter. The
going was tough and involved many traverses due to the snow laden track and
steep inclines.
Arriving at Clear hills was sheer relief and was worth the effort. Such beauty deserves toil. It was a pleasure to behold and the snow was fun to frolic on.
Arriving at Clear hills was sheer relief and was worth the effort. Such beauty deserves toil. It was a pleasure to behold and the snow was fun to frolic on.
At Craig's hut (built for the Man from Snowy river film) we signed the
visitor's book and added our story to the tales.
After skating around and soaking in the beauty of this place it seemed unfair to have to return.
After skating around and soaking in the beauty of this place it seemed unfair to have to return.
Time is short and duties of work etc call all of us. And.... what an effort it
was to make the ascent back ! It took a good amount of physical and personal
effort to make it, but make it I did.
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