Midnight Ascent 2026 - Snow gum Ball

Midnight Ascent 2026!

What is this Midnight Ascent? - Only the premier event of the year!

Put simply, Midnight Ascent is the annual club trip to our snow-surrounded MUMC hut at Mt Feathertop, where the 4-7hr uphill walk begins at midnight on Friday and all sanity is left at the carpark. Think fancy dress in the snow, think three-course meal from scratch, think some classic adventuring with all your friends.

The full moon falls toward the end of August this year, and the trip will run on the 28th-30th August. More details to come. Sign-ups and theme will be released on the 21st July please get in contact with an officer with any questions. 

Firstly, a few key requirements of participation:

• You must have a demonstrated ability to be prepared for, and hike in wet conditions and very cold temperatures (e.g. in the snow)

• You must have been on at least two club trips to sign up and have a leader vouch for your ability to safely complete the trip. 

• You must bring a costume that fits the theme of the even

• will attend the trip meeting on Tuesday 18nd August. 

This is an intermediate to advanced trip and requires walking (with pack and tent) through potentially thick snow up a very steep incline in the dark. In saying this, the rewards are definitely worth it! Our mumc hut has been heritage listed and cannot be slept in until it is repaired so we will be snow camping. Your own gear is preferred however can also be hired from the club, including limited number of snow tents.

The theme this year is Snow Gum Ball! 

This year we are joining a major citizen science weekend in late August to help map the health of snow gums in their neighbourhood or in their favourite spot in the mountains. Those who are not to tired from the night before are welcomed to help find and log individual mature snow gum trees as either Alive/ thriving, damaged or in decline or dead. Any amount of logging is benificial and the data will be compiled and used in our efforts to gain threatened species listing for snow gums under federal environmental laws. (get more info https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/snowgum_nomination_epbc) 

As tradition, participants must put on formal wear to celebrate our cooking competition dinner, snow gum themed. Think white dress green hair spray tan. 

More details about all aspects of the trip will be given at the trip meeting, but it will roughly follow the program below: 

• Friday day/evening: Drive with hiking group toward hike start

• Friday midnight: Start hiking up North West Spur Track (aka Tom Kneen memorial track) It is a 7.3km hike with 1154m elevation.

• Saturday early morning: Arrive at MUMC hut in time for the sunrise (hopefully)

• Saturday morning: Set up tents and sleep in

• Saturday afternoon: Get dressed, games and finding snow gums. 

• Saturday evening: Cooking competition

• Sunday morning: Pack up and head back to Melbourne

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

https://www.trailhiking.com.au/hikes/mt-feathertop-north-west-spur/