Backcountry at Hotham

Did you think the snow season wouldn't make it past August? Well lucky for us a massive snow storm has well and truly pushed this season into September. So it's time to head out to Hotham to enjoy some spring turns across Hotham's many backcountry locations.

The exact location will depend on snow coverage, visibility and how icey it is but the general plan is to base ourselves out of the Loch carpark and potentially skin up to the Summit and explore from there or to travel along some of Hotham's many ridges (e.g. Eagle Ridge, Pink Hamberg, etc.) and see where it can take us.

Plan:

• Friday: Drive up Friday afternoon/night to JB plain campground (or Smoko campground if weather looks bad)
• Saturday: Early start, drive to the Alpine Gateway at Mt Hotham followed by backcountry skiing/boarding. Dinner on mtn at the pub or back at camp (TBC)
• Sunday: Ski/board aim to finish up and be heading back around 2-3pm

Prerequisites:

• Must be comfortable skiing/boarding on Black runs (given potentially variable conditions and sliding hazards)
• Moderate-high level of fitness required
• Aim is for this to be a beginner/intermediate backcountry trip with the expectation being that you are familiar with how to skin and transition
• I will be split-boarding so skiers you will need to know how your own gear works (i.e. how to swap from walk to ski mode, how to attach ski crampons, etc.)

Cost:

• Fuel & resort entry split amongst cars

Gear list and further trip details will be sent out once participants have been confirmed following the mandatory trip meeting on Tuesday (16/09)