Throughout the Kosciuszko[1] high country there are many signposts to an era of adventure and survival in a time now passed. It’s akin to a parchment upon which one can see faint signs of an earlier story long since written over. The Spencers of Waste Point stand at the centre of this earlier story. For…
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This is a tale in which near tragedy, herculean determination and farce are constant companions. The expedition was described by Georg von Neumayer in his Results of the Magnetic Survey of the Colony of Victoria, published in 1863 and recalled by Elyne Mitchell in her book Discoverers of the Snowy Mountains, published in 1985. The…
A structured and systematic approach to the backcountry reduces the risk of human error. It’s a good idea to start watching the avalanche and weather forecast a few days before your trip to get a sense of how conditions are evolving. Those of us living and working in the snow are constantly keeping up with…
The backcountry is a complicated and potentially dangerous mountain environment and before you head out there you need to have a plan. Planning your route, and taking into consideration your fitness, length of the tour, weather, conditions, forecasts and unforeseen challenges, will enable you to get the most out of your trip. People often find…
The backcountry is not a place to find out your gear is not up to the task or that you’re missing something essential. Often what we experience in the backcountry is quite different to our expectations and it pays to be prepared for anything. Before you travel, make sure every member of your group is…
It is important to use good travel habits regardless of the conditions. That way these strategies become routine behaviours or habits and will protect you from surprise events. Used diligently, they reduce the likelihood of getting caught out and minimise the severity of the situation, whether it be an avalanche or other backcountry hazards. GOOD…
This is an extremely important step in the Daily Process and not one that can be fully explored here. Ahead are some critical points. To learn more, do one of our Avalanche Canada AST1 courses. We know there are many hazards in the backcountry and avalanche danger is but one. There are more incidents in…
After a day in the backcountry, a really beneficial step is to engage in an honest reflection of how the day worked out. While your memories are fresh, and without the pressure of making a critical decision, you can evaluate what went right and what went wrong – valuable information for your future backcountry trips.…
In the 19th century, Mt Kosciuszko was approached only by the hardy few, mainly via Crackenback Valley and up the Merritt’s ridge from Friday Flat, or by taking the longer but ‘easier’ route along the West Point track. There were no roads. Today, the road up to the Perisher and Charlotte snowfields partly follows this…