C A N B E R R A CROSS COUNTRY SKI CLUB, INC Off Piste
2017, ISSUE 1 8TH MAY 2017 S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F INTEREST: Snowsports President’s Piece ACT Ski & Snowboard Expo- 13 Welcome back for the 2017 ski meeting. forward to catching up with you May—Page 3 season. It’s looking promising soon. I hope everyone had a good CCCSC July with two decent snowfalls blan- summer whether enjoying the Jo-Anne Clancy Lodge Week- keting the mountains in April. heat in Australia or skiing in the ends— 7-9 & Your committee has been hard northern hemisphere and look 28-30 July— at work over summer putting Page 16 together a great program of events. The first social meeting will be held on 24 May at the Hughes community centre, we have two great lodge weekends lined up for July, the club’s Kos- ciuszko Tour race on 19 August, and our tour program will be up and running as soon as the snow INSIDE THIS cover starts to build. More ISSUE: details on these events in this newsletter and on our website. Touring News 2 CCCSC membership for 2017 is Christmas Party 3 now open online at Register Now. You also have the option Skiing in New 3 to print a complete a paper Zealand form and mail it to our post office box or bring it to a club Margaret Baz on the skyline, climbing Mount Northcote on a Ken and Alan’s 4 club tour from Charlotte Pass to near Little Austria. (Ken Excellent Spring Moylan) Skiing Adven- ture
Kosciuszko Tour 14 Form 2017 Membership Subscriptions
2017 Summer/ 17 Membership Subscriptions for the 2017 season are now due, and can be paid on Register Now, Autumn in Kos- via the Club website. ciuszko
Club Commit- 18 tee Contacts
Social Club 20 Meetings 2017 June Newsletter Deadline
CCCSC Mem- 21 bership Form Deadline for articles for the June 2017 Off-Piste is 4th June 2017. P A G E 2 Touring News
As Tour Coordinator for this year my main aim is to have the best possible tour program available to members, in particular increasing the number of tours. I will be happy to receive proposed tours from members at any time, plus I will be chasing people to lead tours. The more tour leaders we have, the greater the variety of tours for members, plus it takes the burden off the usual tour leaders. David Drohan is assistant Tour Coordinator “If anyone is this year so also happy for members to provide proposed tours to David at any time. interested in The Tour Program, containing tour leaders contact details, will be available in the Members Only section of the leading tours feel web site, in the Members version of the Off-Piste newsletter, and also on tour sheets put out at club social free to contact Alan meetings where members can put down their names for tours or propose new tours. Between each monthly Levy or David newsletter, additional tours will be advertised on the web site and/or by separate emails to members. Non- Drohan at any time members will also have access to the Tour Program (without tour leaders details) in the ‘Tours’ page on the web with the details. ” site and on the Club Facebook page. The Club Facebook page has been popular for trip reports and photos and is a good way of seeing what the skiing conditions are like throughout the season. New tours proposed on Facebook will not be designated as formal club trips but people are welcome to propose tours here, and should be aware of the Club guidelines below. On the Club web site, the ‘Info / Club Forms’ page contains the following forms and guidance that should assist tour leaders and participants:
Advice for Tour Participants Advice for Tour Leaders Guide to Transport Costs Tour Intention Form – Tour Details & Acknowledgement of Risks and Obligations Emergency Procedures Incident Report Medical Information & Emergency Contact Ski Tour Grading
If anyone is interested in leading tours feel free to contact myself or David Drohan at any time with the details.
Alan Levy Tour Coordinator
O F F P I S T E 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 3 2016 Christmas Party
CCCSC 2016 Christmas Party
Skiing in New Zealand
We are looking to undertake a trip to New touring course with Aspiring Guides, contact Ian Turland and/or Melinda Zealand, focussed on the Queenstown- and overnight ski touring trips in the Brouwer. Wanaka and Lake Tekapo regions, from Pisa and Two Thumb Ranges, which mid-August to early-September (for around feature gentle undulating (i.e. not three weeks). We plan to undertake a mix steep) terrain. We currently have of resort skiing (to hone our downhilling three participants. For anyone techniques in a new and picturesque interested in participating in either the landscape), a four-day back-country ski- whole trip or parts of it, please
SnowSports ACT Ski and Snowboard Sale & Expo is on Again – May 13
The Snowsports ACT Ski & Snowboard supporting ACT snow sports athletes, Club will also be having a table at the Sale & Expo is being held on Saturday 13 programs and events. Expo to promote the Club, and Club May at the Old Bus Depot, 21 Wentworth members are welcome to come along Ave, in Kingston from 8:30am to 1:30pm. During the Sale there will be Ski to help out on the day. Anyone The Sale & Expo is a great opportunity to Tuning Demonstrations, a BBQ selling interested in assisting should contact buy and/or sell new and preloved ski and drinks and food and volunteers will be snowboard equipment at bargain prices! on hand to give guidance on Alan Levy beforehand. purchases. Local retailers will be selling new and ex hire gear on the day and members of the Peter Cunningham is looking for public are welcome to sell their pre loved volunteers to help with security for equipment as well. If looking to sell, the 2017 ski sale, mainly in the 8:30 to members of the public can drop off their 11:00 period. Volunteers will need to items on Friday May 12 between 12 and be there before 8:30am and if they 7pm. Any unsold gear must be collected can only spare a couple of hours that after the Sale on the Saturday between 3 is fine. People should contact Peter if and 4pm. interested.
All proceeds from the event go toward The Canberra Cross Country Ski P A G E 4
“In 2016, the Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure stars aligned. Spring snow fell Adventure the First up Carrruther’s Peak, stayed Pass’ downhill resort. Finally, deeply and high and walked a little to get about half past five, I was back. both Alan Levy In which only one of the dudes around the wind and sun dried upper-most part of Windhover and I had the goes skiing. Not so heinous. Knoll, before dropping into the Best Bits time to ski at gully that runs into Lady Getting onto a Western any time. Saturday, 15 October 2016. Northcote’s Creek and defines Face, the first time in Excellent! First day of the Club’s Lodge Windhover Knoll. To get Weekend, in Charlotte’s Pass. years;
were on my feet and sliding. Not getting all the way out Afterwards, most of us took
the low route to Lake Albina, to Little Austria. As Ken, Rowan Christie, David but David stayed high. This leader, I was too worried Russell, and Margaret Baz made earned him a glorious, showy that we weren’t up to the an attempt on Little Austria. telemarking run down to the steepness and distance “Best Bits We took the anti-clockwise lake. From here we started our that extra kilometre and circuit, because I expected that 200 vertical metres would Getting way back, by way of the Albina Foreman’s Crossing (especially Hut ruin, Mueller’s Pass, Mt have cost us; Club Lake Creek) would be onto a Clark, and finishing with the No-one following me harder to get across in the long, long run back to across Lake Albina; Western afternoon than in the morning. Foreman’s Crossing. The way we went involved The headwind all the way Face; crossing the Snowy River both out. ways and Club Lake Creek only Back at Charlotte’s Pass, three Skiing Wax of the Day in the morning. of us returned in a car, but I traversed around the top of the I would have used universal klister, across basin above the village and was or warmer. However, I was on Lake After walking down to rewarded with a lovely run borrowed fish scale skis. Bzzz. Foreman’s Crossing, we skied down the front of Charlotte’s Bzzz. Albina.”
Margaret Baz and David Russell rock hopping David Russell heading up to Carruther’s Peak. He across the Snowy River at Foreman’s Crossing. has dressed for the wind that came up during the (Ken Moylan) morning. (Ken Moylan)
O F F P I S T E 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 5 Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d)
Margaret Baz and Rowan Cristie below Lake Albina with Mt Townsend and Alice Rawson in the background (Ken Margaret Baz skiing along one of the ridges near the Moylan) Grandstand and Lake Albina area (Ken Moylan)
Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d)
Adventure the Second while, Alan and Greg were Skiing the upper Snowy enjoying their lunches at the River, because it is a rare In which both of the dudes go Pass whilst I was just below the treat; skiing. Heinous.
The skiing began at Foreman’s Kangaroo Ridge back to in the day, due to an unexpected
Crossing, between Snowy River Charlotte’s Pass. soft patch of snow;
and Club Lake Creek. We Best Bits Nothing else, really. followed Snowy River, around Skiing on good snow Wax of the Day the base of Mt Clark and along from the top of Mt K all the North Arm to Rawson’s Fishscales. Should have used Pass. I thought that it would be the way down to universal klister - the snow was so quicker to ski high. After a Rawson’s Pass; fresh from recent falls. P A G E 6
“Best Bits Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d) Skiing on
good snow
from the top
of Mt K all
the way
down to
Rawson’s
Pass;
Skiing the
upper Snowy
River.” Bruce Porter, Greg Lawrence and Alan Levy. (Ken Moylan)
Bruce Porter skiing beside Club Lake. (Ken Moylan)
“Best Bits
Lovely runs Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d) down to Blue Lake was not as solid as it looked, Worst Bits and Adventure the Third and he'd had to practice his self- Sliding down the chute, on Foreman’s In which the two dudes get arrest technique. Ken had given my good skis, with rocks Crossing; adventurous.
O F F P I S T E 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 7 Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d)
Bruce Bartlett skiing down to Soil Conservation Creek. (Ken Moylan)
Bruce Bartlett wading across the Snowy River at Foreman’s Crossing. (Ken Moylan)
Alan Levy and Bruce Bartlett at our lunch spot, on a grassy knoll beside Blue Lake. (Ken Moylan)
Alan Levy wading across the Snowy River at Foreman’s Crossing. (Ken Moylan) P A G E 8
“Best Bits Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d)
Spring
snow on a Adventure the Fourth Kunama Valley. At the hut ruins Best Bits warm we paused for morning tea and Spring snow on a warm Spring day; In which the dudes bring in to contemplate Roslyn Twynam more dudes for adventures. Spring day; Skiing the Wesche, killed in the avalanche Friday, 11 November 2016. Skiing the broad leads on broad that destroyed the hut. Then to Club Lake Visit. Alan Levy, Club Lake, where I tested my Carruthers’ side; leads on Bruce Porter, Greg Lawrence luck against the ice remaining Carruthers Skiing on Club Lake. and myself, day-trippers all. on the lake. We finished the
’ side; From Foreman’s Crossing, we day by following Club Lake Worst Bits Skiing on made our way along the snowy Creek a while, before running Nothing really. side of Club Lake Creek and, down the leads on Carruthers Club Lake. when the snow cover became back to Foreman’s Crossing. ” continuous, headed into
Greg Lawrence, Bruce Porter and Alan Greg Lawrence, Bruce Porter and Alan Levy entering the bowl of Club Lake. Levy skiing towards Kunama Valley. (Ken (Ken Moylan) Moylan)
Bruce Porter and Alan Levy near Looking out from Club Lake. I liked the combination Kunama Hut. (Ken Moylan) of the white ice floe, blue water, and Australian bush colours on Kangaroo Ridge. (Ken Moylan) O F F P I S T E 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 9 Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d)
Club Lake in Spring, open water and snow. (Ken Bruce Porter skiing beside Club Lake. (Ken Moylan) Moylan)
Bruce Porter skiing beside Club Lake. (Ken Nice looking cascade through snow and over grass. Moylan) (Ken Moylan) P A G E 10
Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d) “Best Bits We could see well Adventure the Fifth We picked our way onto The picked out the last snow Sentinel and soaked in more lying on Mt Jagungal; into the Murray views, before returning back In which the dudes get together Spring skiing on a Spring for one last time.
The Sentinel (or maybe Windhover Knoll), in front of the Townsend North Ridge, with Murray Valley in the background. (Ken
Alan Levy, a skiing titan! (Ken Moylan)
The delightful creek running near our lunch stop (Ken Moylan)
O F F P I S T E 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 11 Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d)
Alan stepping into the Snowy River from the rocks of Alan looking over the Snowy River, from the path from Foreman’s Crossing. This was the morning crossing, so Charlotte’s down to Foreman’s Crossing. (Ken Moylan) the water is near the low point of the day. (Ken Moylan)
Alan crossing back across the Snowy River on the Alan crossing the Snowy River on the rocks of rocks of Foreman’s Crossing. Foreman’s Crossing. This is the afternoon crossing, so the water is near This is the morning crossing, so the water is near the high point of the day. the low point of the day. Compare this to the morning’s water depth. (Ken (Ken Moylan) Moylan) P A G E 12
“Best Bits Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d) Skiing in
the lovely ridge to side of North Rams Head, there December! Adventure the Sixth Cootapatamba Creek. What a was what looked like a tiny dam I can’t In which one dude desperately lovely way to end a day’s skiing. below a patch of sand, placed wants to claim that he skied in Much walking followed, relieved there by Snowy Mountains Hydro- remember December.
I convinced Adam Lilley and Skiing in December! I Walking down the front of Fishscales, Bruce Porter to join me on the can’t remember the last Thredbo. Its took one and a half Thredbo to Mt Townsend tour. time I did that, perhaps hours, starting before twilight and of course. ” We took the chairlift up the top in the 1990s. finishing in complete darkness. At and walked towards Mt the end we were all wishing for Running down the leads Kosciuszko along the metal grid the Snowy Ride and the late in Wilkinson’s Valley. At path. Near Etheridge Gap we gondola ride down that it affords the top, near the top of put on our skis, just to say that us. Mt Townsend, where it we’d skied in December. A bit was steep, the cover Wax of the Day more walking took us to was broad and we could Rawson’s Pass, where we put Fishscales, of course. Rock skis ski where we had to. would have been good too. on our skis in earnest. Our Lower down, where it route from there traversed the was flatter, the snow big boy to Mueller’s Pass, was softer and we could followed the remaining snow Party on dudes! control ourselves better around Mueller’s Peak, a short And have a bogus 2017 ski on the narrow cover; walk and then snow all the way season! up to the top of Mt Townsend. First day of Summer
After lunch, we returned via skiing. Wilkinson’s Valley, Mueller’s Odd Bit Inspired by Bill & Ted. Pass, the Cootapatamba Ken Moylan. Cornice along Kosciuszko Above L. Cootapamba, South Ridge and a final ski down somewhere on the North-West
Bruce Porter and Adam Lilley standing outside Adam Lilley and Bruce Porter walking between the Eagles Nest, top of Thredbo. (Ken Moylan) drifts, in Wilkinson’s Valley (Ken Moylan)
O F F P I S T E 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 13 Ken and Alan’s Excellent Spring Skiing Adventure (cont’d)
Adam Lilley swooping down into the Cootapatamba Adam Lilley and Bruce Porter skiing along Mt Valley from Mt Kosciuszko. On a ski tour from Thredbo Kosciuszko on the Cootapatamba Cornice. (Ken to Mt Townsend and back. (Ken Moylan) Moylan)
Adam Lilley standing above Lake Cootapatamba. On the Cootapatamba Cornice on Mt Kosciuszko. (Ken Moylan)
Adam Lilley climbing back up after a run. The grubby snow clearly shows his tracks. Somewhere near Mueller’s Pass. (Ken Moylan) 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 14 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 15 P A G E 16 CCCSC July Lodge Weekends
The club is hosting two July lodge weekends for members. These are held in conjunction with the ‘Come and Try’ cross country ski lessons at Perisher organised by Snowsports ACT.
These weekends are a great opportunity for all members, especially beginners or new members, to learn “These weekends are a to ski or develop new skills, go on tours appropriate to their skiing level and meet other members, while great opportunity for all staying in comfortable accommodation close to the mountains. Families with children are welcome. Both weekends include two nights’ accommodation in Kalkite. The cost for accommodation for a weekend is members, especially $70 (single) $140 (couple) $200 (family of 3-5 persons). Please note this fee does not include lessons, ski beginners or new hire, transport or food costs. members, to learn to ski or develop new skills. ” Dates: 7-9 July (school holidays) and 28 – 30 July
Program: Friday – Arrive at lodge accommodation in evening.
Saturday – ‘Come and Try open day’ lessons and tours, social night dinner back at lodge.
Sunday – Tours for all levels of skiers led by experienced club members.
Numbers are strictly limited. Bookings can be made through the Register Now link on the club website or by contacting Jo-Anne Clancy.
Snow Depth 2016
Snow Depth comparison 2016 to 2015 (snowyhydro.com.au)
O F F P I S T E 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 17 2017 Summer/Autumn in Kosciuszko
Fog Bow at North Ramshead, Kosciuszko National Park (Tony Brown) “A fog bow,
sometimes called a
Ramshead. As it grew dark the are very small, fog bows appear white rainbow is a conditions did not change, if white, and are therefore Fog Bows anything they were worse. sometimes called white rainbows. similar phenomenon This lack of colour is the feature When I woke in the morning the of a fog bow that distinguishes it to a rainbow; fog was still rolling through but On the weekend of the 25th from a glory, which has multiple there were a few breaks with the however, as its February 2017, I set off for a walk pale-coloured rings caused by sun peering through. Sunset as from Charlotte Pass to around diffraction. When droplets name suggests, it quite spectacular and soon after North Ramshead to camp for the forming it are almost all of the fog bows started to appear. night and hopefully capture some same size, the fog bow can have appears as a bow in stars. “Because of the very small size of multiple inner rings, or fog rather than As I approached Kosciuszko it did water droplets that cause fog— supernumeraries, which are not look promising, the range was smaller than 0.05 millimetres more strongly coloured than the rain.” covered in cloud. (0.0020 in)—the fog bow has only main bow.” very weak colours, with a red I headed down the grate towards outer edge and bluish inner edge. Thredbo and then over to North Tony Brown / Wikipedia In many cases, when the droplets
North Ramshead Tarn on 25 February 2017 (Tony Brown) P A G E 18
2017 Summer/Autumn in Kosciuszko (cont’d)
Snow Gum in the rain on the Jagungal saddle (Tony Brown)
Mount Townsend sunset (Tony Brown)
Mist racing through the valley between Mount Townsend and Alice Rawson at sunrise (Tony Brown)
O F F P I S T E Canberra Cross Country Ski Club PO Box 6234, O’Connor ACT 2602 Fun and fitness in the snow Web: www.cccsc.asn.au Email: [email protected] Club Committee Contacts Position Name Email Phone
President Jo-Anne Clancy [email protected]
Vice President Ian Turland [email protected]
Secretary Greg Lawrence [email protected]
Treasurer Paul Room [email protected]
Membership Secretary Gale Funston / Niboddhri [email protected] Ward Tour Coordinator Alan Levy / Dave Drohan [email protected]
Kosciusko Tour Coordinator Rowan Christie [email protected]
Meeting Coordinator Vacant [email protected]
Newsletter Editor Tony Brown [email protected]
Webmaster Nick Reese [email protected]
Club Snow Camping Gear for hire
The following gear which is owned by the Club is available for hire to Club members. These prices are cheap. The commercial hire charge for a 2-person tent is $45 per weekend. Tent (Macpac 3-4 person) -$20/weekend ; - $30/week
Club Safety Gear for use by Tour Leaders
The Club has four Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), two GPS units and some first aid kits which are available free of charge to members leading Club ski tours.
PLB (GME MT410G) P A G E 20 Social Meetings 2017 (All Welcome) Wednesday 24 May 2017 Photo Night
The first meeting of the year will be used for Club members to catch up and socialise, and to show some of their best skiing photos. Members are welcome to bring along photos on a memory stick. Several Club members will show their best photographs from last season.
Wednesday 14 June 2017 Gear Talk
We are looking at getting one of the outdoor suppliers to come along and talk about the latest gear for skiing and the outdoors. Further details will be included in the next newsletter.
Wednesday 28 June 2017 Climate Change and Sustainability
Guest Speaker: Professor Will Steffen
Professor Will Steffen will talk on Climate Change in South East Australia including the Snowies. Not to be missed.
Meetings are held at the Hughes Community Centre, Hughes Place, Hughes, Canberra, Canberra on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from mid May to October. Door opens at 7.30 pm for 7.45 pm start. Light refreshments will be provided. 2017, ISSUE 1 P A G E 21