MOUNTAIN TRIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 17

MOUNTAIN TRIP

ROUND JOURNEY ON

SKIS

THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, September 2. One of the most meritorious ski journeys made in the Australian Alps wa» recently completed by Messrs. O. M. Moriarty, F. S.'Paile, and D. Wightman, members of the Sydney University Ski Club. They, covered about 100 miles over the western part of the Great Dividing-Range, over a route never previously travelled in snow. It was the longest trip ever undertaken in the New South' Wales Snow country. ■ . - The party left the Chalet,- Charlotte Pass (Mt. Kpsciusko) on August 16. On that day they reached Pounds Creek Hut,.on the Snowy River, four miles from the Chalet, in heavy mist and rain. Next morning it was snowing lightly when the party crossed the river on a snow bridge,-climbed 1000 feet, and worked northward along the crest of the range, through thick fog, for five miles before descending to a hut in the Wftite River Valley, which was the'first depot of provisions. Snow continued to fall during the night, and next morning a slight blizzard was raging on the Divide. The party left the hut in light fog and snow to cross the heights of Gungartan, about 700 feet above. The fog became thicker and the wind increased aa they ascended. Skiing cautiously through the fog, the leader dropped 20 feet over an ice cornice, but was not hurt Later the weather cleared, and a swift run was made to the Mawson Hut, the main provision depot. On the following day, in sunshine, the party headed westward carrying sufficient dry foods for five. days. The Grey Mare Range, covered in snow, was seen a few miles away, and far to the south were the Kosciusko Mountains. Mount Jagungal, the most majestic mountain in the Australian snowfields, was passed on-the western end, high up, to avoid the deep valley of the Tooma River. The party turned east to reach the shelter of the Bogong Hut,J on the northern side of Jagungal, for the night. Snow fell during the night and continued next day as the party headed.for Round Mountain. The night was spent in a hut on tha slopes of Round Mountain. - The snow line was reached near Pretty Plain. Shouldering skis, the party walked through the plain and reached a hut about 9 pjn. Next morning the steep slopes of the western part of the Grey Mare were ascended for 1100 feet, and deep snow was again encountered. From the plateau of this range the party saw the snowfields oC Kosciusko and . Victoria. Travelling east across the plateau, they reached the eastern crest of the range in the early afternoon. From here, one long run on excellent snow was made to the Grey Mare Hut at the foot of the range. By the light, of the moon Mawson Hut was reached at midnight. A halt was made for two days to rest after the long days of travelling. Leaving at dawn in the morning in heavy fog the Qhalet, about 18 miles away, was reached in the late afternoon of the same day. Mr. Moriarty said that much data, which should prove of value to skiing parties contemplating a similar trip, was collected. Round Mountain and ■Mount Toolong had- not previously been reached by a skiing party in winter. The route followed was probably the most negotiable for a skiing party on the western side of the snow country, and formed a round trip of most of the mountains, giving extensive views over the snow country.