by Jon MS » Tue 09 Jun, 2020 8:20 pm
Thanks Mark,
Your post brought back memories of skiing the Du Cane Range in past years.
Between 1981 and the early 2000s I did about 10 ski trips to the Du Canes (although only 4 of those trips had good snow and good weather) and I agree, in the snow the Du Cane Range is amazing.
Over this time period, I was also spending several weeks each winter skiing on the Mainland, mostly in the Main Range-Jagungal area, and whilst the snow and skiing may be better on the Mainland, in my opinion, Tasmania's combination of scenery and snow is (in Australia) unbeatable.
In good snow, the runs off the back of North Geryon into the top of Pine Valley are amazing, as is the run from Walled Mtn. In good snow, it is only 15 min from the top of Walled Mtn to Lake Elysia!
I remember one night at Lk Elysia in 1990 when there were 2 parties camped there (being Tasmania, we knew each other...) and the 10 of us agreed to meet at midnight on the middle of the lake for hot choc. We set up a ring of candles in the ice and it was a completely clear, still and moonless night with blazing stars overhead (but mega cold...).
The views from the top of Mt Massive are unbeatable. I had been told about the big depression on top but the first time I went there it was full of snow which must have been over 20 m deep. On later trips in summer I could see how big the depression is and it has what is probably the largest patch of snow-drift vegetation in the state. The views of the cliffs on the Geryons, Mersey valley, Mt Ossa etc are amazing.
For doing these trips, along with a friend, Alex, and we made our own ski bindings so we could use normal boots for both the walk in and skiing. These bindings also gave us safety release for the crashes that are part of remote area skiing, foot pivot and bend, and are much lighter than full-on XCD gear . I used 150 cm Trek Bushwackers which are light weight, fully waisted, stepped, single camber skies.
These days, I suspect that I am no longer fit and strong enough to ski the area and plan to use snow shoes.
Also need to scan my old slides...