NSW backcountry

[roo]

So im headed out back of NSW for the first time in the first week of September. I'm a boarder.
I would like to walk out from charlotes and maybe guthega. Any tips on where i might find steep stuff, rocky chutes within a daylight hike. I have read about watsons crags but is that an easy day trip?

An adivce on where would be the best place to start.

cheers

[Blowey]

From Guthega you'd be looking at about 4 hours to get out to Watsons Crags. 3hrs to get out there from Charlotte Pass. Charlotte pass is easier access but if you are not staying in the resort the earliest you can get away is about 9am (thats catching the first oversnow from Perisher). Given this i'd suggest an early departure from Guthega.

If you drop into any of the seriously steep stuff i'd allow 2 hours to get back up to the top. Not from experience - i'm not good enough to ski any of the steep rocky chutes. I'd also be prepared to climb in difficult slushy or icey conditions.

I don't mean to dampen the enthusiasm but taking on the crags is probably biting a bit to much for first time in the area. A better bet may be to try the Carruthers North Face. It's much closer to Charlotte Pass (about 1.5hrs), you get much better fall line and can board it, rather than just survive. It also gets the morning sun so should be nice and soft by mid morning. And much easier exit.

[fly123]

Hey Roo,

Cannot help but agree with Blowey. I board as well and have a couple of years experience ahead of where you are now. The Crags, Sentinal and Tynman do have some hellish walk outs. Much easier around Carruthers and Townsend. The "Canyon runs" are fun with some nice slopes that you can repeat quite easily. Anyway, once out there, you will see what we mean. Seems you choice of weeks "weather wise" may prove productive. Keep me in tune with your plans as I may see you out there!!

[roo]

Thanks for the advice guys.

After looking further into the crags I agree with you and I wont be dropping them just yet (although the south face looks extremely tempting).

I like the sound of Carruthers North Face for my first attempt. I should allow 2 hours to snow shoe out there from CP but how long does it take to snow shoe home?

Fly, me and a mate will be down there midweek from the 1st to the 4th hoping for good weather. let me know if you're about.

[fly123]

Just had 2 insane days inbound, so excuse my late reply. Roo, the winds may not be in favour during your next week sojourn. As you would have heard, gale force winds have pounded the Vic and New south alpine areas, so basically all slopes between 2100 and 1700 without trees have been denuded of the fluffy white stuff. Depending on how the weather system on this weekend goes, ie, if the 5400 line arrives with moisture, my suggestion is maybe walking up from dead horse and checking out the "rams head' area. The plan is that trees are your friend!!!I am sure Blowey can assist you more than me, so pm him if he does not respond to this. Save the main range for mid September when hopefully all this wind will abate, let us hope. Better still, let the winds go south on the new south coast so I can work!!!

[Barcoo]

Should be great roo esp. with this latest dump, there should still be a snow bridge over the Snowy River (no wet Feet).
We have headed out from Charlottes many times if you need any tips (where to camp and ski) let me know.

[roo]

Barcoo, yues please mate i would love to know how best cross the snowy river. Im headed out tommorrow and the next day but i will will not be camping

[roo]

Found my way across the snowy, stepping stones about half a K up river from charlottes, then on return i think we crossed at what i believe to be main crossing further down river as there were skier tracks leading to it. Hiked carruthers yesterday dropped the south face was pretty icy but balls to the wall and loved it. The day before we hiked from dead horse up to Ramshead Head North and dropped the south western face or gully type thing with a huge wall running the entire lenght of the line, was sick.

Not bad for my first trip into Aussie BC, thanks those who gave me advice

[John Deere]

Pics are mandatory in the BC forum ;)

[roo]

Will do-- stay tuned

[Barcoo]

Very glad to here you had a great trip Roo, We are doing a big BC trip next year with snowatchers and friends, 5 days, steep and scary all the way, you are welcome to join as I'm sure next year will deliver a huge base.

[roo]

here you go...

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000485-1.jpg

crossing upriver from charlottes. concentration

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000488.jpg

Failure here would have been costly

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000490.jpg


http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000508.jpg

our lines on icy carruthers south face


http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000501.jpg

WC in background

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000513.jpg

much easier snowy crossing on way home

[SA]

Nice work!

[roo]

http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000464.jpg

ramshead sth


http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000475.jpg

we rode this gully with giant wall west side of Ramhead Nth


http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad244/roo55_photos/P1000461.jpg

Roo, hailey and cheese getting out back in Aus for the first time

[skijacski]

Roo what you call Ramshead North is actually Ramshead proper, which looks down into Leatherbarrel which is that drop off you saw. You can take the tree line down sometimes off the back of Ramshead proper - see link below.

The little river you can see winding around is Swampy Plains River.

There is a hill that some people think is Ramshead but it has no name. Ramshead trig is 2192m and on the other side of it going north.

If you have a GPS you will get a better idea. Where you are standing is just north of South Ramshead along a ridge line. Behind you towards Thredbo is an unusual rock formation which looks like a pyramid. North Ramshead is closer to Thredbo and you overlook the main range to Charlottes and can see Kozi, it looks like a pyramid too, and is called Pyramid sometimes.

The tree line you see in your photo is called Champagne bowl/run by some.

Nice photos - hope to get outback again this week or next - depending on weather.

Have a look at this link, and you will see where you were standing taking the the photo. This guys photos are great, and we were looking at this tracks on this day thinking - wow, wonder if we have time.

http://www.ozbc.net/tr_lbctw090809.html
compliments of Blowey.

He saw us too.

http://www.ciau.com.au/snow/rrhist3.asp?rrid=481&mth=8/01/2009

[John Deere]

Noice Work Roo!

[roo]

Does anyone know when the road to charlotte opens?

I want to do some more BC in the next few weeks and am looking for the best entry point.

[BlueHue]

Usually opens after October long weekend so that would mean next Tuesday onwards.

[BrumbyJack]

It was open last week to Spencers creek, but it was closed again on the forecast...


An update. RTA have advised that the road opened today (Tusday 22nd) and will close again at 4pm tonight (please don’t get caught on the wrong side of a gate). Due to the forecast snowfalls the gate will remain closed (weather pending) from 4 pm tonight until Monday 28th.I haven't had another e-mail since then so I suspect it is still closed due to the snow we got/are still getting.

[roo]

cheers,

heading out weekend the 10th, any advice on wether or not carrthers north face is droppable at his time of year, given the recent snow I guess it may be but might be a risk down low

[Barcoo]

Great stuff Roo Maybe we can hook up next year for some BC