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anyone got a good blue lake topo map?

brendane

14-Aug-2008
9:04:59 PM

hey all - I am hiking into blue lake from charlottes pass in a few weeks...I had a good topo but it was borrowed and never returned!...has anyone got a good one they can email me? Would be greatly appreciated!!

I have found a few average ones on the net but could use a better one

cheers,
brendan

wallwombat

14-Aug-2008
9:28:55 PM

Hi Brendan,

I just sent you a PDF of an old photo topo out of a Blue Lake Guide that came in Australian Rockclimber Magazine a thousand years ago (1989).

I think I scanned it in upside down but that shouldn't matter if you print it out.

I hope it helps.

Anyone else want a copy just holla.

Stefan Karpiniec

14-Aug-2008
9:47:14 PM

I've got the 1973 guide - strictly historical interest only, but I can scan it if anyone's interested.

Capt_mulch

15-Aug-2008
2:00:10 PM

I'm heading up to Blue Lake this Sunday. Anyone who wants to come is welcome. I've got rope/ice screws etc.

brendane

15-Aug-2008
3:13:21 PM

hey WW thanks heaps for the PDF, busy day only just checked my email. thanks mate!

See you guys up there then....hopefully the weather is on our side.

cheers

brendan

grangrump

20-Aug-2008
1:03:37 PM

Crossthreaded from a Mulchy post:
The snow conditions on the Main Range are just fantastic. The coverage is amazing, so travel should be fast, and it will be easy to go direct. ... My only worry the other day was that there are sections (especially on south facing slopes), that have icy glaze on them as we haven't had a good dump of snow for about a week, and have been having clear days and cold, clear nights. You might not get as good as this for another twenty years. You guys understand what to keep away from. Be safe.
BTW, if you are going to Blue Lake via Charlotte Pass, there is now a road snow ploughed from the Kosi road, down to the Snowy bridge, then up to Blue Lake via Hedley Tarn.

But to get to Charlottes Pass you're stuck with the oversnow from Perisher each way (last one leaving CP at 3.30 pm), or a fairly tedious ski back? or am I missing something

Capt_mulch

20-Aug-2008
1:39:44 PM

You can head in from Guthega, but if I was heading in for the day the trip up from Perisher along the road may be faster. I found last Sunday that the conditions were very icy and nasty to ski on for the first couple of hours, at least if you head up the road from Perisher the oversnow transport and skidoos have chopped the surface up for you so that it is nice to ski on. Last year I did the Perisher to Charlotte Pass route in one and a half hours without pushing it hard (we were in a big group) and it took us at least 3 hours to travel up the Snowy from Guthega last Sunday (I could have done it in 2 hours, but my buddy was using AT gear and skins, which slowed things down considerably). The only problem is you only have day parking at Perisher, whilst you can leave your car in the overnight parking area at Guthega if going in for multiple days.

Another point - if you head up from Guthega and we get a good dump of snow in the next couple of days there is avalanche potential along the east facing slope at grid ref. 200700 - especially as it has been icy for that last few days - add a fresh dump on top and woomfa. That east facing slope is steep at the top and has cornice build up on it in sections. I was a bit peaky all the way up to Blue Lake the other day, even before what happened, and was probing the slopes as I went to see if it was blocky and breaking up. If you go in from Perisher / Charlotte Pass the biggest danger is getting distracted by a snow bunny and the cold beer at the very accessible bar at Charlotte Pass pub (I love a bar you can ski right up to).

Just watch the weather too - there's a big whacky front heading our way, but it might be good for Sunday if that high pressure system moves over the top quickly. At least it is unlikely to be too icy for the next few days.

Capt_mulch

20-Aug-2008
1:50:57 PM

After what happened last Sunday I don't think the avalanche danger can be emphasised too much everyone. We have not had conditions like this for twenty years. For Australian conditions, there is a freaking lot of snow out there. Review avalanche procedures before you go, don't cross under dodgy areas in a group, wear your harnesses and rope up with lighter rope (I have eight mm 30 metre dry twin rope that I use as a single for this) if you have to cross dodgy areas (watch out for snow bridges and frozen over lakes). Sounds a bit boy scouty, but why not practice the procedures anyway? Also, just stay right away from those areas that are dodgy. There was a couple who camped near Blue Lake last weekend, and who came up and helped us with the probing on the debris field. I had a chat with them later about what happened - they had the fear of god in their eyes as they told me that they had skied across the slope where the avalanche occurred only the day before, completely oblivious to the danger.

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