C a n b e r r a C r o s s C o u n t r y S k i C l u b I n c. Off Piste. (cont d on Page 2) Alerts

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1 C a n b e r r a C r o s s C o u n t r y S k i C l u b I n c. 4 NOVEMBER ISSUE 6, 2016 President s Piece Inside this issue: It s an honour to be back as president after several years as racing coordinator. I would like to thank to Lachlan Kennedy for his outstanding leadership as president over the last four years and to all the committee members for their contributions over the previous years. Planning for season 2017 is already in full swing. If you have any ideas, suggestions etc. please let us know. Speaking of committee members, we are still looking for a new social meetings coordinator. If you are interested in this role, please contact myself or Rowan Christie and we will be happy to discuss. President s Piece 1-2 New Committee 2 Presidents Report Sweden a go to place for back country skiing 4-8 Web Masters Report Little Austria Attempt Blue Lake Tour 3 November (cont d on Page 2) Committee Contacts, Gear for Hire 16 Alerts The CCCSC XMAS Party will be held on Wednesday 7 December. See inside for further details. Margaret Baz and David Russell rock hopping across the Snowy River at Foreman s Crossing.

2 President s Piece (cont d from page 1) Spring Wrap Up This must be one of the coldest springs for many years (not that I m complaining). The October lodge weekend at Charlotte Pass had some of the best snow in its history, you could almost ski from the lodge door. The weekend was a great success, lost car keys and broken car rear window (the wind was that strong on the Sunday) notwithstanding! Keen members have also been out on the main range making the most of it snow camping, touring and telemarking. Summer activities The club doesn t completely shut down during the warmer months, so pencil these dates into your calendar: Club Christmas party on Wednesday 7 December see further information in this newsletter. Perisher Nordic shelter and trails work parties: These are usually held on the first weekend of the month over summer/autumn. Exact dates and arrangements will be posted closer to the time. Norway trip: a couple of club members (including yours truly) are planning a trip to Norway in March next year. The idea is to spend the first week getting our ski legs back on the 200+km of groomed trails at Sjusoen, then do a week long self-supported hut to hut tour. The terrain is gentle with no major climbs or descents and there is no need to carry a heavy pack, however, for the hut to hut tour, participants will need good classic technique (kick and glide) and the ability to cover up to 40 km in a day. Club Discounts When buying items from the outdoor shops in Canberra and Jindabyne it is worth mentioning that you belong to the CCCSC as you are likely to receive a discount. Please contact Dave Drohan or myself for more information. Have a great summer and all the best for the new year. Jo-Anne Clancy President Membership Membership Subscriptions for the 2016 season are now due, and can be paid on Register Now, via the Club website. New Committee The Club held it s 2016 (34th) AGM at the Hughes Community Centre on 28 September The make up of the Committee for 2017 is: Newsletter Contributions Photos of trips, lessons, snow country, meetings or social events. Reports on tours, lessons and races and CCCSC events. Letters to the editor. Articles about XC skiing, snow conditions or related topics. Items to buy or sell. Please send s to cccsceditor@gmail.com The deadline for the next newsletter will be early May President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Tour Co-ordinator Editor Membership Secretary Kosciuszko Tour Co-ordinator Meetings Co-ordinator Webmaster - Jo-Anne Clancy - Ian Turland - Greg Lawrence - Paul Room - Alan Levy / Dave Drohan - Tony Brown - Gale Funston / Karina Ward - Rowan Christie - Vacant - Nick Reece Page 2 Issue 6, 2016

3 President s Report, 2016 The club has 4 activity streams - social meetings, tours, running the Kosciuszko Tour and instruction for beginners, and our club monthly magazine,. This is how we performed in We are getting fewer and fewer people approaching the club for instruction, or enrolling in the clubs instruction sessions. After this year, when only a handful of people enrolled in instruction days, the committee has decided to refer people seeking instruction to the professionals - Wilderness Sports, K7 and Paddy Pallin. We will in future promote and assist the running of Perisher Cross Country Centre s Come and Try day as our primary means of fulfilling our constitutional objective to promote cross country skiing. This winter, the cross country trails had to be rebuilt four times owing to rain episodes after snow falls. Owing to the skill of the groomers, an almost complete race program was run. Our own Kosciuszko Tour ran in late August this year, on the weekend before the Kangaroo Hoppet. This change was in a way forced on us because critical race officials were not available for our usual weekend in early September. But given the fickle snow conditions that we seem to be getting, the probability of good snow is higher in August than September. As it happened, we had a blizzard on the day of the race. This was challenging for the skiers, but at least we had an abundance of snow which never got above zero (the way I like my snow!) We had about 29 entrants, which is lower than usual, but it was still an exciting and socially rewarding event for the racers. I understand from conversations with Alan Levy, our tour coordinator (who is currently in India), that less tours were run than average this year. I think that the changing snow conditions may be making it difficult for people to plan their skiing too far in advance, and perhaps also are tending to use precious skiing opportunities on their own behalf. The social meetings program this year was very successful with a string of interesting presentations which were well attended by club members. And it is pleasing to report that the club is in a very sound financial position. was very successful this year, with an interesting selection of articles from club members, and dazzling photos. I would like to thank all the members of the committee each of whom donated their time for the good of the club membership and cross country skiing in general. Committee meetings were very enjoyable. Everyone participated in companionable way, and people willingly helped out with whatever task was to hand. I am taking a leave of absence from the committee in I am constitutionally barred from being president, and after 4 years on the committee I need a break. I hope the club can take advantage of my absence to introduce some new faces to the committee for XMAS Party Wednesday 7 December The CCCSC XMAS Party will be held on Wednesday 7 December at Nara Park, Lennox Gardens (on the lake shore behind the Hyatt Hotel) from 5:30pm. A club banner will be erected near one of the BBQs. This is a BYO food and drink event. So come along and say hello and goodbye to your ski mates till next year. Lachlan Kennedy Page 3

4 Sweden - a go to place for back country skiing! To round off a brilliant season of social meetings this year Karin Ahrling and Brian Polden explained why they have enjoyed skiing and walking in the Valadalen area of Sweden. This area is east of the Norwegian border on the same latitude as Trondheim (about 70 degrees north). A line of sharp peaks which lies just on the Swedish side of the border provides a scenic back drop to a network of ski trails which intersect at mountain hotels or back country cabins, all between 15 and 20 kilometres apart. The trails (all way marked with diagonal crosses on snow poles placed every 20 metres) wind through the wide valleys beside the peaks, and sometimes over the saddles between them. The terrain is easy rolling - no serious steeps, no height exposure unless you attempt to summit a peak. Access To visit the Valadalen area you do not need your own wheels. It is a 5 hour train ride from Stockholm, or a little longer from Oslo (via Trondheim). Enafors is the rail stop from which you can take a bus or taxi to a trail head at Storulvan Fjallstation (800 m.a.sl.) Another trail head at Valadalen fjallstation (600 m.a.s.l.) is accessible by bus from the rail way stop at Undersaker. The highest cabin in the area is Gasenstugorna which is at about 1,100 m.a.s.l. Accommodation The Swedish Tourist Association (English site - runs both mountain hotels (fjallstations) and cabins throughout Sweden. The hotels provide accommodation in rooms or dormitories and have restaurants or kitchens if you would prefer to self cater. The Blauhammarens fjallstation restaurant has a national reputation in Sweden. Page 4 Issue 6, 2016

5 Sweden - a go to place for back country skiing! (cont d) The cabins have communal kitchens, but do not have restaurants (although, like the hotels they do have saunas). The cabins are heated, thermally insulated, and have double glazing. Each cabin usually has a resident manager in winter who allocates your bed. Cabins have usually 4 person rooms. You cook your own food which you may have bought with you, or which you have bought from the limited larder of non-perishable foods for sale in the cabin. You will have to collect water from nearby creeks or lakes, and empty slops and keep the kitchen clean. If there is a wood stove you are expected to leave a supply of wood for the next party - normal Australian hut etiquette. It is not possible to book a cabin in advance, but you should book fjallstations in advance. It is the custom in both Norway and Sweden that no one will be refused accommodation at a fjallstation or cabin. If the cabin is crowded or you don t have a hotel booking you will be given a mattress and you will be told which part of the floor to sleep on. You must bring a sleeping sheet and pillow slip. The cabin or hotel will provide blankets or doonas. Safety Way marking is excellent. Mobile phones work pretty much everywhere that you might be skiing. There are shelters with emergency phones midway between most major huts and fjallstations. (These shelters make good places to stop for lunch.) Helicopter extraction is reportedly free. Page 5

6 Sweden - a go to place for back country skiing! (cont d) Weather It s the mountains - weather can change quickly. The fjallstations and cabins have weather reports and advise on the safety of travel. The way marking means that it is possible to travel in poor visibility, but wind can make it unsafe to travel. Add a bad weather day to your planned itinerary. Cost The cost of mountain accommodation is not entirely absorbed by the Swedish taxpayer. Expect to pay 400 Swedish Kroner ($65) per person in the fjallstations (although some have cheaper bunk rooms). Cabins cost SeK350 ($54). Dinners at fjallstation restaurants are about SeK 350 as well. Costs are discounted if you are a member of the Swedish Tourist Association, Youth Hostels Australia, and probably Norway s Den Norsketuristforening (DNT). When to go There is usually enough snow from the new year, but daylight is in short supply given the high latitude. Weather is better, and days longer in February, March, up to mid-april. The equinox is in early March. Resources The Swedish map covering the area is the 1: Z6 Storlien-Ljungdalen map. It s available from online vendors. Page 6 Issue 6, 2016

7 Sweden - a go to place for back country skiing! (cont d) Swedish train: Snowdepth report: Fjallstations Blahammarens Storluvans Sylarnas Helags Valadalen Self catering cabins Gasenstugorna Stensdalsstugorna Valastastugorna Norwegian self catering huts Nedalshytta Storerikvollen Page 7

8 Sweden - a go to place for back country skiing! (cont d) Lachlan Kennedy (with lots of assistance from Karin Ahrling and Brian Polden) Page 8 Issue 6, 2016

9 Web Master s Report, 2016 The web site for the Canberra Cross- Country Ski Club has continued to provide an internet presence for our club. It provides members and the public easy access to information about our Club, and some extras for Club members, such as complete issues of and a members listing. This year, the web site for the Canberra Cross-Country Ski Club had its biggest change since it was first published in Previously, the web site was static, where a single copy of the site was kept on the web master s computer, which was regularly updated and published to the public web site. This ensured that a true copy of the web site always existed, at the cost of the web master being a bottleneck in keeping the site up-to-date. This year, Nick Reese moved the Club s web site to use Word Press. This has given all members of the Committee the ability to update their part of the web site whenever they need, at the cost of a risk of losing the site s integrity in a hacking attack. As part of the move, Nick redesigned the look of the web site and to take advantage of Word Press abilities, such as serving different versions of the same page, depending on the viewing device. There were some teething problems with the site during the change-over, but they have generally been fixed. After looking after the Club s web site almost continuously since its creation in 1995 (with a break for a few years in the 2000s), I am glad to hand the task over to Nick Reese to once again look after our Club s web site. Ken Moylan ex-cccsc Web Master Latest Snowy Hydro Snow Depth Calculator comparison of 2016 to 2015 snow depth ent/snow-depths-calculator/ 25th October 2016 Page 9

10 Little Austria Attempt A set of photographs taken from a ski tour on 15 October 2016, that went from Foreman s Crossing to Carruther s Peak to near Little Austria to The Grandstand to Lake Albina to Mueller s Pass to Mt Clarke and back down to Foreman s Crossing. The Snowy River at Foreman s Crossing. David Russell heading up to Carruther s Peak. He has dressed for the wind that came up during the morning. Page 10 Issue 6, 2016

11 Little Austria Attempt (cont d) David Russell rock hopping across the Snowy River at Foreman s Crossing. i David Russell heading up to Carruther s Peak Page 11

12 Little Austria Attempt (cont d) David Russell telemarking down to Lake Albina. Look at his ski tracks - at least 9 linked turns and no craters. Rowan Christie and Margaret Baz. Below Lake Albina, with Mt Townsend / Alice Rawson s Peak in the background. Page 12 Issue 6, 2016

13 Little Austria Attempt (cont d) Margaret Baz on the skyline, climbing Mt Northcote. David Russell, Rowan Christie and Margaret Baz during our lunch break. We were in a gully in an attempt to shelter from the wind blowing in from the plains. In the background is the upper part of Lady Northcote s Canyon. Page 13

14 Little Austria Attempt (cont d) If you look closely, you can see our ski tracks. From the ridge-top down to our lunch stop (half-way down) and from there to the bottom, where we started climbing. Margaret Baz skiing along one of the ridges near the Grand Stand & Lake Albina area. Page 14 Issue 6, 2016

15 Blue Lake Tour 3 November 2016 Bruce Bartlett wading across the Snowy River at Foreman s Crossing. Alan Levy wading across the Snowy River at Foreman s Crossing. Page 15

16 White s River Hut White's River hut scanned from Elyne Mitchell's book 'Australia's Alps' published in Note the horse corral and the clothes line. Photo supplied by Lachlan Kennedy Giveaway I have a spare copy of this beautiful Coffee Table Book by One of a Kind Photography Adventures. It has around 5 images from around the Kosciuszko area. If anyone is interested, the first to SMS me can have it. Images shown below are by Timothy Poulton and Mel Sinclair. Page 16 Issue 6, 2016

17 Club Committee Contacts President Jo-Anne Clancy Vice President Ian Turland Secretary Greg Lawrence Treasurer Paul Room Membership Secretary Gale Funston / Karina Ward cccsctreasurer@gmail.com cccscinfo@gmail.com We re on the web! Tour Coordinator Alan Levy / Dave Drohan Kosciusko Tour Coordinator Rowan Cristie Meeting Coordinator Vacant Newsletter Editor Tony Brown Webmaster Nick Reese cccsctours@gmail.com cccscracing@gmail.com cccscmeetings@gmail.com cccsceditor@gmail.com cccscwebmaster@gmail.com C ANBERRA C ROSS C OUNTRY SKI C LUB PO Box 6234 O Connor ACT info@cccsc.asn.au Fun and fitness in the snow 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 Trangia stove - $3/weekend; - $5/week Snow shovel - $4/weekend; - $6/week Contact Noel Mungovan (ph) (H). 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) Contact Alan Levy, Jo-Anne Clancy, Bruce Porter or Lachlan Kennedy. GPS (Garmin ETrex Vista HcX) Contact Alan Levy & Jo-Anne Clancy Page 17