Gear list for winter base camp

[andrewbish]

Bold colour choice, Moondog.

[Moondog55]

HHHMMMMMMMMM??
Masking tape and flouro pink spray can?
Black tiger stripes?
A bloke could have some fun here.

I found a pair of skis on ebay and I am selling some sound gear to pay for them. '

Karhu Kodiaks 200cm Brand new No bindings

[Moondog55]

Well I may need to put those wheels on the sled. Still hoping for big falls of dry snow before next week tho.
@ Andrew, they were the older Kodiak; yours are better, but still a fun ski for leather boots.
Extra large flysheet strengthened, parka hood fixed, waiting on an XXL Paclite jacket from the USA but apart from needing a new DWR spray on the tent i think I have finished all the preparation

[Moondog55]

Just an update for those who are hesitating.
I spent today mounting skis, adding new heel pads and climbing wires to the touring skis and put a 20mm riser on the old ViperS and arranged to buy a new pair of Scarpa T2s in Wodonga, I had to sell my second trailer to pay for those
I will have 4 sets of skis; all with 75mm NN bindings and there will be a couple of spare pairs of size 11 boots ( seeing as how I'm now in Mondo 30.0) 2 pair of touring skis and 2 pair of Telemark.
Repairs and modifications all done.
Only thing left to buy is a new pair of riggers gloves for firewood collection and cutting
Then all that is left is the packing and checking ............................ and rechecking and checking again.
I will probably have to do 2 trips, a preliminary walk in after a ride up the chair to Cloud 9 and then come back to get the sled with all the spare gear.
Wheres my Nepali porter when I need one??

@ Andrewbish
I hope you are wearing your new ski boots around the house so you know where the hot spots are so you can pre-tape against blisters.

Important

I have just received an email from Falls Creek Lift company that the single ride sightseeing lift ticket up to Cloud 9 restaurant is invalid if you happen to be wearing or carrying skis

[Moondog55]

I'm taking over the lounge room today and packing. My wife asked me if I was taking underpants and I said"Yes; I'm taking 2 pair as a sanitary layer." She answered saying " That should be an INSANITARY layer; you have to be crazy to do this."

[bernieq]

Moondog, a few observations from across the three threads that are covering this epic trip :
That yellow shovel you've bought has a flaw – metal handle – very very cold. Maybe fit a length of poly pipe over it. Here’s a wooden-handled snow shovel of 1970s vintage and only 610g.

1970s snow shovel - 610g with removable wodden handle

snow shovel.JPG (219.83 KiB) Viewed 8015 times

The dampness in the down sleeping bag, as I’m sure you know, comes mostly from your body so it will get damp come what may. For an extended trip you just have to take advantage of any sunny/dry conditions and try to dry out the down.

If your Paddy-made tent needs those short shafts on the corners that can be seen in your photo, don’t forget a base for them as well as for the poles.


In 1977, with a group of around a dozen, I did a 10-day base camp at the Pretty Valley huts. As part of the outdoor component of a Dip Ed, we skied up from Howman’s Gap (past Mt McKay). We built a 5-person igloo and lived in that (and a few tents) for the duration. On the 3rd last day, a few day-trippers from Falls skied past and had lunch (I had twisted a knee and was resting up) and checked out the igloo. Well, the guy went in but came out very quickly and the two girls suddenly lost interest. I knew something was odd but didn’t work it out until the trip back to Melbourne in the back of a Land Rover with 5 others – the igloo must have stunk after 7 days of unwashed bodies !

The igloo was great – we marked out the base circle, scraped off the soft snow and used the shovel to cut blocks for the roof, placing each layer leaning in until meeting at the top (leaving a small air hole). The entrance was a curved tunnel sloping uphill a little to aid sliding in. One candle lit the whole inside with virtually no shadow; it was very warm and amazingly quiet – could not hear someone yelling outside. The inside needs to be smoothed (to prevent drips) and a small ledge at the base of the wall catches any melt and allows it to re-freeze.

BTW, we carried everything we needed for the 10-day trip – including a large bag of dried potato I’d bought from Nordic Ski & Backpacking in Murrumbeena (which turned out to be dried onion flakes !)

Have a great trip.

[Moondog55]

Thanx Bernie
I hope not too many people object to my multiple posts but they help me think and get my gear in readiness.
It would be easier [ but not as much fun] to do this whole thing solo.
The big yellow shovel is a "Disposable" item as I intend to leave it in the hut when we finish up but I take your point and I'll add a roll of duct tape and some PVC foam to my shopping list as insulation for the shaft and handle.
I have been taking photographs today as I pack and I have been weighing all the subsets of gear.
For instance this is my loungeroom after getting every thing from the shed and spare room

[Moondog55]

This is the skin-out load and without the boots & gaiters it weighs 2060g
It should be OK down to below freezing for any time I am moving tho

[Moondog55]

My trusted old WE expedition rucksack.
WE detachable back pocket for fuel [and toilet paper/ sanitiser] Due to an accident with leaking kerosine and the food bag many years ago I will never keep the stove fuel inside the pack
Side pockets are old Karrimor crampon pockets that fit the WE pack perfectly and hold 5 liters each, perfect size for small stuff
All up weighs a hefty 3310g

[neilmny]

Well my 1 vote says don't worry about the ongoing posts Moondog, it's been great to watch you trip developing.

[Moondog55]

My sleeping system minus mattresses
Yes it is old and heavier than the newest stuff but there is plenty of life left in the items and I have no intention of sleeping even a little cold this trip.
MD "Foxhole " bivvy sac
MD "Everest" duvet
J&H Ultra bag and Home made silk liner
Large size compression sack to hold it all, just enough compression to fit smoothly in the bottom of the rucksack, not squeezing the life out the down
All up 3340g

[Moondog55]

This is the big tent system I used when I took my kids camping in the cooler parts of the country.
Fairydown Plateau tunnel dome hybrid tent.
Cheap K-Mart tent-fly /tarp which is.was used solely as a UV guard to protect the tent from the sun
Moss Heptawing fly and poles from my old Vango Mk 3, provides a shaded/sheltered area for taking off wet boots and gear and somewhere to put rucksacks when 4 people are sharing a 3 man (2.5)tent
This will be loaded onto the sled as all up it weighs 6800g

[bailz66]

Still plan on coming through here in August, where abouts near PV hut will you be? We will be lunching in the hut so assume we won't miss you ?

Cheers

[Moondog55]

If you look at the map you will see a "Horseyards" and a second hut which is actually the pit toilet. we will be at the second picnic table close to the toilet [ but not too close] looking forward to meeting you and making you a cuppa

[Moondog55]

If you look at the map you will see a "Horseyards" and a second hut which is actually the pit toilet. we will be at the second picnic table close to the toilet [ but not too close] looking forward to meeting you and making you a cuppa

[Moondog55]

Taking your advice Bernie I just used half a roll of PVC duct tape on the shaft and D-handle, it does make a significant difference in heat transfer. many thanx

[bailz66]

Perfect, know where that is so will see you "Near the toilet"

I guess if your there for a few weeks you wouldn't want to be making a trip to the toilet from the hut in the blizzard or white out

[Moondog55]

Just for everyones amusement here are the skis I will be taking up.
Some of these will be for sale if there is any interest but I'm quite happy to loan out to people who come up. The old blue Betacarves are a very fast, quick turning ski more suited to big plastic boots, the ViperS are more stable but still quite fast, the others work with leather boots and much more touring oriented

[Moondog55]

Almost the last update before I leave on Tuesday.
I have whittled the clothes down some to make room for my ski pants and jacket ( and a couple of "Funny" ski hats of course) just in case I do some serviced runs.

All up I think I have about 95 kilos of gear on the sled train,
Pictures tomorrow
Thanx for putting up with a long winded post and hope to see at least some of you at the Pretty Valley Muster in August

[Moondog55]

Semi-penultimate post
Almost packed but finally organised; I don't have a weigh bridge but weighing everything separately the sled train is over 135kilos.
Just in case of beginners with inadequate gear I have added a mattress set-up
My gear includes 4 pair of boots tho and extra towing harness as I have never used the North American shoulder loop and need to give it a try-out.
Mattresses packed first as they are the lightest, then the Wannigan/food box; then the gear bag.
Everything tanked in the silicon proofed poly-cotton sheet and tied down ( there are other ways to tie down and I will experiment) then my big rucksack and the milk crate with fuel etc last.
Finally skis and the yellow shovel get lashed over everything.

[Moondog55]

The plastic crate holds a lot, last stop before heading up the Falls Creek road will be fresh goods, eggs, bacon, sausages bread.
The lid was rescued from the rubbish bin when I was working for Myer Northland, very strong aluminium and was exactly the right size, hinges are 2 bits of cord

[Giddy_up]

Love the Road Train MD. Wished I was joining you and testing some of my gear in the snow. I would probably be testing my resolve more though!!!!!

Keep us posted of your progress up there if its possible and stay warm and safe.

G_U


"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards"

[Moondog55]

Thanx G-U
Andrew will have the i-Phone so he may post from PV, otherwise I'll take as many pictures as possible and do a report when I return.
BTW, that 135 kilos includes many useless and superfluous items like bourbon, port, red wine and other luxury sundries

[Moondog55]

Also I have to say I am very toey at the moment, I can hardly sit still and I am driving the Boss to distraction. I would have left alrready if it wasn't for the stupid hospital appointment on Tuesaday

[Giddy_up]

Also I have to say I am very toey at the moment, I can hardly sit still and I am driving the Boss to distraction. I would have left alrready if it wasn't for the stupid hospital appointment on Tuesaday

Hope all is well with the medical stuff, but it sounds like you have plenty of remedial therapy on the sled to keep most ailments at bay.


"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards"

[Moondog55]

PM with explanation coming G-U

[Moondog55]

OMG
It actually all fits in the back of the ute with room to spare for the swag and a few milk crates of firewood.

Last post before I leave, see you up there ; some of you anyway.
New batteries in the camera too

[Onestepmore]

Have a great trip and take lots of pics!
I hope the snow fairy is kind to you

[Bluegum Mic]

Have an amazing trip. Hopefully mother nature delivers a bit with this weekends system.

[bailz66]

See you in about 3 weeks weather permitting.