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Winter Abels

PostPosted: Mon 18 May, 2020 2:11 pm
by LeftRightShoot
Gday,

In an effort to avoid reinventing the wheel, Im wondering if anyone has compiled a list of Abels that are "winter compatible"? I know that's open for interpretation however by this I mean:

- limited bush bashing
- limited exposed/technical scrambling
- if snow cover, allows walking with microspikes or snowshoes

Maybe even listing your favourite winter Abels would be a good start :)

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Mon 18 May, 2020 3:57 pm
by north-north-west
Snow cover depends very much on weather - even in the depths of winter in our higher places snow can be of short duration. It's highly variable.
That said, given the height of Abels, even without snow ice is frequently a major factor. I've done Black Bluff Range (from the Belvoir Road), Clumner, Cradle, Pelion East, Oakleigh, Murchison, Geikie, kunanyi, Mt Field East & West, Florentine, Legges Tor, Albert and Ben Nevis in winter. Maybe others. All had ice and at least some small patches of snow. kunanyi, even from The Springs, was the the easiest. Descent in particular of the others was definitely awkward.

Kate, Campbell, Brewery and Recondite wouldn't be too bad. Ditto Marion and Collins Bonnet; Trestle if the conditions have been warm and dry enough for a while, although the summit rocks can be iffy with both ice and the wind that's usually blowing up there. Maybe Dundas and Owen, depending on the state of the tracks and roads. The big boulder hops are perhaps best avoided as it can be hard to judge where there's solid footing.

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 19 May, 2020 10:10 am
by north-north-west
Read would be easy - it's road all the way up with just a short amble to the trig. The Wedge track is up the northern spur so in decent conditions there isn't even ice. In the north-east, Arthur and Maurice would be the best - both have reasonable tracks and Arthur in particular is pretty popular.

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 19 May, 2020 10:31 am
by LeftRightShoot
You've mentioned every mountain I've already done! :) Im looking toward the SW now. Rufus sounds good as does the Tyndall. Not sure how "climby" Jukes is.

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 19 May, 2020 11:27 am
by RicktheHuman
I've done the following in winter in conditions varying from blizzards to blue sky windless days with not much snow at all - Adamson's Peak, Hartz Peak, Snowy Range Abels multiple times in winters, Wellington Range Abels, Mt Field Abels, Mt Mueller, Mt Wedge, Wylds Craig.... Frenchmans would be great in winter too! The only real limits are conditions on the day

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 19 May, 2020 1:24 pm
by north-north-west
Jukes would be straightforward. Rufus is a great snowshoe walk. Tyndall track might be a bit hard to follow in snow but if there's a good bit the track doesn't matter once you're far enough up. Hartz, only tricky bit would be the boulders on the last section if there's a certain amount of snow.

Ah yes, Wylds in the snow. The first glimpse of the ice encrusted trig through thick fog was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen on a walk.
I'd love to see Nevada and Snowy South in heavy snow. I suppose the track up Snowy North wouldn't be too bad, but the traverse from Snowdrift could be awkward.

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 19 May, 2020 1:37 pm
by LeftRightShoot
Ill never forget the sound of slowly melting ice crystals on a freezing cold but wind-free day on the Black Bluff Range. :) The short climb to the trig was very slippery (but unnecessary if simply getting the Abel). Crossing Winter Creek was steep but easily traversed by going to the north (great bum-slide on the way back!)

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 30 Jun, 2020 10:13 am
by Tortoise
I'm thinking of trying a tortoid approach to some southern Abels in July, by doing them as overnighters instead of day walks - taking pressure off me with the short days, and starting to rebuild pack-fitness. Weather windows permitting, of course. I wondered if it's possible to find moderately reasonable tent spots in the rainforest on the way up Snowy North. I know it's generally steep, and probably nobody else has looked for any, but I expect they're there. Also thinking about Wylds Craig (Goodwins Moor looks exposed but possible) and Adamsons (which I know is possible). Thanks for any thoughts. :)

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 30 Jun, 2020 10:46 am
by RicktheHuman
Tortoise wrote:I'm thinking of trying a tortoid approach to some southern Abels in July, by doing them as overnighters instead of day walks - taking pressure off me with the short days, and starting to rebuild pack-fitness. Weather windows permitting, of course. I wondered if it's possible to find moderately reasonable tent spots in the rainforest on the way up Snowy North. I know it's generally steep, and probably nobody else has looked for any, but I expect they're there. Also thinking about Wylds Craig (Goodwins Moor looks exposed but possible) and Adamsons (which I know is possible). Thanks for any thoughts. :)


Goodwins Moor was very wet in spots when I was there, but there are no shortage of flat spots to throw a tent up

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 30 Jun, 2020 11:07 am
by LeftRightShoot
Nothing on snowy north until you're up top. Then you're exposed and I don't remember any water being up there. Snowy north is a reasonably short trip (I took 5 hours) so even if you took 9 you could do it all in daylight with an early start. I would not want to pull a full pack through the forest section and up the steep bit either.

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 30 Jun, 2020 1:27 pm
by RicktheHuman
LeftRightShoot wrote:Nothing on snowy north until you're up top. Then you're exposed and I don't remember any water being up there. Snowy north is a reasonably short trip (I took 5 hours) so even if you took 9 you could do it all in daylight with an early start. I would not want to pull a full pack through the forest section and up the steep bit either.


There are some small pools in the pineapple grass to the south as you drop off the summit plateau

Re: Winter Abels

PostPosted: Tue 30 Jun, 2020 2:51 pm
by north-north-west
I've camped on Wylds not far below the ridge. Sort-of-emergency camp as the fog and hail and snow had me totally disoriented and the best option was to bunker down for the night. In good conditions if you add an extra day you could do Shakespeare as well, camping near Lake Laurel.