Mt Bogong snow conditions

[navboy]

Hi all,
Planning to visit the Big Fella coming weekend. I've climbed it many times in snow but never so late in the year.
Given it was a bumper year for snow and we're already in spring what kind of conditions can be expected?
The intent is to climb up via Staircase on Saturday, reach the summit and walk across to Cleve Cole and return the same way on Sunday.
Would snow shoes, crampons and ice axe be needed?
Cheers
Navman

[Lophophaps]

As Staircase faces north this should melt faster than south-facing slopes. However, as Falls and Hotham have 1-1.5 metres, on balance of probability there will be snow from the bushline. If this slope, and in particular the section above the Gadsden cairn, is iced then instep crampons and an axe may be essential. From the saddle just west of the summit you may find that snow shoes are needed. There may be series of thaws and freezes in the next week, maybe rain, maybe a late snowfall. I'd monitor the Falls and Hotham websites and the Bureau of Meteorology as well. Try not to slip.

[Xplora]

The snow line is above Biv hut and it should be soft by the time your reach it if there is any sun. Snowshoes a must in this spring corn. Crampons would only be required if there is an overnight freeze and you got there real early but snowshoes with a steel claw should suffice if you get there after mid morning. By Saturday the snow will have receded if the rain comes but not enough for you to go without some essential gear. An ice axe is not a lot of use unless there is ice and I doubt there will be any of that by mid morning on the north face. Same for the way out. Weather for the weekend not looking too much of a problem at this stage. Maybe a bit windy and some rain on Sunday. There will be snow cover to CC hut but expect the hut to be busy. You may be lucky though but take a tent.

[andrewa]

To give you some idea if snow cover last weekend

https://youtu.be/y9JwSITN0LE

A

[paidal_chalne_vala]

We tried to reach the top of the Staircase spur on the Football public Holiday Fri. with full packs .We were equipped with snow shoes, snow shovels, ice axes, the full caboodle. The snow above the pole line was so deep ,slippery and so soft that it was a battle to anywhere move at all. It was treacherous . It was exhausting . We planned to reach CC hut but gave up and elected to play it safe and turned back to Bivouac hut in threatening weather.
We did not have green season tent pegs so we could not set up our tents at Biv. hut. It was very busy at the hut too. We chucked it in and slogged it back to Mtn. Ck. That was a L O N G and tiring day .