Bushwalk Australia

Tortoise wrote: You're a trouper yourself, you know.

Why, thank you! When we speak about things that wives "put up with" (such as expensive hobbies like skiiing, mountaineering, how many stereo speakers can we get away with in the living room, etc) we use the term WAF. Wife Acceptance Factor. He has always boasted that his WAF is quite high.

Since he's snug in the village with a warm bed, hot shower and food included, Ted decided on a whim (well, my suggestion really as rides back to Melbourne/Geelong will be more easily found on a Sunday) to stay another night and get some downhill skiing in. He also thinks that he knows exactly where he lost his keys (in his camp, near the ruined Megamid) and that they will turn up in spring. Here is hoping.

The only real down side is that his beloved Canon A410 has suddenly stopped working. I suspect that the shutter may simply be frozen, the rest of the camera works fine. Of course he did not bring it down from the camp to be checked out. Am I brave enough for him to take the digital SLR up with him? Hmmmmmmm

It was a magic day on the slopes, apparently. Ted had many excellent runs, and has booked a Telemark skiing lesson for tomorrow afternoon. I hope he can get a lift home!

The next few days look quite good. Hope its like that when I venture forth to try my hand.......

Giddy_up wrote:The next few days look quite good. Hope its like that when I venture forth to try my hand.......

Are you joining him at the base camp? It ain't anything like a groomed downhill run up there!

'tis always the way - you give up, walk out and the weather comes good. Or you pack for a week away walking and come down with the 'flu . . .

I will be Cecile, have been planning it since last year. I am going to walk out to some of the huts and have a bit of a look around and get a feel for it all and use PV as a base of sorts. It's great piece of mind when you have never snow camped, that you can do this with someone like MD.

Well if he gets caught out see if he can get to Wodonga or thereabouts and we can put him up for the night and may be get him on a train ( assuming he can get cheap train travel ). MIL just been visiting and it has cost her $8.00 return to Cockatoo and that was only because she came to Albury otherwise it would be free. I am off work post shoulder surgery so can do a bit of running around. Not sure what my WAF would be to go and get him from Falls though Let me know and I will send you my mobile number.

Regards Raider

Cecile wrote:

Tortoise wrote: You're a trouper yourself, you know.

Why, thank you! When we speak about things that wives "put up with" (such as expensive hobbies like skiiing, mountaineering, how many stereo speakers can we get away with in the living room, etc) we use the term WAF. Wife Acceptance Factor. He has always boasted that his WAF is quite high.

With very good reason, methinks.

If I was still living in Victoria, I'd be very tempted to drop in at some point. My CC skiing days are probably over, due to my continuingly dodgy ankle, but the snow shoes get me places. I loved playing on the high plains, especially in the snow.

Maybe we should all starting booking in so MD knows when he has company??!!? We are planning to go up 8-10 August. I hope the snow hangs round and the weather is nice that weekend. Very excited!!!

We are taking the kids to Lake Mountain tomorrow for a trial run on skis with packs.

I'm picking up our new gear in San Francisco in 2 weeks (gear geek heaven ). Depending on how much of the kids' stuff I am carrying, I think I'll throw some firewood onto the pulk to replace some of MD's missing stash.

Cecile, do let us know that he made it home safely. Bet you will be glad to have him back for a bit. If the weather had been perfect and he lost track of days, he may not have realised what day it was until mid-August...

sim1oz wrote:Maybe we should all starting booking in so MD knows when he has company??!!?

If the weather had been perfect and he lost track of days, he may not have realised what day it was until mid-August...

Sim, I think the more the merrier. A busy camp is a happy camp. Your kids will have fun learning to make igloos, and perhaps they can dig through the show and win a prize for finding the lost car keys! I think he's really looking forward to showing folks some of his survival skills.

"WAF" is definitely one that I will add to my vocabulary, thank you Cecile

My limited personal marital experience (once only) is that WAF is also boosted by the knowledge that the hobbies and associated expense aid contentment, and are significantly cheaper and less worrisome than the all too common pastimes of booze and infidelity

Ted managed to get a lift to Melbourne, now if I can only convince him to catch the train home! Otherwise, I'll drive up and collect him from Spencer St or thereabouts. I'm sure he'll have some stories to post later on.

All's well that ends well...for now, until the next sojourn in August.

Cecile worries too much
At no time was I ever in real trouble except for some frost nip and chilblains
T'was cold tho and there was at least 2500mm of snow at the yards, much more in the drifts and PV hut was totally buried when I skied out on Friday.

"Come on DOWN" folks as the snow is not going to last forever
I must however get totally new flys for the tent and trailer, better and much stronger, ripped to shreds in the same storm that totaled the Megamid

Glad you are back safely, MD. Now there's time to prepare for a glorious August.

Our trial run at Lake Mountain today was instructive. We will make our way up to PV on snow shoes! The girls can learn to ski around PV with the gentle guidance of their dad (and any tips you wish to provide). They were not happy with all the other people flying by and a 90 min lesson was not enough. Snowshoeing, hot lunch off the trail, and tobogganing brought the smiles back, thank goodness. Just to let you know what you are in for... 10yo enjoyed lying down on or off the trail whenever she had enough....



Thanks for the Aldi tip. Very cost effective way to try it out... And I could see a lot of other parents had done the same thing!!!

Any photos to come Moondog?

icefest wrote:Any photos to come Moondog?

Camera is totaled so NO photos at all

Moondog, I see you are heading back tonight. Was hoping you would give us a detailed trip report but the quick turnaround has probably delayed that. Are you taking another camera with you as I would love to see the set up ? Enjoy the skiing and hope you find the keys. You should have plenty of labour up there to help you dig.

Raider

I am taking the Bosses big Canon 1000D
I have the new keys so no problem if I don't find the keys until November

Hi everyone. I understand there are a bunch of folks who are joining the camp at some point, and a few new ones who contacted MD today. He's just gone, and now doesn't have any internet access for the duration.

We never got the opportunity to buy a Telstra SIM card so contact will be sporadic, whenever he gets past the cattle grid closer to the resort. If anyone needs to get a message through, drop me a note and I'll try to pass it along.

The camp is at Pretty Valley. Head up to Eagle Rock and continue out past Pretty Valley Hut about a kilometre. He is camped in the horse yards, on the right hand side, not far from the pit toilet.

Lost (or misplaced): one digital pattern camouflage raincoat, part of his survival gear pack.

He: It was in the side pocket of my rucksack and I pulled it out here, at home.
Me: Have you looked in the bedrooms, back room, laundry, clothesline etc etc?
He: I looked everywhere.
Me: Did you leave it in the ski lodge?
He: I don't know, I'll check when I get back there.

He left without it.

Phone call: He: the jacket isn't in the ski lodge so it's at home, when you find it can you please post it to me?
Me: Did you leave it in your tent?
He, rather disdainfully: It's survival gear. I would never have left without it. I'll ring you tomorrow, I'm at the cattle grid and am skiing to the tent, I'm hungry and tired, and will pick up the rest of the gear tomorrow. Bye!

Me: looks everywhere except the car, because it's too damn cold to go out there.

So...shall I take bets on where he left it?

Cecile wrote:Lost (or misplaced): one digital pattern camouflage raincoat...

One good argument against camo gear.

north-north-west wrote:

Cecile wrote:Lost (or misplaced): one digital pattern camouflage raincoat...

One good argument against camo gear.

Of course. It's camouflage. Silly me, why didn't I think of that?

Was it white camo gear, to blend with our recent snowfalls?!!

A

andrewa wrote:Was it white camo gear, to blend with our recent snowfalls?!!

A

I don't know. I can't find it!

In the car of the person he got a lift home with?

Travis.

Travis22 wrote:In the car of the person he got a lift home with?

Travis.

I wondered that, too. Unfortunately, I don't think he has their details. He was dropped off at Southern Cross station, and took the train back to Geelong. Perhaps on the train.

I don't have any further updates yet. I hope that there's some information for those of you who are planning to go up this Friday.

Edit update. A bluebird day today, and instead of skiing MD spent the day rearranging the tent and organising the campsite. "I'm so sick of porridge and two minute noodles!" "Where's all of your food?" "In the food box, but it's buried under two metres of snow."

EEK

He's pretty happy with the big tent, even if it's old, and although the stove is helpful the flue is still too short. He's quite warm for sleeping, which is good. He's also very glad he went back on Wednesday instead of waiting a week. He is convinced that the whole camp would have been destroyed under the weight of the snow.

And the lost raincoat was in the tent all along. Why am I not surprised?

Hi Moondog, Cecil, et al

I'm planning to head to Falls Creek then onto Pretty Valley this Friday. My first venture out this winter and very much looking forward to some time in the snow.

I have room in the car if anyone needs a lift that day (Leaving from Ringwood area).

Andrew

andrewbish wrote:Hi Moondog, Cecil, et al

I'm planning to head to Falls Creek then onto Pretty Valley this Friday. My first venture out this winter and very much looking forward to some time in the snow.

I have room in the car if anyone needs a lift that day (Leaving from Ringwood area).

Andrew

Andrew, do you want Ted to meet you at Windy Corner, or further up the mountain? I can give him a message next time he rings.

Cecile wrote:Andrew, do you want Ted to meet you at Windy Corner, or further up the mountain? I can give him a message next time he rings.

Sent you a PM