Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby iTool » Sun 14 Jul, 2019 2:17 pm

Thanks for the clarifications guys.

I'll be in a rental vehicle, so won't be carrying chains and definitely won't proceed if the road is closed to all traffic (as I strongly doubt I'll be insured in the case of an accident). Unlike the big players, it seems Apex rentals don't have a "no driving on snow-covered roads" restriction, which gives us a bit more flexibility than most tourists - even if we need to keep to a more leisurely pace due to conditions.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Nuts » Sun 14 Jul, 2019 2:53 pm

Overlandman wrote:
Cradle Mountain Road/Dove Lake Road – road open but use extreme caution.




This one could probably benefit from a bit more clarity, even if it brief before obscurity.

The road is (was?) open, it's considered passable without 4wd.

Iv'e been up there the last two days (and enough times in winter) and would add that it should be kept in mind this alert only applies to the road itself. There may be no place you can get off the road.Those cars you see coming through may well be passing by Cradle Mt. altogether (not today as the road west of CM is/was(?) closed). Those tyre tracks off the road may well have been a 4wd or AWD.

So many dramas caused by people trying to turn around or pull off onto a verge, the drive wheel looses traction and that's where they stay. On top of that, without forecast or warning,even the main road can quickly turn to 4wd conditions (ie. in the space of a snow shower..).

Most of the accommodation places (and management authorities) have snow plows and will tow but keep in mind that, given the snow and increased visitation is all happening over a short time frame, you may find getting in to accommodation sites or even off into the car-parks can get you stuck or else take some time/effort.. and they all seem hesitant to over-warn potential customers.. walk in and ask for advice? or it's very easy to block the road/ slide into a drift and do some damage. Away from the centres (at CM) think carefully before going anywhere (at all) off the cleared road, especially late in the day.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby iTool » Sun 14 Jul, 2019 10:02 pm

Thanks, good advice. I've driven in snow/icy conditions overseas before, but admittedly that was all on asphalt. Never hit black ice either, as you don't really get that at 20-something below zero!

The rental company said I'll be given either a RAV4 or Outlander (I confirmed they're not running FWD spec models), so on-demand AWD with "lock" functions. Not true centre diff locks, but hopefully enough to get moving from a standstill on the slippery stuff.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Nuts » Sun 14 Jul, 2019 10:26 pm

Hi iTool

'Black Ice' is just ice on the hard top/black bitumen road surface, difficult to see.
Generally just watch the shady corners in winter. Snow affecting driving conditions is uncommon here, the conditions now don't really indicate much beyond now.
2 wheels driving is good insurance but I'd not be too concerned.

My comments (if for any reader) were probably as much for locals who seem to fall for the same set of dramas every snowy weekend :)
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Tue 16 Jul, 2019 10:42 am

From Parks & Wildlife Service

Updated 16 July 2019

The Cradle Mountain webcam is currently out of order due to snow damage to the electrical infrastructure. Repairs will be undertaken as soon as possible. For further information please contact Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre on (03) 6492 1110.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Fri 09 Aug, 2019 8:50 am

More snow overnight on the higher peaks and more to follow.
Any current reports from Cradle.
Regards OLM
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Lophophaps » Fri 09 Aug, 2019 11:14 am

I was a passenger in a car on the Alpine Way, Kosciuszko NP, approaching Dead Horse Gap from the west in winter. The bitumen was dry, with some water across the road from snow melt in the sun. We went into a shady corner and hit ice, spinning out of control backwards down the embankment, scary. The back of the car stopped in saplings and bushes, minor damage. The car was towed out and could be driven. A short distance towards Thredbo we saw two other cars in two places down the embankment, like us with very long tow ropes from the tow trucks.

Be very careful of shady corners in winter. Reduce speed and turn slowly.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Warin » Fri 09 Aug, 2019 4:39 pm

Lophophaps wrote:Be very careful of shady corners in winter.


Does not have to be a corner, any spot that is/has had shade should be treated as dangerous. And at night ... :(
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Mon 19 Aug, 2019 8:02 am

Good snow falls over night with snow low down on Mt Roland.
Some snow on the ground at Great Lake
Is there any reports Cradle Mountain way?
Regards OLM

Edit
Closed roads from Tasmania Police community alerts

Pinnacle Road, Mount Wellington – closed at The Springs.

Belvoir Road – closed due to snow, clearing commencing.

Cradle Mountain Road/Dove Lake Road – closed due to snow, clearing commencing.

Lyell Highway between Derwent Bridge and Lake Burbury – closed due to snow, clearing commencing.


Video of the snow at Cradle Mountain Hotel

https://m.facebook.com/cradlemountainhotel/
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby iTool » Mon 19 Aug, 2019 9:18 pm

We left Cradle yesterday morning and the wet had only just started to hit, and Roland was shrouded in cloud. This afternoon we had very fine snow pellets fall on us at 400m elevation crossing the Eastern Tiers. Could see plenty of the white stuff up on the Ben Lomond plateau from Highway 1.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Thu 22 Aug, 2019 12:44 pm

Good snow cover over night.
Mt Roland was white this morning.

From Tasmania Police Community Alerts

Dangerous Roads

Collins Cap Road – Road open to 4×4 only from Springdale Road to Suhrs Road

Cradle Mountain Road – Open, but use extreme caution.

Dove Lake Road – Open, but use extreme caution.

Highland Lakes Road – Extreme Caution for slippery conditions open to 4×4 only.

Interlaken Road – Road open from Midland Highway through to Steppes 4×4 vehicles only. (2×4 with chains between Bakers Tier and Marlborough)

Lake Dobson Road – Extreme Caution for slippery conditions open to 4×4 and 2×4 with chains only

Lake St. Clair Road – 4×4 and 2×4 with chains only.

Lyell Highway – Wayatinah to Derwent Bridge use extreme caution.

Marlborough Road – Extreme Caution for slippery conditions.

Poatina Road – 4×4 only proceed with extreme caution.

Tunbridge Tier Road – Road open to 4×4 vehicles only



Drive to the conditions and be mindful of changing weather conditions.



Closed Roads

Belvoir Road – Closed from the Murchison Highway to Leary’s Corner. (Expected to be open by midday)

Gordon River Road – has been closed from Florentine Road, West, due to trees over power lines in the Tim Shea area

Lyell Highway – Closed from Lake Burbury to Derwent Bridge. (Expected to be open by 11:00am)

Pinnacle Road, Mount Wellington – closed at Bracken Lane due to snow.

Tarkine Tourist Road (incorporating Rebecca Road, Blackwater Road, Sumac Road, Lake Chisholm Road, Rapid River Road & Tayatea Road) – Closed (Expected to be open by 3:00pm)
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Son of a Beach » Thu 22 Aug, 2019 2:03 pm

No mention of the Mersey Forest Road. Anybody been up there today?
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Hot073 » Thu 22 Aug, 2019 3:05 pm

..
Last edited by Hot073 on Thu 22 Aug, 2019 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Hot073 » Thu 22 Aug, 2019 3:10 pm

..
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Mechanic-AL » Fri 23 Aug, 2019 10:11 am

What a pity the webcam crashes out every winter. Right when it is the best time to take a peek at the view.
Maybe when they start throwing all this money around on a new viewing platform they could install a camera that doesnt shiver so badly :D
"What went ye out into the wilderness to see?
A reed shaken in the wind"?
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby ILUVSWTAS » Sat 24 Aug, 2019 7:54 pm

Son of a Beach wrote:No mention of the Mersey Forest Road. Anybody been up there today?



Drove down there Monday, snow was falling but not settling. But then at KO we had a big dump which would have been the Thursday
Nothing to see here.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Mon 09 Sep, 2019 1:56 pm

4A934835-57AB-4D97-80F0-B3F86499DECF.png

Spring Snow
Over night snow settled on our higher peaks. 8)
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Orbita_Serenitatem » Mon 09 Sep, 2019 9:01 pm

--
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Sat 19 Oct, 2019 9:17 am

A cold southerly blast has left snow on the ground at Dove lake through to great lake,
So once again Cradle Mountain and surrounds are white today.
Regards OLM
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Thu 07 Nov, 2019 7:01 am

6FC419CA-F025-40B6-B66A-1217727FE425.png

A Southerly blast overnight has covered Cradle Mountain area through to Great Lake with snow.
Pretty cold conditions down here.
Regards OLM

Update from ABC

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-07/ ... a/11680676
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Sat 09 Nov, 2019 5:39 pm

43EB92D8-7845-4CB9-A4B2-AD41340D7AD6.png

Just a photo from this afternoon.
Thinking of those affected by the fires in NSW
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Wed 13 Nov, 2019 12:49 pm

Snowvember
Currently snowing up at Cradle Valley.
A strong westerly cold front is passing through with gale force winds
Regards OLM
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Sat 16 Nov, 2019 7:42 am

Still snowing at Cradle Mountain.
Évident on today’s webcam

https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-pa ... e-mountain

Regards OLM
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Hot073 » Sat 16 Nov, 2019 2:09 pm

Just come down off Mt Read and dumping snow above 1000m and about a 80kmh westerly.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Tue 03 Dec, 2019 6:31 pm

F4C8F440-9108-458A-BEAA-2DBC7BAF82D0.png

Currently in NSW at 30°
Noticed it’s sstill snowing down at Cradle.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Gimped » Fri 31 Jan, 2020 11:26 am

Snow forecast above 900m for Monday/Tuesday!!
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Mon 03 Feb, 2020 8:33 am

Feeling cold down on the Northwest coast this morning due to snow settling on Tasmania’s higher peaks including Cradle Mountain through to Great Lake 8)
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Sun 05 Apr, 2020 10:53 am

E208A0F4-B1A5-451A-BBA4-A28AD496ECF4.jpeg

Snow settled on our higher peaks over night including Mt Roland
Regards OLM
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Overlandman » Fri 17 Apr, 2020 12:41 pm

68347859-A512-4566-8D25-C712B497D397.jpeg
68347859-A512-4566-8D25-C712B497D397.jpeg (249.69 KiB) Viewed 52264 times

A southerly blast overnight with snow settling on the higher peaks
Notice the shipping container now located in the car park.
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Re: Cradle Mountain Snow Reports

Postby Son of a Beach » Fri 17 Apr, 2020 1:41 pm

Overlandman wrote:Notice the shipping container now located in the car park.


Good thing you pointed it out. I almost missed it... they've done such a good job of getting it to blend in.
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