My time at Mt Hotham - and other experiences up here

[El_Freddo]

G'day all

I thought I'd share my experiences since moving up to Mt Hotham for a season.

I'm sure you've all read about my radiator freezing exercise, always make sure you've got quality antifreeze!

So far I've enjoyed my time - more so now since we've got almost a record snow base! The last week of snow fall has been simply wicked. Skiing knee deep powder on Thursday morning was pretty much a life changing experience! I really need to learn how to turn in powder...

Just before the start of the season we brought everything we needed up in Ruby Scoo and the trailer I knocked up just before we left for Mt Hotham. The trailer carried my 27 inch tyres and Kez's "ebay special" hair salon.

While parked in that position we had some super cold weather + the wind chill factor, Ruby Scoo copped this:

I got that sorted and moved her down to the staff carparking. I've had a bit of fun in there and I'm getting good at accessing Ruby to start the warm up process while I dig her out, pics on that later.

I must say that I love driving on a snow covered road - the noise is different and when you can see for ages with no one coming, well, you know...

There's something different about living on top of a snow covered mountain - at least when there's snow, when the snow is/has melted the mood of the staff here is very low. But its the opposite when there's snow falling/staying/heaps of it (yet still not enough). Here's Hotham Central and the Mt Hotham Summit (just out of shot on left) under moon light about 3 weeks ago - using a long exposure the digi camera was able to snap this one:

^ the little lights on the mountain tops on the right are snow guns pumping out the good stuff. They're not needed now and have more snow on them than they'd probably produce in a night!

I've managed to do some 4wd'n and exploring with a mate that's local to the area since he was knee high to a grasshopper. Here's a video of our first trip out:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5amnTrvXG8"]YouTube- Russel & Ruby Scoo 4wd around Hotham Airport[/ame]

The next trip out was down Omeo way. We did some exploring in a mine until we got to a roof collapsed section - we could've gone past but weren't properly equipt so turned back:

^ This last track was from the old mining days and wouldn't be there if the miners didn't build a 3 metre stone wall to hold all the rocks etc in place for us to drive on.

This is how I usually find Ruby Scoo now:

We did a day trip to Mt Buffalo - it is a shame what they're doing to the now 100 year old Chalet up there. It is not being used for anything and is just wasting away up there, its been 2 years since its was last open for bookings over a winter. Rumour has it that they're going to open it up for tender again, finger's crossed. Here are some pics, not a lot of snow around but I'm keen to get back up there for a poke around again:

Ruby Scoo with The Horn in the back ground:

and with the falls on the way back down from the Mountain:

The interesting thing about the Mt Buffalo road is that it feels like a true mountain road - no guard rails on some pretty tight and narrow corners, steep gradients at times and an awesome view of the valleys below!

 

[El_Freddo]

Then there was the last 4wd'n session with the Victorian subi club where the goal of the day was mainly finding snow, but we were almost too far south with the given weather conditions. Here's a few pics of that event:

Beigewagon giving it a red hot go in some really slippery conditions:

Owen biting off more than he can chew in TGM:

Our camp on Saturday night at Walhula (Schpelling?):

And where we ended up at one stage on Sunday:

^ That got a bit hairy at times. Glad we didn't find a road block at the end!

And the three posers before we crossed the Thompson River (Subaruby, could you "donate" a river crossing pic for here?):

I "scored" a "lovely" new ding in my replacement fuel tank

Back to Hotham after a big week and a huge weekend. This is not an un-usual sight out our bedroom window after a bit of snow and a "bluebird" day:

And this is how we found Ruby Scoo when we went off mountain to vote:

And after:

I'm hoping to visit her tomorrow (saturday) and will be expecting MUCH worse! I think we've had about 80cm of snow this week alone!

While we were off mountain for voting we decided to go the whole hog and head for Lakes Entrance for fish and chips on the beach While poking around we found a large sand bowl with no signs saying do not enter. So off I went without airing down. You can guess the rest... This is the only decent pic of the whole bogged situation:

 

[El_Freddo]

After two attempts of jacking and filling holes we found some wood/sticks and did it again, this time with aired down tyres and success following our efforts. The victory pic:

The fish and chips on the beach were awesome! Well worth the effort.

Back at Hotham on the Monday we had an awesome day of skiing. The expert and extreme skiing was now open - not that that had stopped us from skiing it earlier! Here's a group of mates walking out to some back country that drops us into Swindler's Valley - Good times!

It was also Retro day on monday with drinks at the Brockoff hut, a few of the staff in action:

One of the many weird and wonderful things you see up here if you open your eyes and mind to things other than what concerns you and mates:

Skiing the powder on Thursday morning - I'm still clipped into my skis in this pic, with out them I dread to think how far down I'd be:

And I couldn't end this part of the story without a subi pic - here's my mate's L series that's parked out the front of the Arlberg building, they got it out of this today for my bro to drive home for the weekend:

The Arlberg building design out the back on higgi drive has 3 floors above the stepped ground level, the top is the 6th floor, being ours - We were that excited about the powder situation that on wednesday night a house mate and I jumped out of our 6th floor window down to the snow that was just above the 4th floor's windows. It was exhilarating to say the least!

While I've probabily made this out to be romantic towards the ideals of living in the snow, there are quite a few ups and downs plus the staff social situation can get interesting at times too. I didn't expect these when I came up here - the depression of the snow melting away the day after your bouncing off the walls at the amount of snow that fell is the biggest one for sure!

Anyway, I hope to update this thread from time to time, if you have any questions fire away, I'd be more than happy to answer them as best as I can!

Cheers

Bennie

 

[jarradds]

Some really good photos, looks like you had fun... It wouldn't have been easy getting the cars out from under the snow.

 

[carljwnc]

"Frozen Subaru Productions" Looks like you've had a great winter.:ebiggrin:

 

[Kevin]

Fantastic stuff Bennie - hope it lasts till I get there!

 

[Barry]

Bennie, you are spot on about Mt Buffaloe and the Chalet. A classic example of the down side of privatisation of the railways.
We had our honeymoon there in '84, lots of great walking all over the Plateau.

 

[El_Freddo]

Thanks everyone! The saga continues!!

We had Jimmy Blaze put on a sled (read skidoo) show for us tonight. I'm hoping to post my video on youtube before the night is out. It was an awesome event culminating with a back flip that was simply awesome. After the event there were some fireworks from the top of the Mt Hotham summit - you really couldn't have asked for better weather after what we had 3 days ago!

Barry - I hear you mate, I'd love to visit these places back in their hay day, same goes for early Melbourne and Sydney/outback oz and the gold mining times! I have a particular affinity with the gold mining times for some reason. I've been to one place in the lerderderg area where I had an overwhelming sense of being there before, I could point out features and everything! I asked M&D (the pero's) if they'd taken me there before (we used to do a lot of camping!) but they reckon I'd never been there before. Crazy.

Anyway, hopefully I'll have this video and some pics of Ruby Scoo buried in snow up shortly.

Cheers

Bennie

 

[El_Freddo]

Ok, so here's the staff carpark at Whisky flat - dunno why they call it that cos I've not ever seen any whisky down there!

We apparently had 112cm of snow last week gone so I was keen to get some snaps of Ruby Scoo under more snow - more than the previous pics!

The Nissan sponsored Village Bus - its odd that the camera pics up the advertising better than when you look at it with your own eyes...

A ford in the staff carpark - I don't know how this was cleared in such a way but here's a pic for you:

One of the more unusual snow formations on the top of some cars - I reckon the wind has come from behind the vehicles to create the double cornice (as such) across the front of both vehicles:

This is how I found Ruby Scoo:

Good times! Can't wait to dig her out... I'm thinking of just clearing the windscreen and a bit of the path out and leave it at that - then see what happens. Not much I'm guessing!

Cheers

Bennie

PS video next....

 

[El_Freddo]

Jimmy Blaze and the his backflip on a skidoo:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHbGYAP6jLc"]YouTube- Jimmy Blaze at Mt Hotham 28AUG10.mov[/ame]

Awesome time!

Cheers

Bennie

 

[Kevin]

great!

 

[Subaruby]

Nice report looks like heaps of fun, no doubt hard work as well.

And the three posers before we crossed the Thompson River (Subaruby, could you "donate" a river crossing pic for here?):

As requested...

Venom making a nice little wave

El_freddo picking his line

 

[eden]

Man thats good snow for Oz. spewin i missed out this year. glad your enjoying it:biggrin:

 

[mr turbo]

Looks & sounds like you had a great time El_Freddo

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Kevin]

So do you take a shovel with you to the carpark Bennie? I'm thinking I should keep one with me just in case (i.e. not much use if its inside the vehicle)

 

[El_Freddo]

So do you take a shovel with you to the carpark Bennie? I'm thinking I should keep one with me just in case (i.e. not much use if its inside the vehicle)

Yep. Every time at the moment. Although it is currently raining and I took her out for a drive on Monday so she shouldn't have any snow again until it falls again - and hopefully it will!

Cheers

Bennie

 

[yarney]

Fantastic pics

I did notice you have no sump guard your gamer than me

Jan

 

[Kevin]

^ yes, I noticed that too but wasn't sure if Bennie had taken one off or not.

Although it is currently raining

The forecast doesn't look too good! Anyway, we'll be there Saturday; staying at Zirky's.

 

[El_Freddo]

^ yes, I noticed that too but wasn't sure if Bennie had taken one off or not.



The forecast doesn't look too good! Anyway, we'll be there Saturday; staying at Zirky's.

I'm in the Arlberg...

Anyway, about the lack of bash plate, I've not had one since the conversion. It is on the list of first things to do when I get it home, unless I can sort one out at a mates place just off the side of the mountain. I should look into this as I really need one!

Cheers

Bennie

 

[Kevin]

Arrived at Hotham Saturday - p'ing down with rain and wild wild winds! Should catch up with Bennie tonight.