Photos from Austin and Andrew. Click on any image to enlarge.
Trip: 🏔️ Snowy Mountains Snowshoe Shuffle on 29/08 to 31/08/2025
Maybe it’s because I live a sheltered (and sadly unadventurous) life, at least compared with the rest of UNSWOC, but this Snowshoeing trip organised by Alex, Adam, and Rory was one of the best hiking trips I’ve done. Below is an honest man’s recount of what happened.
Day 1
The evening drive down to Jindabyne was fairly uneventful, punctuated only by a maccas run and Ikea Canberra dinner. Full of meatballs, we continued down into Jindy as the snow flurries grew larger, the wind stronger and the traffic heavier.
At the caravan park, we met up with Adam, Rory and Dan who were in the laundry (the only warm room in the place). The route for tomorrow was discussed and gear checked. As the campsite was actually a big puddle, everyone decided to sack the tents and sleep in the cars. Unfortunately, Andrew and I drew the short straw (having bummed a ride with Alex), and slept in the laundry. Despite the occasional weird glances through the windows, it was actually quite cozy.
Day 2
Keen to beat the traffic up Kozciusko Road, we left at precisely 6:27am for Guthega power station. The snow bank from the snowplough had blocked the entrance to the carpark, so some half hearted shovelling was required to park Dan’s car. Alex and Adam went to park the other car at Guthega ski resort.
We set off up Schlink Pass Road for Horse Camp Hut with Alex breaking trail. It was my first time snowshoeing, and the weather and snow could not have been better. It was also quite warm, and soon everyone was taking layers off. There’s a picture somewhere of a shirtless Rory in the snow but I can’t find it.
The scenery was a big contrast from my previous experiences of the Main Range in the summer. The fairly strong wind and warm-ish temperatures meant the snow wasn’t super deep along the road, so the going wasn’t too bad, at least on the flats and downhills.
Eventually, after crossing a stream, we came across Horse Camp Hut. As it was full of Newcastle Uni Mountaineering club students who had stayed since Thursday, it perhaps wasn’t surprising that the little table inside was dominated by mostly drunk jugs of Fireball. Apparently there had been a blizzard the night before and some 30 people had been in the hut/ tents.
The Newcastle uni students had built a series of jumps on the hill behind the hut. Adam, keen to use the splitboard, went to do a couple runs while everyone else enjoyed the fire and some TimTams.
Soon, it was time to press on. We signed the visitor book, said our goodbyes to the Newcastle uni students and began the short climb to the ridgeline. During our rather leisurely morning tea in the hut, the sky had turned grey and gloomy. It wasn’t long before white flakes began to fall and frost everyone’s hair, much to the happiness of the snowman who greeted us halfway up the hill.
The trek continued along Horse Camp Aqueduct trail. The going was fairly easy, if not a bit dull as the heavy fog, snowflakes and trees obscured what would probably have been a pretty spectacular view.
As we climbed up into a more exposed section of track, the wind intensified and everyone scrambled to put on their jackets. Fortunately, from there, it was just a short shuffle to Whites River Hut. Because of our leisurely pace, this break would need to be much shorter than the last one.
As everyone piled into the hut, the XTM boot saga began. Rory’s brand new boots, which prominently featured a metal tag advertising their supreme waterproofness, had apparently succumbed to the snow and creeks, causing a bad bout of cold-feet-itis. I hope the complaint email was as effective as the story was entertaining.
We sat and drank our tea while admiring the large store of freeze-dried food that a supremely generous stranger had donated to the cabin. Before long, however, it was time to put on our packs and strap on our snowshoes. The sun was dipping and Schlink Pass still lay ahead. The wind grew stronger as we climbed, whipping up ice crystals that stung the face. Pressed on by the fading rays and thoughts of fire, hot meals and drink, we picked up the pace, and soon summited.
After a group photo and a long gentle downhill, we walked into the luxury of Schlink Hut.
After getting dry socks on and a fire lit, everyone set about the little domestic tasks that seem so mundane at home but so pleasurable when on a campout - cooking, unpacking and setting up for the night. Snacks and drink were piled onto the table and we all tucked in. Dinner was a fairly standard affair (pasta, freeze-dried, couscous) for everyone except Rory and Dan who had brought meatballs and kangaroo steaks to fry up. I must admit initially it did smell quite appetising, but the fat smell must have permeated through and deposited on everything - My puffer jacket and drybags still smell. Top tip: fry outside.
Then came Rory’s hot chocolate - a potent mix of fireball and chocolate drink sachet. The vast quantities in which it was consumed are what I suspect as the reason for the half crazed, hour long, spondonicles debacle which ended only when Rory discovered they were in his pocket.
Their fortunate recovery meant the ‘burning smell’ could finally be ascertained. After ruling out people’s shoes, socks and gloves drying near the fire, the ‘sponnies’ were finally used to lift the trangia burner up, revealing a blackened plastic pot scrubber which was quickly extinguished.
Now that dinner was over and everything had calmed down, everyone gathered around the hearth to listen to Alex’s stories, a collection he had authored while skiing across Greenland. We roasted marshmallows as white manta rays swam across the room in the steak-smoke haze and mice clad in Rab gear used an MSR repair kit to fix the burner for their around-the-world hot air balloon race.
Fun over, we tied all the food up in the rafters to prevent the rats from chewing at them and hit the sack for a 7am departure.
Day 3
At 5:50am alarms started going off. I don’t think anyone slept in, save for the two other UNSW students there (who weren’t part of this event).
Adam, because he was using the split board, took it on himself to refill everyone’s bottles at the stream, balancing precariously on a snow bridge. That water was some of the best tasting I’ve ever had. Anneleis took out her drone and recorded a video of everyone walking in a line.
After we crossed the snow bridge we began the climb up to the ridgeline. I took a turn breaking trail. Climbing through the powder was very tough, I think I sank to my waist a couple times despite wearing snowshoes.
The rest of the walk was through the Rolling Grounds. The weather and view were excellent. The photos below probably tell a better story than I can. The highlight was probably seeing Adam rip below us through the valley on his splitboard.
After making it to Guthega, we made a beeline for the resort cafe. I think we ordered 4 or 5 large trays of chips.
The drive back to Sydney didn’t start off too well - we drove for about a kilometre before realising the boot hadn’t been shut. Luckily the bags had been packed fairly tightly so nothing had fallen out, but it was still pretty worrying.
After a dinner at Goulburn RSL where goodbyes were said to Adam, Rory and Dan in the other car, we finally arrived on the outskirts of Sydney at about 11pm.
Key takeaways from the weekend:
- Layer effectively
- Fry meat in a well ventilated area
- Make sure the boot is shut before driving off
- When Rory offers you a hot chocolate, it’s really a hot whiskey with some chocolate flavouring
- XTM snow boots are apparently not that waterproof
Thanks again to Alex, Adam and Rory for a great trip, and I’ll definitely be along for the next one.