NORTH EAST VIC
CONDITIONS SUMMARY
UPDATED: 23RD JULY 2019

REPORT CONFIDENCE: STRONG
CURRENT UNTIL: 26th JuLY 2019

Regional observations

Fairly consistent observations ATM. Icy on most aspects, softening in solar but bulletproof without. Drifted hard packed dry rounds (micro graupel) on aspects lee to the North West. A few buried layers that are mending slowly with the cold snow pack (-3˚ layers). Crusts near surface, more prominent above 15cm. SM



Regional Outlook

IMPROVING / ONGOING / DETERIORATING

Freshies happening now on the peaks, lowering to 1200m over night. The hype machine is calling 30cm. We aren’t totally convinced that this will be that big, yet let hope we are wrong. Regardless, tomorrow morning Wednesday there would be a likely windloading on aspects lee to the north west above 1600m and wind slab avalanche hazard is what we’d be hunting flags for in the field. Self assess, we won’t have field obs in until friday. Check the obs below. SM

Mount Hotham RESORT
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

The base has had a solid freeze over the last couple of days.. Higher elevations received a couple of centimters of snow on Sunday so there will be some shallow pockets of dry snow on a firm base in drifted areas up high. Wind exposed aspects are stripped and slick. Take Care. BB

From Sunday:
Women’s Downhill 1700m S aspect, High freeze level and warmer temps made for improved touring conditions compared to previous days icy surface. Max snow depth found was 1m. 40 cm from recent snowfalls on top of ice layer from rain event 2 weeks ago. 2 Ice crusts in the top 10cm offered no results but we got CTH21 14 cm down on a surface hoar layer. This section of the snowpack was 1 degree colder than above and below and could explain the persistence of the weak layer. With a drop in temps and a dusting of snow mid afternoon combined with cold overnight temps, conditions can be expected to be much firmer today. DH

FALLS CREEK RESORT
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

A storm is blowing our way...there is a blustery wind up the top coming from the NW and already there is a little precipitation in the air. The full brunt of this low is expected to hit us later today, so prepare for blizzard conditions in the arvo/ evening! Firm packed snow this morning with good skiing on groomers and hard, crusty conditions off-piste...rug up if you are headed out and stay safe on the slopes. Update: the visibility has deteriorated since this morning and is currently quite low- stick to the trees or trails you know and watch your step. MO

FEATHERTOP
ALPINE NATIONAL PARK
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

Feathertop has fared poorly from the recent weather events, not so much on the peak herself but the Bspur track has some storm carnage and the razorback is crampon country. One ridge east, the machinery spur is the pick of the bunch for access and favourable aspect. ATM. If Stoney Creek Rd is open and tree carnage free, that’s the fast track to the best terrain. Take a mountaineering attitude. SM

MOUNT BOGONG
ALPINE NATIONAL PARK & Northern BHP
BACKCOUNTRY CONDITIONS:

Obs sound similar to Feathertop with stripped windward aspects. Mixed leeward depositions from Wednesday last week and then the follow up Sunday dusting. Varied cohesion and boding properties.