Sleeping in an ice cave was simply one in every of many highlights for Brandon and Lachie, as they traced rivers and contours to the height of Mt Twynam on an in a single day backcountry mission.
We Are Explorers acknowledge that this journey is positioned on the standard Nation of the Ngarigo and Walgal individuals who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for 1000’s of years. We pay our respects to them because the Conventional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was by no means ceded.
Fast Overview
Guthega to Mt Twynam is an out-and-back ski or splitboard route on the Primary Vary of Kosciuszko Nationwide Park. The 15km return route departs from Guthega township and takes one to 2 days relying on whether or not you resolve to camp for the night time or not.
It’s necessary to examine the climate forecast attentively when within the Alps, pack additional gear and meals, take note of your location, and at all times examine in along with your group.
Learn extra: A Information to Backcountry Snowboarding in Kosciuszko Nationwide Park
Checking the map for the fifteenth time to examine we’re in the appropriate place
Guthega to Mt Twynam Route Details
Distance: 15km return
Length: 2 days
Elevation achieve: 700m to Mt Twynam Peak
Nearest city: Guthega
Concerning the Guthega to Mt Twynam Route
Venturing past the resorts within the Australian Alps gives a implausible sense of freedom and exploration hardly ever discovered among the many crowded ski runs. And the Guthega to Mt Twynam route is the proper place to scratch the floor of what the Primary Vary has to supply. Reaching a peak elevation of 2196m on the high of Mt Twynam, you get a 360° view of the vary, wanting over the snow-covered panorama so far as the attention can see, and even recognizing the Guthega ski runs.
The route gives an unbelievable sense of wilderness whereas remaining inside attain of Guthega. It’s positively doable to do the route in at some point, however it’s additionally ultimate for an in a single day journey when you get pleasure from tenting out within the snow. Be certain to pack appropriately for the chilly night time!
Learn extra: Snowshoeing From Guthega To Schlink Hut
Primary Vary Historical past
Mt Twynam is the third highest peak in Australia and is located on the Primary Vary, which is part of the Nice Dividing Vary. The Primary Vary is of significance to First Nations individuals as a result of Bogong moths, which hibernate on this area through the summer season. The abundance of water networks and lakes have offered ample consuming water for generations.
Mt Twynam kinds half of a bigger community of Australia’s tallest peaks on the Primary Vary. The vary is a historic alpine panorama that brings with it ample alternatives for journey equivalent to mountaineering, climbing, snowboarding, touring, mountain biking, path working, and even mountain climbing (sure we have now climbable ice in Australia!).
Learn extra: Have to Know Earlier than You Go Backcountry Tenting
It’s a scenic overload
How To Get to Guthega
The route is out-and-back so that you’ll begin and end in the identical place. Nonetheless, Guthega is excessive up the Primary Vary so that you’ll want a automobile to get there. The final 10 km is filth street (typically pothole riddled) however a 2WD is totally succesful. Simply take it sluggish!
The place To Stay Alengthy the Guthega to Mt Twynam Route
In the end, anyplace!
That’s the great thing about the snowy panorama, deciding the place to pitch a tent – or construct a snow cave! – is extra about studying the setting, the wind, and the solar fairly than discovering a cleared opening. A number of suggestions can be to remain inside attain of serious landmarks, camp on the base of the Mt Twynam climb so you possibly can rip in early, keep away from tenting below timber, poo responsibly, and respect different individuals on the market.
Learn extra: Keep in mind to depart no hint
Ability Degree
Superior
The bodily effort falls within the intermediate vary however the facet of tenting in a single day within the alpine area requires a complicated talent set. The Primary Vary is effectively linked so you need to have reception a lot of the method however bear in mind that the unfavorable temperatures can drain your battery shortly. I like to recommend bringing a conveyable charger for emergency use.
Navigating within the snow could be a problem, and also you’re not essentially going to have the ability to depend on a GPS if the batteries die. Ensure you’re comfy navigating with a map and compass earlier than you head out.
Figuring out methods to put together for the chilly, studying the climate forecast, staying dry, having sufficient energy, and conserving power are all key to having fun with your time within the backcountry throughout winter.
High tip! Don’t overlook to fill out a Journey Intention Type earlier than heading out! NSW NPWS Intention Type
Wish to stage up?
Close by Island Bend Campground (1330m altitude) is an effective place to apply chilly tenting!
Guthega to Mt Twynam Important Gear
- Splitboard
- Ski poles
- Ski goggles
- Snow gear
- Water bottle
- GPS gadget (telephone with a map app, Garmin)
- Bodily map (in case your units run out of battery)
- Moveable charger
- PLB
- Insulated sleeping mat
- Sleeping bag with low-temperature consolation ranking (minimal -1 diploma)
- Range for a heat cup of tea or espresso to heat up your palms!
- Further layers (lengthy johns, spare socks, beanie)
Learn extra: Packing Record for Backcountry Snowboarding & Splitboarding
And clearly don’t overlook your skis or boards! | Picture by Lachie Bluett
What It’s Like Exploring the Primary Vary
The Primary Vary is solely spectacular. It serves up an infinite number of landscapes. From intimate journeys by means of snow gums, to crossing extensive open snow lined plains, and feasting your eyes on views past creativeness on the high of every peak.
The individuals you meet on the market are at all times keen to assist and share their suggestions. Inevitably they go away you eager to expertise all the pieces they did for your self! That’s precisely how we visited an igloo from which three buddies have been basing their every day tour adventures.
That led to us ditching the concept of sleeping within the tent we have been lugging round (boring!) to construct a snow cave as an alternative. And what a approach to get impressed!
Welcome to our humble snow cave
Day 0 – Sydney to Guthega
We left Sydney on a Friday after work, rolling into Guthega round midnight to spend the night time sleeping within the automobile able to set off at first gentle. I keep in mind it being a stressed sleep. The wind had picked up and was barrelling into the automobile continuously.
At round 4 within the morning, I heard the loud beeping of a snow plough and thought it have to be snowing fairly closely. It was pretty much as good a motive as any to be woken up!
Day 1 – Guthega to Base of Mt Twynam
Distance: 7km
Time: 5 hours
Navigation: Comply with the Snowy River to the suspension bridge, then use the FatMAPS app to navigate in direction of Mt Twynam
Day one began at 6am. We woke as much as a contemporary blanket of snow, clouds nonetheless caught to the mountains, and the wind had died down. It was chilly. We grabbed a espresso at Guthega, did our gear examine (GPS, layers, tools), analysed the forecast, and ensured the Garmin GPS was working ought to we want it.
The beginning from Guthega Dam was powerful moving into wettish snow, however we each embraced the method. The primary couple of hours adopted the river west on its south aspect, loosely following contours by means of the snow gums to the Snowy River suspension bridge. By now the solar was peeking out and we ripped into our rooster wraps. Yum!
The journey is price it for the views alone. Phwoar!
We met a few individuals right here who advised us about an igloo that we should try shut by. Stuffed with pleasure, that’s precisely the place we headed subsequent. The igloo was unbelievable, with a timber range, ‘bedrooms’, and bench, and the individuals briefly residing there have been past inspiring. We spent the following a part of our day dreaming about what else was doable out right here!
We unloaded our gear on the base of Mt Twynam and acquired our shovels out. We determined we’d spend the afternoon constructing our personal snow cave. We dug, smacked shovels triumphantly, formed, and refined. Voila! We had our house for the night time.
To wrap up the day, we toured up Little Twynam to get pleasure from a small descent, leaving contemporary traces all the best way again to camp. After a cup of sizzling chocolate, and one other wrap, we have been straight into our heat sleeping baggage!
Learn extra: 6 Causes To Ski Out Of Bounds
In case you’re claustrophobic this may not be the lodging model for you!
Day 2 – Base of Mt Twynam to Guthega through Mt Twynam Peak
Distance: 9km
Time: 5 hours
Navigation: In direction of the height of Mt Twynam by sight from the bottom following the ridgeline, earlier than returning to the bridge and following the river again to Guthega
We watched the day break by means of the little opening of our snow cave at our toes. The night time was comfy, however chilly toes known as for a makeshift sizzling water bottle from the Camelback midway by means of the night time. It labored a deal with!
Dawn – snow cave version
The plan for the day was to depart our tenting gear on the base, pack our day packs and head to the height of Mt Twynam to get pleasure from some untouched snow again to camp. We headed off, following the ridge line, climbing slowly however progressively, stopping at occasions to soak up the breathtaking views of the alps. What a spot to must ourselves!
We dug into some lollies and muesli bars on the high, shared our pleasure, and sense of accomplishment earlier than getting down to reconstruct our splits into boards. The descent was all ours with nobody in sight! Lachie dropped in first and I watched in awe at his alternative of line. I adopted, having fun with a number of the finest turns of my life. It wasn’t that it was knee-deep powder, however extra the truth that we’d earned these turns. And man did it really feel good!
The descent was positively definitely worth the lengthy slog uphill
We stopped by house base (snow cave!) to seize our tenting gear and started the tour again in direction of Guthega, tracing our steps from yesterday. As we neared Guthega, we may nearly style the beers on supply on the inn, however our onerous work wasn’t achieved. With about one hour to go, we each felt our legs begin to burn as we pushed by means of the now moist noon snow. We pushed on for the promised reward of beer.
However there was another twist to the story. The Guthega Inn didn’t open till 3pm and we needed to begin the lengthy drive house. We didn’t spend lengthy indulging our disappointment. Reminiscing on the nice journey we’d simply had was nonetheless good even with no beer. Plus, Jindabyne wasn’t that distant and we could or could not have stopped in at a pub on the best way by means of!
10/10 would advocate this Primary Vary path to anyone trying to expertise the wild great thing about the backcountry. We are able to’t wait to get again on the market and construct one other snow cave!
Learn extra: How To Construct an Igloo You Can Sleep In
FAQs Guthega to Mt Twynam Route
How lengthy is the route from Guthega to Mt Twynam?
It’s 15km return between Guthega and Mt Twynam
Is the Guthega to Mt Twynam route appropriate for newbies?
The Guthega to Mt Tynam route is taken into account extra of an intermediate-advanced journey, merely due to the size and the requirement to be assured tenting in snow. It’s not beneficial as a first-time journey until you’re headed out with somebody extra skilled. Contemplate practising snow tenting someplace nearer to civilisation earlier than making an attempt a visit like this one.
Are there snow caves that we are able to keep in on the base of Mt Twynam?
No. There aren’t any established snow caves for lodging on this journey. The Explorers constructed their very own snow cave after seeing different backcountry tourers do the identical. Please at all times take a tent with you as a backup if you wish to try one thing related.
Desk of contents picture by Lachie Bluett
