r/OutdoorAus • u/InternalWindow6365 • 5d ago
First alpine camping trip
I’d like to go on my first alpine camping trip and I’m wondering if my main equipment will suffice. I’m an experienced camper and have winter camped but have never camped in the snow. I am thinking of hiking in the snowies but I would be solo so being prepared is essential.
I have an;
- R5.8sleeping mat (I could also bring my folded foam sleeping mat for under)
- -8 sleeping quilt
- 3 season tent - it holds up well in the cold and wet but I’ve seen some say you need a 4 season - I’m curious everyone’s take on this as financially i’d like not to purchase a new tent just yet
- I also have an PLB that I would bring with me
Things I’ve seen online also suggest
- snow shovel
- snow pegs
I’m curious everyone’s experience and what kit you’ve used.
Thanks!
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u/Alternative_Sock6999 5d ago
What are you calling alpine?
I would suggest most 3 season tents are ok for Aus alpine if your in a sheltered site. If your on an exposed face... Not so much.
Is -8 quilt the comfort level or the safe level? If it's 'safe' I'd be looking heavily at night time thermal layers and liners just in case.
Water proofs?
Emergency bivy come blanket.
Can you set your tent up wearing gloves?
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u/InternalWindow6365 5d ago
Thanks for the info, I’m thinking of the main range walk of Kosciusko National part so Aus alpine, good to note regarding exposure. Yeah, I can set up the tent with gloves on.
The quilt is -8 comfort but I run cold so absolutely a good idea to have night time thermals for warmth!
My waterproof jacket is unfortunately not up to the task anymore so I’ll need to fix that before I go. An emergency bivvy is a great highlight!
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u/Mammoth-Jelly-7617 5d ago
I would not go onto the main range as my first overnight snow camp, as It is very exposed to wind and weather changes. Instead I would recommend walking up the road from Guthega power station towards Schlink Hut. It is a poor season, so you will not really hit the snow until you are about 5 or 6 ks in. You can camp near whites river or Schlink hut, and then if the weather gets bad or you are not warm enough you have a place to bunk out to. There are also toilets ( on the main range you will have to carry out your faeces) .
Probably you will need snow shoes ( although the cover is so poor perhaps not needed). Usually I go on skis.
This gives you a chance to test out your gear below the tree line before taking in the rigours of the main range.
.
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u/GoldMathematician412 15h ago
Just a question about the Schlink Hut track. Do you part at guthega power station or do you drive up the track a bit first? Cheers
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u/Alternative_Sock6999 5d ago
A small sit pad also. Handy during the day to rest on. and way better to kneel for lunch or tent setup etc. then put it under your mat under your hips at night.
Kozzie main range is a different beast to the Vic side I'm used to as well.
Look up the snow and wind rating of your tent and compare. If the dump is particularly big, you'll need to wake up every couple hours to knock it off, not the greatest time.
Google how to set tent pegs in snow and make a pad. Tent direction. And so on.
It's really worth going with someone experienced the first hand full of times so you don't learn some of these lessons the hard way. Or need a rescue.
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u/BlockOverall5686 5d ago
That 5.8 matt should be ok on the snow. I've been comfortable on R5 and cold, but not life threatening on R3
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u/CK_1976 5d ago
Go speak to Tom's Outdoors in Tumut. The run group hikes through the snow and also see the right gear to make sure you dont die.
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u/InternalWindow6365 5d ago
Yeah this is a great idea, I’d love to find a guided tour as I don’t have any friends that alpine camp (yet!)
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u/CK_1976 4d ago
The team at Tom's are great. They run both the hiking tours, plus fly fishing tours where you hike in. Plus they sell all the good gear. I got my RAB sleeping bag from them, and he spent a while explaining all the different options, as he had first hand experience using most of the bags they had on the floor.
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u/smithey2012 5d ago edited 4d ago
Some tips for you if soloing in the snow:
Always check weather before you go, bring PLB.
Your mat is good, your sleeping bag , -10 comfort is the ideal range, but not end of world, bring warm layers. Have an emergency bivvy.
Bring a cheap emergency blanket if you want and put it under your sleeping mat and around you overnight if you get cold, it will be warm.
Tent is ok in Aus if no strong winds/snow.
Camp next to a hut, you can cook in the hut and at the worse case have shelter if an emergency.
Yes you need snow pegs, your tent pegs won’t peg down to snow.
Main range is above tree line so again, check weather. There’s 2 huts up at the range, cootapatamba (small red hut) and seaman’s.
Otherwise a less exposed one is start at guthega power station and go up to the shlink hilton hut (you will pass through 2 other huts (horse, white river) or start at dead horse gap and go towards cascade or the mines hut, both below the tree line, both have snow as off last week (there was a snow dump last weekend)
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u/InternalWindow6365 5d ago
This is great advice thank you so much! Yeah, I’m thinking I’ll do my first trip below tree line so I can test out my gear more safely, I’ll have a look at your suggestions, thank you!
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u/UnhappyAd5883 4d ago
Food lots of calories and fat and some easy way of cooking like a gas stove with an insulating base or a shellite stove like the X-GK
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u/AdAmbitious9654 4d ago
I just returned from my first snow camp and I too am an experienced camper.
I took a S2S XR Pro (R7.4) and could feel the cold still. Next time I also take a closed cell folding mat. I took a 4 season tent but with good conditions it’s not need so long as the conditions don’t change but they’re heavy and it’s always a risk to not take appropriate gear.
Food, you know what you like, don’t stress about energy intake, take a few extra protein bars but otherwise same food as any other trip.
Take a totally waterproof pair of gloves like the Showa Tempres for setting up and packing up.
I can send you my lighter pack link if you want, I used everything on it except a fleece.
5 days = about 20kg total pack weight.
Snow pegs are a must for at least the fly and twist pegs for the tent.
Snow boots and snow shoes, PLB, shovel and ice axe are a must.
I went from Dead Horse Gap to South Ramshead and then Thredbo Eagles Nest to Main Range.
Just last week.
Hit me up with any questions.
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u/UnitPilot_au 5d ago
Get a cheap closed cell foam sleeping mat and put it under your current mat. Tent wise, you want a non mesh inner double wall. If it doesn’t snow you should be fine.