Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Saturday 1 July 2023: Snowshoe the Gingera Ridge – L/M ! If there is snow and if Corin Dam is drivable via 2WD.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (Epix Gen 2) – Distance: 20.92km | Climb: 1200vm | Time: 6:26 moving + 2:26 of stops = 8:52 | Grading: L/M-H; H(14).

Photographs Photographs are available here.

gpx File The gpx file is available here.

Track Notes

I last snowshoed the Gingera Ridge on 18 July 2019.

I learned a few things today, the most important being the value of friendship. Huge thanks to Rob McL for the loan of his snowshoes at Mt Gingera after mine busted.

My gear, in addition to the usual kit, included a long shell, a down jacket, an emergency Escape Bivvy, a power bank and a head torch. I forgot a beanie, but my buff was fine to keep heat in. And, of course, I didn’t check my snowshoes. My dear wife was watching my inReach tracking, generated from my Garmin MAP66i handheld.

Walking at 7.17am.

Nothing to report as the climb passed the first level.

Made the helipad at 8.30am, the 2.5km and 540vm climb done in 1hr 13mins. I’m getting old and slow.

The snow cover gradually increased.

Quite a few footprints on the track, which was quite slippery on the uphill bits. I got my poles out heading up to SH1615. in addition, it was bitterly cold with quite a wind blowing. This was the coldest part of the trip.

A quick look at very little at the ‘Stockyard Spur Grandstand’, so named by Graeme Barrow.

Reached the Mt Franklin Road at 10am. The 4.4km leg from the helipad to Mt Franklin Road took 1hr 30mins.

1km in 14mins to Pryors Hut.

By now I’d been passed by a couple of trail runners, one of whom seemed to be doing laps. And a couple of walkers passed me too.

1.3km in 20mins to the turn off to Mt Gingera.

A 1.2km climb up to Mt Gingera in 46mins. I was starting to slow up and the occasional foot went in to below the knee, but I still thought I could move quicker without snowshoes.

I was expecting to run into Rob at some stage, as his vehicle was down at Corin Dam. Indeed I did, along with some of his mates at Mt Gingera. I popped up behind them for smoko.

Between sips of coffee and bites of home made ‘gluggy bun’, I got my snowshoes out. The perished rubber bindings broke. I was looking at a return the way I came.

Rob popped up to chat and offered me his brand new Tubbs shoes. He was the only one in his party with shoes, so was happy to return down to Corin Dam without them. That is huge generosity! So easy to fit – pop your boot in and twist a dial that tightens very thin wires which draw the bindings in.

I set off NW along the ridge at 11.40am. Magical!

The wind had dropped, the snow was untrodden by others and it was lovely and quiet except for the crunch in the snow.

The best area was around half way along the ridge.

The ridge leg was 1,4km in 40mins.

Arriving at the nose at SH1847, I headed down towards Pryors Hut. Grand views to Snowy Flats.

1.2km in 35mins to descend to the Mt Franklin Road and Pryors Hut. Called in to have a quick coffee from my thermos and a sandwich for lunch, sitting on the front step.

The return from Pryors Hut to Corin Dam was 7.8km in 3hrs 5mins. I took Rob’s shoes off well before the snow began to thin, so as not to damage them.

Snapped my favourite tree.

A few people going up as I went down. There would be 6 or so camping at Pryors Hut tonight and another 6 near Mt Gingera.

I was pretty wacked by the time I got to the car. Will I do it again – maybe. The ridge is a wonderful area in the snow.

Relive the trip

Track Map

Here’s where I went.

The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Party

1 walker – just moi.

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