BushwalkBushwalk
This snowshoe walk follows a winter-only route. From Perisher Valley, you walk along the Kosciuszko Road to a gap, just past the last ski lift. Here you leave the road to follow the snow pole line up, along the Wheatley Link, among the snow gums and crossing some open plains. Then you come to a valley below Porcupine Rocks, where you follow the snow poles and valley, back down towards Perisher. A great walk for people comfortable on snowshoes and wanting to explore a more remote area near Perisher Valley.
Grade HardTime 3 hrs Distance 7.3 km circuitAscent/descent 251 metres Transport Public transport: You can catch the snow tube from Crackenback on Alpine Way Car: Drive and park near in the main Perisher carpark, just before the winter road closure. It is a 31 kilometre drive from Jindabyne along Kosciuszko Rd. Snowchains are needed in winter, Fee Park entry fee applies. GPS of start/end -36.4058, 148.4119
Wheatley CircuitMatt McClelland aka Wildwalks
Perisher Valley VillagePerisher Valley village is centred about the Skitube building, Perisher Centre and the National Park Visitor Centre. Just outside the Skitube is the shelter for the shuttle bus service to Smiggins. Perisher Centre is accessed by the long metal bridge - inside, you will find food shops, toilets and skiing-related shops. Inside the Skitube building is the train station, kiosk, medical centre and some other services. The National Park Visitor Centre provides a warm shelter, toilets, seats and information about the park. Most of these services only operate during the ski season, but the NPWS Visitor Centre is open most of the year and a food outlet is generally open for lunch Monday-Friday.
Winter only route This follows an over-snow only route that crosses important and sensitive bogs that can be significantly damaged in summer, even by light-footed walkers. Please walk or ski this track only when it is well covered with snow.
Share the Snow Here are some tips to help you share the snow with skiers. Please avoid snowshoeing on ski trails, whether groomed or ungroomed - it is fine to walk right next to the ski trail. When crossing a ski trail, please do so in a single file and on a flat, more visible, section. These tips aim to minimise trail ruts and collisions. Visit Wilderness Sports for snowshoe hire.
Rock Creek Ski Club 0.2 km This building was first opened for use in 1948, then destroyed by a lighting
strike in January the next year. In 1959, a few men drove down from Sydney most weekends over a few years, to build the current lodge. Still owned by the builders families, the lodge is available to the public for hire. The lodge has two bedrooms and sleeps six people. The lodge can be hired in winter or in summer and makes for a great base with its central location in Perisher Valley. More on Rock Creek Ski Club.
Porcupine Rocks 4.2 km The Porcupine Rocks are a large granite outcrop on the ridge, south of Perisher Valley. There are two main peaks, and a rock scramble leads to the top of the southern peak, providing fantastic views of Perisher Valley, Mt Duncan, Thredbo River Valley and Bullocks Flat. The gap between the two summits provides some shade and protection from the wind. An amazing place to visit - allow time to just relax and enjoy this place. The summit can be slippery and icy, and there is a sheer drop and other hazards. Much care is required.
‘An amazing place to visit...
BWA August 2014 | 13
Intersection Kosciuszko and Porcupine Roads 0 km Walk west along the main Kosciuszko Road, away from the The Man from Snowy River Hotel while keeping the main valley to your right. Soon you’ll cross Rock Creek, then continue beside the road to an intersec-tion marked with a Rock Creek Snowshoe Track sign, just after the Rock Creek Ski Club hut (both on your left).
Rock Creek Ski Club intersection 0.2 km Continue straight from the Rock Creek Ski Club intersection, follow Kosciuszko Road gently uphill, away from the main village. After about 50 metres, continue along the road, passing a track (which leads to bridge over Perisher Creek, on your right) and continue for another 60 metres to find an intersection with Wheatley Road, just before Corroboree Restaurant & Bar (on your left).
Wheatley and Kosciuszko Roads 0.3 km Continue straight from this intersection, follow the Kosciuszko Road east gently uphill, out of town. You’ll immediately pass Corroboree Restaurant & Bar (on your left) and than continue up the hill, past a series of other lodges (up to your left). Soon after you’ll pass the last ski lift (in the valley on your right), you’ll come to a high point and a clearing with a large metal sign and map (on your left).
Side Trip to Porcupine Saddle 4.2 km Turn right following the Porcupine trail signs north-west, over the top of the saddle and towards the large rocky pinnacle. You will walk steeply through a rocky area and, just after passing a large rocky outcrop (on your left), you’ll come to a three-way intersection beside the gap (on your left) be-tween the two main peaks. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then continue straight.
Intersection Wheatley Link Track and Kosciuszko Road 2.3 km Turn left from the grassy clearing on the south side of Kosciuszko Road, follow the Wheatley Link sign uphill, following the snow-poles. Walk through a narrow grove of snow gums, then climb up to a flat clearing, than follow the line of snow poles up through the trees. Follow the poles down a bit, than up the hill, to pass through a gap in the ridge, where you’ll come to a large fairly flat plain (with a view back over Perisher behind you). Continue following the poles down and across the plain, than right, aroun a rocky outcrop (on your right). You will pass an open section, then tend left and up the hill. Soon you’ll come to a intersection in a large saddle, near a sign pointing back down Wheatley Link track.
Intersection of Porcupine and Link Track 5.5 km Continue straight, following the Perisher Valley 2 kilometres sign north-east along the track, than cross a flat timber bridge over Rock Creek. Leaving the creek for a while and heading downhill, you’ll be following the series of snow-poles on a groomed trail towards the Perisher Valley Resort. After about one kilometre and just before the Perisher Valley Reservoir, you’ll follow the snow poles left across a valley (near the stone pump house building) to head up the rise to a three-way intersection with another snow-pole line, near the pole with the second yel-low sign.
Intersection of Porcupine Trail and Wheatley Link Track 4.2 km Turn left, walking north-east downhill, following the old timber Perisher Valley 3 kilometres sign. Walking down through the wide valley past the newer sign (pointing back up to Porcupine Trail), go over some metal grates and through a grove of old dead snow gums to a signposted intersection with the Porcupine Link Track (on your right).
Perisher Reservoir intersection 6.6 km Veer right, following the snow-pole line (with the yellow signs, facing away) over the gentle rise, whilst keeping Rock Creek a short distance to your right. Walk over the hill, keeping the poles to your right, and soon you’ll pass a large green timber lodge. Walk down closer to the creek and continue following the snow-poles, soon passing straight through an intersection (ignoring the bridge over Rock Creek to your right). Following the poles over another small rise past the Rock Creek Ski Club building, you’ll then walk under the power-lines to find the Rock Creek Snowshoe Track information sign. Here, head the short distance towards the main ski field to an intersection with Kosciuszko Road.
Rock Creek Ski Club intersection7.1 km Turn right from this intersection near the Rock Creek Ski Club hut, following the main road gently downhill towards the resort centre, where you’ll soon cross Rock Creek. Cross the creek and pass a few buildings to an intersection with Porcupine Road (on your right), just before The Man from Snowy River Hotel (and the ski tube station on your left).
14 | BWA August 2014
