Each winter I make my annual pilgrimage to the snow for an eight days back country skiing trip, and if you remember me from last year, I go with my brothers, the Bob Brothers that is. You may have even seen our entries in Kosciuszko Hut Association logbooks. Each year since I have been skiing with the brothers, which is now four years, we have been trying to reach the summit of Mount Jagungal.

An hour's skiing from Mawsons Hut, Mount JagungalSonya Muhlsimmer

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A lot of work goes into these ski trips such as the introduction of a pulk to the group two years back. The pulks are modified, ski gear is repaired and prototypes of ingenious equipment are designed and developed, like the addition of a cart this year. Joe has been working hard designing and building a lightweight cart. The plan was to use them if there was not enough snow for skiing from where we left the cars and to use them for as long as necessary along the Snowy Mountains Fire Trail. The carts would be left at the locked gate a few kilometres from Cesjacks, returning this way on the way out. This way our overloaded rucksacks would not be on our backs. This cart idea was great, and we were all keen to trial this design, and to reach the summit of Mount Jagungal ...

Day 1 – Nimmo Road, Snowy Mountains Fire Trail, Cesjacks HutAfter breakfast at the Lake Jindabyne Hotel we were off with a convoy of three cars: Joe and Erica, Bruce, and Steve and I. Getting to Cesjacks Hut from the east requires navigation of a few fire trails and we were not sure how much snow there was on the ground, and how far we were to get in the cars before the snow got too deep to drive. Bruce and I have 4WDs and some recovery gear so we felt confident there would be no problem reaching the gate, or at least getting a good distance in. Joe had an All Wheel Drive and he was confident he could make it; he did a recce a few weeks back and got through. The road was good for a while but then the snow started getting deeper in some

patches. There were a few cars parked at around two to three kilometres past Nimmo Bridge so we were anticipating lots of snow ahead. Onwards we travelled. At around eight kilometres from the locked gate, Joe got bogged. Everyone got out of the cars and started to dig him out. After about an hour or so of trying to dig him out Bruce got the heavy artillery out and dragged Joe's AWD out of the hole. This is where the cars were parked.

The pulks were loaded, cart on top of the pulk, skis were put on, and off we went. Well, after about a kilometre the snow ran out. The skis came off and the carts were loaded and off we went, again. It took us nearly two hours to walk two kilometres to the Gungarlin River, tough with the heavy packs and carts, and we still had quite a few kilometres to walk to the locked gate, so we decided to turn around and go in via Munyang. We would stay in Cooma for the night and have an early morning to make Mawsons Hut the next night, well at least to Schlink Hilton, see how the day goes.

Erica modelling the cart and pulkSonya Muhlsimmer

Bruce and Steve digging Joe outSteve Buchert

And we are off to Cesjacks HutSteve Buchert

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Day 2 – Munyang to Schlink HiltonThere were a lot of cars at Munyang and there was a bit of organising to do. Drive in and drop the gear off, drive back to the car park and then walk back down to the start of the Schlink Fire Trail. It was around 10 am by the time we were ready to ski. There was a bit of water in the creek but we did not get wet feet, but once we crossed we looked back and saw a snow bridge we could have skied across. Horse Camp Hut turnoff was reached in about two hours and it was time for lunch and to do a food drop for our last night feast. This is one reason why the rucksacks were heavy: too much food, and a little bit of wine for the last night celebratory meal. Okay, there were a couple of bottles of wine to share, for the five of us mind you.

The weather turned for the worst in the afternoon and just before Schlink Hilton Joe’s pulk poles snapped right in half, oh dear, and at this time the snow was coming thick and fast. We finally made it to Schlink but were not alone - there were 16 people in the hut. This is the most I have seen here, with just two brave girls in a tent outside. Hardly any sleep was had by most of us as there were some loud snorers, people going to the toilet at random times, and the rats. There were about six rats stalking us I swear. I kept waking up with the rat right next to my face and one of the guys said that the rat was chewing his hair through the night. A few people let out little screams of terror as well. It was a very long night indeed.

Day 3 – Schlink Hilton to Mawsons HutIt was a picture perfect day with about 20 to 30 centimetres of new snow on a solid base. Joe was busy fixing the poles, I was busy drinking coffee to keep me awake and I dare say that everyone was feeling kind of sleep deprived. The girls in the tent survived the storm, and I would not be surprised if they had more sleep than all of us in the hut. After a long morning getting ready, it was over The Kerrys and down to Mawsons Hut. We spent the night snug in the tents at Mawsons Hut, away from the rats, quite a peaceful night. Crazy Karen was here as well and with her handy satellite device she gave the weather forecast for the next day, and it was looking pretty good during the day with an afternoon storm predicted with lots of snow, but we should be back at Mawsons by that time.

Day 4 – Mount Jagungal and back to Mawsons HutThis is Jagungal day, and it has been a long time coming, well for me anyway. However as the quote goes “In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time.” Well, here goes, and at 8.00 am we were off. After an hour of skiing we had clear sight of our mission. There it was, right in front of us and the skiing was good with lots of snow. All the creeks and rivers were bridged so there was no problem crossing anywhere. About two hours into the journey, and with a bit of wind about, Bruce discovered he had left his wind jacket behind, so without wanting to risk summiting and getting frost bitten he turned back, however the remainder of us continued. At 12.30 pm we made it, and gee it was cold and windy up at the summit. At the summit,

Erica, Joe and Sonya on the top of Mount JagungalSteve Buchert

Nothing to see hereSonya Muhlsimmer

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there was only enough stamina to take a few pictures and we were out of there but the feeling was pretty good to have finally made it. In the distance the sky was turning black and heading our way; it was the snow storm as predicted, but there will be enough time to make it back to Mawsons, hopefully. Back at Mawsons, Erica Steve and I decided to sleep in the hut due to the weather, with Joe and Bruce remaining in their tents. At around 2.30 am Joe came in the hut as his one man tent was closing in on him and he was worried that he would be suffocated, or we would have had to dig him out in the morning if he had remained in his tent, if we could have found him that is.

Day 5 – Mawsons Hut to Schlink HiltonA good decision by Joe to come in the hut as his tent was nearly swallowed up by all the snow overnight however Bruce was fine in his two man tent. Initially the plan was to head back to Horse Camp Hut and have a feast, as this is where the food drop was, but due to the bad weather conditions and low visibility we decided to go over the The Kerrys to Schlink Hilton, so it was an easy morning and no need to rush. As the visibility was minimal a compass bearing was taken to guide us back to Schlink Hilton. Up on The Kerrys it was a complete whiteout, well with about 15 metres visibility. Occasionally a few rocks could be seen in the near distance but apart from that it was quite hard to distinguish the features or the ground from the sky, quite a surreal feeling. Lucky I had packed my GPS so every now and again we would check the coordinates to see how

far we have skied and to find out where exactly we were, as there was no other way of knowing at all. Finally Schlink Hilton was reached, and can you guess who was there, it was Crazy Karen. It was good catching up with her again.

Day 6 – Schlink Hilton to Horse Camp HutErica, Bruce and Joe had decided to leave two days earlier than Steve and me so it was time for them to go home. We skied back to Horse Camp Hut turn off via the fire trail, dug up the food drop and they were off. Steve and I spent the rest of the afternoon at Horse Camp Hut. We had a lot of housework to do such as collect the wood and water, build a large windbreak, pitch our tents then entertain the guests when they arrived later, if we get any visitors that is, oh and we had to check out the igloo that someone made. It was well made igloo, except the opening was facing into the wind. A few people came in and the rest of the afternoon was spent exchanging stories around the fire. A nice night was had by all.

Day 7 – Horse Camp Hut to HomeThe last day’s plan was going to explore the Rolling Ground, have some lunch and then a leisurely afternoon back at the hut. However there was a bit of wind and snow about so there would be hardly any visibility. Add bad weather at the top on the Rolling Ground, and Steve's huge blister on his foot, giving a bit of discomfort. We decided to leave today, and after breakfast we packed up our tents and off we went back home. Another pilgrimage complete. I can’t wait to come back next year.

Whiteout on The KerrysSonya Muhlsimmer

Joe nearly got buried in his tent due to snowSonya Muhlsimmer