Snow Report Hotham 2019 - Trip Reports, Pics & Conditions

[Onlybackscratchers]

Serious loss since last weekend, can't believe I skied Blue Ribbon only 8 days ago. All the fun runs off Village chair are done including Sundowner.
Gotcha, Keogh's and Orchards didn't open today, I assume probably because they need to wait for it to harden a bit before sending the groomers in. Not sure if these areas can survive to next weekend. Spargos is done.
As @Luken mentioned plenty still on the south facing slopes and Heavenly skied surprisingly well today.

Of course less snow can mean more fun.

 

[mr]

Yeah lets hope they get the orchard back open to access loch and GP etc

 

[mr]

Looks a bit cloudy out there to open today

 

[N0frilz]

Yeah lets hope they get the orchard back open to access loch and GP etc

They are done buddy won’t be spinning again this season

 

[mr]

Boooo. (Thanks) Theyve run it last few years in school hols. Is keoghs bash gone or the valley floor to the lift line?

 

[SEJ]

Yep/ orchard got packed up on Sunday. Too many big blow outs

 

[Goski]

The remaining open Orchard runs were losing cover fast later last week. Bushwhacker had a number of bare patches halfway down. Rocks were appearing on Zirks. The valley floor was fine but the rain in Saturday would have finished off the runs as far as safety for unobservant skiers goes. I don't mind skiing around visible rocks and bare patches - to a point - but I suppose the resort must cater for the masses and avoid injuries from broken cover.

 

[Luken]

I observe, and lots of fun!

 

[Goski]

Sub-zero overnight temps this week. wonder if there will be any snow-making to top up the open areas or is that finished for this season?

 

[N0frilz]

Sub-zero overnight temps this week. wonder if there will be any snow-making to top up the open areas or is that finished for this season?

They were kicking around with the snow makers a few weeks ago so I’m guessing they won’t be operational again this season

 

[Timmossy]

I observe, and lots of fun!

Getting your dirty dim sim fix it seems!

 

[mr]

South sides golden point and off big d etc still look pretty solid when i got up this arvo

 

[mr]

 

[mr]

 

[Mister Tee on XC Skis]

How late into the season can one usually access the B.C. terrain around Mt .Loch ?.How far towards Derrick's hut and Spargo's hut does the spring snow cover usually extend?. I am always interested in skiing terrain I have not skied before, esp. as I improve my in abilities.

 

[Tanuki]

How late into the season can one usually access the B.C. terrain around Mt .Loch ?.How far towards Derrick's hut and Spargo's hut does the spring snow cover usually extend?. I am always interested in skiing terrain I have not skied before, esp. as I improve my in abilities.

Not meaning to be facile, but it depends on the depth of the winter snowpack. It gets baked very quickly on the he exposed rolling ground towards spargos.

 

[Mister Tee on XC Skis]

Not meaning to be facile, but it depends on the depth of the winter snowpack. It gets baked very quickly on the he exposed rolling ground towards spargos.

Spring B.C. XC cover aside , I know the area from hiking it a lot. I would like to ski out to Derrick's hut and Spargo's hut one season. How far do you think that is ( out and back ) if one parked at The Mt. Loch Car park ?. Yes I would have to pay the parking fee. In doing that one could ski the trails for free after 3 pm the next day starting at Wire Plain heading out onto Big Spur. This would be an August trip when I am usually camping at J.B. Hut.

 

[mr]

My photo above shows its mostly skiiable even by now. Sure there will be bits cooked off the tops and west sides. About a hour to loch or derricks from loch carpark

 

[Mister Tee on XC Skis]

My photo above shows its mostly skiiable even by now. Sure there will be bits cooked off the tops and west sides. About a hour to loch or derricks from loch carpark

When does Hot Ham close for business for the 2019 white season? I know I said I have hung up the planks for 2019 but I am addicted and realize that no skiing until next year is too long ;-p .

 

[Boodwah]

Next weekend

 

[Skiain]

Still plenty of skiable snow in Dargo Bowl

XC is thinning quickly on the lower trails, but Poo Farm Track from The Lodge to Skiers Crossing is still in fairly good condition considering it is end of Sept. Much of this is due to some fantastic grooming

 

[mr]

good to see you last week @Skiain, and i concur the south sides are solid, perhaps only a little thinner than last year

 

[Skiain]

good to see you last week @Skiain, and i concur the south sides are solid, perhaps only a little thinner than last year

you too @mr Happy trails over summer. See you next year, same place, same time!

 

[Timmossy]

Final morning.......seem to be about 100 people out. 200 if you’re generous.

 

[Tanuki]

Final morning.......seem to be about 100 people out. 200 if you’re generous.

Is it just Village and Summit turning?

 

[Timmossy]

Is it just Village and Summit turning?

All I can see is Village and HV turning. Road Runner / Summit seem to be on wind hold.

Imagine and Snake Gully skiing pretty bloody well.

 

[mr]

If you could ski lindsays for me and pick up the yellow kids helmet at the bottom of the cliffs id be appreciative!

 

[Timmossy]

13:43 update - about 20 people out skiing.

 

[skiman81]

Cleaning moth guts off the bottom of the skis. What a way to end the season!

 

[Skiain]

13:43 update - about 20 people out skiing.

yep, that'd be me out there polishing the bases with gravel and grass ;-) Imagine and Snake held up surprisingly well, considering

 

[Timmossy]

Portable snow guns back out for 2020 and chairs will be pulled off by days end - season finished only yesterday.

Seems the lift has a reverse gear to do this.

#gettinshitdone

 

[Ramshead]

Cleaning moth guts off the bottom of the skis. What a way to end the season!

Hello. NSW skier here stalking the VIC threads. Congrats on the most evocative verbal image of the year. Pure poetry. Outstanding. Bogongs I take it. Heard their numbers have been dropping lately BTW

 

[skiman81]

Hello. NSW skier here stalking the VIC threads. Congrats on the most evocative verbal image of the year. Pure poetry. Outstanding. Bogongs I take it. Heard their numbers have been dropping lately BTW

Definitely Bogongs. Big buggers and plenty of them. Interesting trip home trying to usher them out of the car as they randomly and wildly made their presence known.

 

[cookieman]

Bogong moths in plague proportions at Hotham on the weekend.
This is the time, no shortage of the big buggers.

 

[Pink]

That’s good news for the Pygmy Possums.
https://www.zoo.org.au/possums/

 

[snowgum]

That’s good news for the Pygmy Possums.
https://www.zoo.org.au/possums/

They need a good summer - had two baddies apparently!!

 

[Hermannator]

someone went skiing today:

 

[Hermannator]

 

[mr]

my gawd i was tempted last night......but of course kids dogs contractor payment claims fee proposals bank guarantees and all that got in the way

 

[Skiain]

my gawd i was tempted last night......but of course kids dogs contractor payment claims fee proposals bank guarantees and all that got in the way

heading back up tonight, MTB adventures as back-up, if the white is brown

 

[mr]

looks like imagine and snake and marys are still fairly intact, presumably dargo, h-gully and womens dhill all skiiable

 

[Skiain]

Sun 20th Oct, Snake Gully, Imagine, Race Gully, Gunbarrel, Slalom Gully, Peach Bowl were all skiable with only small unskiable sections or gaps on Slalom, Race and Gunbarrel. Peach stopped abruptly at the rocks in mid-Canyon. Snow was sticky with the pink dust and recent snow.

Morning view camped out off Dargo rd

Ice wire at Heavenly Valley pond

Looking down Snake Gully

Looking up Snake Gully from HV chair load

Spring colours amongst regrowth from the most recent fires, along upper Dargo High Plains rd

 

[Hermannator]

Great effort.

Alas, at the same time last year, the cover was continuous right down to the HV lift load and beyond - to village chair.

 

[Skiain]

Returned from Bogong High Plains on Sunday, drove over Hotham. Snake, Imagine and a gully or two in Dargo Bowl are all holding up well. Nordic Bowl at Falls had cover on some loops, but I was unsure of depth and quality so left the skis in the bag.

 

[xuěboarder]

Some late turns on Friday around Aus drift / dargo area

 

[mr]

good effort!