Snow Report Lake Mountain 2021 - Trip Reports, Pics & Conditions
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That is why when it snows up there i.e 15 cms, you go early the next day and be on skis by 0730 am. By Noon the temperature can rise enough to change the skiing conditions in a deleterious way. Beat the crowds, get fresh tracks and ski 10 +km in one morning.Temp is up , ouch
Anyway during the declared XC ski season Mt. Stirling dare I say it , always update their snow conditions/ ski trail report daily unlike LM.
It will be updated in time for the opening of the season on Saturday.
I honestly don’t think there’ll be much snow left to ski on by the weekend. Very disappointing for keen skiers out of the Melbourne region!Bear update!
My friend in Bacchus Marsh emailed me today and told me his Mrs. wants to go to LM to "See snow" this weekend.I honestly don’t think there’ll be much snow left to ski on by the weekend. Very disappointing for keen skiers out of the Melbourne region!
I said don't bother this weekend.
How do you convince people to give XC skiing a try ? , people who don't go camping or cycling or surfing or visit the Vic. Alps in summer for bushwalking etc..
I suppose that is what LM has become. The place where people go to "see snow" ......
and slide off the road in their cars.
It keeps the XC ski trails nice and empty .
The next cold front looks like appearing on June 19th.Last edited:My friend in Bacchus Marsh emailed me today and told me his Mrs. wants to go to LM to "See snow" this weekend.
I said don't bother this weekend.
How do you convince people to give XC skiing a try ? , people who don't go camping or cycling or surfing or visit the Vic. Alps in summer for bushwalking etc..
I suppose that is what LM has become. The place where people go to "see snow" ......
and slide off the road in their cars.
It keeps the XC ski trails nice and empty .
The next cold front looks like appearing on June 20th.
Since my year #1 in 85’, LM has always been more marginal for skiing than the other resorts.
That said, it does feel to me it’s ‘less reliable’ than my early ski years - one has to be careful with ‘old’ memories. One darts up for a day after a dump, then waits a week or two for the next dump/major top up. It’s frustrating but that’s skiing at low altitude Vic resorts? Next one?
NSW seems very lucky by comparison - even its lower altitudes seem to escape the worst of these warm-soup feasts!
That is exactly how LM works for XC skiers. If it snows then you go the next day and go early.Since my year #1 in 85’, LM has always been more marginal for skiing than the other resorts.
That said, it does feel to me it’s ‘less reliable’ than my early ski years - one has to be careful with ‘old’ memories. One darts up for a day after a dump, then waits a week or two for the next dump/major top up. It’s frustrating but that’s skiing at low altitude Vic resorts? Next one?
NSW seems very lucky by comparison - even its lower altitudes seem to escape the worst of these warm-soup feasts!
Places such as JB Plain and JB Hut have better snowfalls that do not melt as quickly. I have yet to XC ski at Perisher Nordic centre when it has full cover. That would be in August I assume.
Tell them to introduce themselves when they hire their gearMy friend in Bacchus Marsh emailed me today and told me his Mrs. wants to go to LM to "See snow" this weekend.
I said don't bother this weekend.
How do you convince people to give XC skiing a try ? , people who don't go camping or cycling or surfing or visit the Vic. Alps in summer for bushwalking etc..
I suppose that is what LM has become. The place where people go to "see snow" ......
and slide off the road in their cars.
It keeps the XC ski trails nice and empty .
The next cold front looks like appearing on June 20th.
I said to them go to @teckel 's shop in Narby and say that Mr.Tee sent them.Tell them to introduce themselves when they hire their gear
The gale force hairdryer wind and the R**N have ruined the skiable snow cover at LM and at Baw Baw . The snow cameras today show a sorry story.
Screwed from the start really - time to start again, T? It’s only QB - almost.
If the BlackSpur has no fallen trees it will be remarkable!Reports of big power outages in that Dandenong Ranges and adjacent suburbs.Obviously a lot of fallen trees all over!Major road closures
The Great Alpine Road has been closed between Bruthen and Ensay due to the rain sparking a risk of a landslide and drivers have been urged to detour via Dargo and avoid unnecessary travel.
The Black Spur between Healesville and Narbethong is inaccessible with trees across the road.
Flooding has blocked the Princes Highway in Lindenow South and police are directing traffic.
The Moorooduc Highway is closed southbound at Bentons Road to Craigie Road due to a big fallen tree.
The Maroondah Highway is closed to all traffic between Narbethong and Healesville due to the weather and fallen trees have shut Bass Valley Road in Loch.
It's one way of keeping Melbourne people away. Closing the Spur.
In the meantime, their estimated time to restore power to Narby is Sunday afternoon. A long time to go without flushing the toilet, having a shower, having any heating, or lighting, or even getting the shop ready for the ski season
Little generators are cheap. Getting a decent one and getting it wired in, not so cheap, especially when you can't make any money in winter because of covid lockdowns.Power back on
We were not allowed to ski on it yesterday morning so if us Melbourne people and rusted on LM XC ski types are not allowed out to enjoy skiing on the fresh snow at LM then the head curmudgeon says no one will be permitted the chance to enjoy it.
;-P
My friend and I had to detour back via the road that connects Yea and Bonnie Doon to get back to Melbourne via Whittlesea from a big day of XC skiing in August at LM in 2019. The Black Spur road/Maroondah Highway was blocked by a nuff nuff who 'd lost control of their car on that road .The traffic jam was very long . It was icy and snowing to low levels that day.Last edited:
Careful. That might have been the day someone was killed in their car by a falling tree. I was stopped by police at Fernshaw. Husband and child were still in the car. The police looked shaken, a difficult day on the job. I turned back and took my o/s guests to the sanctuary and Healesville Hotel. Made something of the day.
No. That was a different day. I know what you are talking about and it was certainly not that day when that rather unfortunate accident with the falling tree took place. It was possibly a week or two later.
So, the resort is now officially open.
Limited to regional visitors (no one from metro permitted at this stage). Maximum of 250 cars per day which must be booked online in advance. Cannot get up there after 2 pm on the day.
Observing the snow in the afternoon is ......Verbotten by order of the Regime Commander!
Heil the Chief Health Officer!
All patrons without the online booking paperwork will be redirected to the Igloo Buxton for reeducation purposes .
Then released to Mt Margaret for further field indoctrination.
I am so over this pandemic. Lost the whole of last winter, and also this winter so far. Compounded by the closure of the Black Spur because of the storm. It's still closed. They're talking continued closure until Friday. It means there is zero passing traffic by my shop. Not even regional traffic from the peninsula or Geelong. It's just not bloody fair.
Could have a game of cricket on the Maroondah Hwy, and only have to move the stumps a couple of times a day to let trucks through that are carrying tree debris.
We will be over the Great Divide as soon as the noddys allow us!
Brett Sutton says you are 20xs less likely to catch covid in the open.
Sounds like it's no go for this weekend for LM then?
Not enough snow... Covid restrictions... pre-book tickets... road closed/tree debris...
Any tea leave readers who can share their views?
The road from Healesville to Narbethong may be open as early as Friday, but I feel that may be a little optimistic. It the meantime,they'll have to go via Yea and Alexandra to get to the mountain.
Melbourne people going up this weekend should also be aware they need a negative covid test less than 3 days before going for all members of the party over the age of 2.
Kids love BBQ,s .....Park at Buxton requires no covid test or fee!Kids can examine the huge redwoods at Fernshaw and check out Teckels shop on the way!But better watch for those patriots running around the forest in Cathedral Ranges!
Falls and Hotham as well as Perisher all have fair to poor to marginal XC ski conditions at present according to their XC ski trail reports online. We are still in June. The big snow fall that will set up the higher XC ski locations has yet to arrive. I suspect it may come at the end of this month.Sounds like it's no go for this weekend for LM then?
Not enough snow... Covid restrictions... pre-book tickets... road closed/tree debris...
Any tea leave readers who can share their views?
However my friend in Myrtleford did XC ski from Windy Corner to Mt. Mckay and back on the weekend and she said it was thin and wet snow cover but not too bad up near the Ruined castle area.Predictions - 16-21st June System
Yeah, let’s see if it gets there. Not completely sold on it myself. The occluded front is the Brany in the pudding for Friday when it draws in from the South behind Tas.www.ski.com.au
LM last had good cover for XC skiing on June 9th 2021 while were all locked down tight.
I will have get a CV 19 test soon for my trip up to the Ovens valley for skiing , which is set for July 2-7th.
So @EquatorBunny LM is a no go for XC skiing this weekend and the snow forecast and overall surrounding circumstances that make a visit up there easy will not improve by this Sunday.
I am cycling and swimming a lot to build up my XC ski fitness. It is not the same as XC skiing but it is something.
Yes well.....Bit of a problem with their snow cams?Back to the future ??Fast difference in local weather conditions??
Kids are going to see through this ploy very quickly .They might seek revenge for being dragged along after a loathsome covid test only to experience Mizzle and a tennis court of snow for their trouble!Lets see how long it takes to update this prior to the weekend.
Yes, this covid test thing is ridiculous and so over the top. BUT
Just because you don't do snow play is no reason to discourage those who love it. They're the ones who pay for the resort and its operations including grooming, ski patrol etc. And it's not a tennis court - it's lots and lots of tennis courts. The snow is great at the moment and there's no crowds - a great time to get up there and enjoy the tobogganing and snow play.
Yes, do realize that LM and its prime
raison d'être
is now aimed squarely at the snow play market but this latest CV19 test requirement is an impost that will turn off/ turn away casual snow play / Slurpee strip play visitors
whereas us rusted on mad keen Nordic skiers will find a way to ski somewhere , anywhere !....even if it kills us, having two CV19 tests per week .
Lake Mountain today early afternoon:
Equivalent day and time Sat 22 June 2019:
Great news!
The Black Spur (Healesville through to Narbethong) is expected to reopen tomorrow (Wednesday) evening or Thursday after a scheduled inspection by VicRoads tomorrow. Just in time for the school holidays. That will make it exactly 2 weeks of closure from the severe storm damage on the night of the 9th June.
Press release from the Department of Transport (8.47pm, June 22):
The Black Spur has reopened following an enormous coordinated effort from Department of Transport crews, contractors, arborists and geo-technical engineers.
Since the wild storms earlier this month, more than 3000 tonnes of debris has been removed from the Black Spur with crews working to clean out drains, clear mudslides, and remove traffic hazards and large trees blocking the road.
Up to 32 hazardous trees identified by an arborist have been pruned or removed and an additional ten hazardous trees identified during works have also been removed.
All 12 landslips identified within the Black Spur have been repaired – with works continuing on the two remaining landslip sites in the coming days.
We want to say a massive thank you to the community for their patience and understanding while crews worked to remove fallen and hazardous trees, clear debris, repair landslip sites and fix damaged road infrastructure.
Thanks also to the tireless work of crews in the area who faced a mammoth task in reopening the Black Spur and keeping the community safe.
In the coming days and weeks, Department of Transport crews will be on-site removing timber and debris from the Black Spur, as well as repairing drainage. During works, there will be lane closures and reduced speeds in place to help keep our crews safe.
Please drive safely, allow extra time on your journey, and look out for traffic management signs.
Vince Punaro, Executive Director Metro South East, Department of Transport said, “It is great news that the Black Spur has re-opened and communities can be reconnected once again.
This has been a huge co-ordinated effort to reopen the road - the scale of the debris cleaned up by crews and contractors along the Black Spur cannot be understated.
There is still more work to be done and – we thank the community for their ongoing patience as we work to ensure the Black Spur is safe for all road users.”Whats going on with the snow report on lake mountains website and the ski.com.au report? Are they short of staff for snow reports and XC ski stuff? I’m guessing Allan is stuck in europe? I am trying to keep a close eye in LM this weekend to see if there’s enough cover to ski this week.
Have they got a limit on the number of cars.....the Snow Cam doesnot seem to show a totally full car park!There is something strange going on their website... If you go to activities XC skiing doesn’t come up! the closest thing is Snowshoeing and walk. There’s pictures of people skiing and you can find a ski map but it feels like they aren’t promoting skiing anymore? Anyways with the Snow report they do mention it is 5cm natural base with 7cm 24hr snow, no mention of trail conditions although I think it may be a little thin for a Ski this week.
Yes...well they are on a pretty flat learning curve it would seem.
Perhaps the Boundary Track Nature Trail has forced them on the back foot!
Bears need Snow Cam at their Picnic Table to compete with that Hi Tech 360 Pan Camera of theirs!
But we hope they have a successful season and a base develops and snow falls continue.
Does anyone know if there is anything skiable at LM at the moment? I have an interstate visitor who would dearly like to get up there but not if snow "play" is the only option. Echo Flat to the Camp would do. As commented above, the website is not helpful.
