, Australia's highest peak.[^1]At 2,228m above sea level, Kosciuszko is quite a small mountain when compared to peaks of Europe, Japan, North America or even our neighbour, New Zealand[^2].We commenced our hike at Eagles Nest, which is at the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift at [Thredbo Alpine Village](https://www.thredbo.com.au). The walk is very easy to navigate, as you simply follow the mesh walkway to Rawsons Pass[^3], and then continue on the well kept (and well sign-posted) trail to the summit.Or you could just follow the dozens of other hikers if you're walking on a weekend.From Eagles Nest, the hike to the 'top of Australia' is about 13.5km return, through rugged alpine terrain.Kosciuszko itself is fairly underwhelming. Sitting on top of the Main Range, the peak is only just a little higher than other surrounding peaks, and being much older than the more impressive ranges of new lands. It has been weathered down through the ages, and is not an imposing peak like New Zealand's Aoraki, Japan's Fujisan, and the European Alps.Nonetheless, the views from the peak are absolutely worth the trek to get there. You get impressive vistas over The Australian Alps, the Main Range and into Victoria.The hike itself is fantastic—although rated as moderate, this is mostly about the length of the hike and the constant climb. This is an Alpine hike, so weather can change quickly. You need to ensure you have gear for warm or cold weather, regardless of the time of year, and be prepared for wind and rain. There is no access to drinking water or food, so you need to take your own.On the day of our hike we had winds of 50-70km/h, with gusts exceeding 100km/h. We got back to Eagles Nest just before a big storm. So be prepared.A hike well worth doing.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Last weekend we made the hike to the summit of [Mt Kosciuszko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kosciuszko), Australia's highest peak.[^1]At 2,228m above sea level, Kosciuszko is quite a small mountain when compared to peaks of Europe, Japan, North America or even our neighbour, New Zealand[^2].We commenced our hike at Eagles Nest, which is at the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift at [Thredbo Alpine Village](https://www.thredbo.com.au). The walk is very easy to navigate, as you simply follow the mesh walkway to Rawsons Pass[^3], and then continue on the well kept (and well sign-posted) trail to the summit.Or you could just follow the dozens of other hikers if you're walking on a weekend.From Eagles Nest, the hike to the 'top of Australia' is about 13.5km return, through rugged alpine terrain.Kosciuszko itself is fairly underwhelming. Sitting on top of the Main Range, the peak is only just a little higher than other surrounding peaks, and being much older than the more impressive ranges of new lands. It has been weathered down through the ages, and is not an imposing peak like New Zealand's Aoraki, Japan's Fujisan, and the European Alps.Nonetheless, the views from the peak are absolutely worth the trek to get there. You get impressive vistas over The Australian Alps, the Main Range and into Victoria.The hike itself is fantastic—although rated as moderate, this is mostly about the length of the hike and the constant climb. This is an Alpine hike, so weather can change quickly. You need to ensure you have gear for warm or cold weather, regardless of the time of year, and be prepared for wind and rain. There is no access to drinking water or food, so you need to take your own.On the day of our hike we had winds of 50-70km/h, with gusts exceeding 100km/h. We got back to Eagles Nest just before a big storm. So be prepared.A hike well worth doing.
The day after we hiked from Thredbo to the top of Mount Kosciuszko we drove to Charlotte Pass to check out an alternative trail to hike to the summit. Here we found a lookout where you can get a good view of the main range and of Australia's highest peak.Mt Kosciuszko barely peaks above the other summits of the Australian Alps. At 2,228m it is not a grand mountain, but it makes up for that in an incredible history. Like the Australian continent, Kosciuszko is old. I've read studies suggesting the peak would once have had the magnificence of any of the world's great mountains, but has been weathered down over the millennia. There are a couple of trails from Charlotte Pass to Kosciuszko—the Main Range trail and the Summit Walk (the old Kosciuszko Road, which has been closed to vehicle traffic).We have yet to do the hike from Charlotte Pass, but we are looking forward to doing so soon.
One of the amazing hikes from Charlotte Pass in the Kosciusko National Park. Starts with a sharp downhill section, then a double crossing of the Snowy River before a long, continuous uphill climb, with another river crossing. Spectacular views of the Blue Lake are the reward. The last 800m or so at the end of the out and back track is challenging. Captured on Ngarigo Country.
Charlotte Pass in Australia's Snowy Mountains is a ski resort during the winter season, and a setting off point for several wonderful hikes during the rest of the year. On this day we completed the hike to the Blue Lake, and found this beautiful snow gum close to the end of the path.The snow gums are beautiful trees in all seasons, and the colours of the bark in some seasons can be amazing.
This river crossing marks the edge of the Thredbo Resort area, and the start of the path to Kosciuszko Lookout or the Kosciuszko Summit Hike. On the far side you can series of posts marking the pathway.
Our snowshoe tour group on the path to Kosciuszko.
These posts mark the pathway from Thredbo to the Kosciuszko Summit. In summer, these posts are around 2-3m high, but in places on this day many were barely 50cm above the snow.
Thredbo's lead backcountry guide, Alex, checks out one of the guide posts marking the Kosciuszko Summit path. In Summer this post would be around 2.5m above ground.
Our guide, Alex, explained tha the snow built up on the side facing the predominate wind, causing the textures and designs seen.
Walking off path towards Aries Tor on a snowshoe tour above Thredbo.
A brilliant rock feature in the backcountry behind the Thredbo Alpine Resort.
One of the key features of Aries Tor is Alex's Rock, a distinctive structure.
A distinctive rock structure in the backcountry at the edge of the Thredbo Alpine Resort.
Mt Perisher is the largest of the mountains that make up the Perisher Ski Resort in the NSW Snowy Mountains. This image was created after the end of the ski season, and the road was clear of snow.
The hike to Dead Horse Gap is a circuit from the Kosciuszko Express top station back to Thredbo. We did this walk at the end of May 2022, and it was the last chance that season with a big snow dump the following day. The hike is quite challenging, but is rewarding wtih many interesting rock features.
Mt Wheatley is a popular snowshoeing and back-country location near Perisher Valley in the NSW ski-fields. The trail starts from the Perisher Village, but goes off in the opposite direction from the main resort. Snowshoe enthusiasts can get away from perhaps Australia’s busiest ski resort in minutes, and can take in amazing terrain and get a wonderful experience.
Australian snowgums are commonly found in the higher parts of the Australian Alps. Some of the species have spectacular colours in their trunks and branches and it is worth slowing down to find the most colourful and interesting compositions.
We had the opportunity to do some snowshoeing twice in 2022, with this time in early November being a late season unexpected opportunity, courtesy of the #Snowvember cold snap. On this occasion we started from the carpark above the Charlotte Pass Snow Resort and hiked up Mt Stilwell.We started with a clear morning, but the storm clouds approached as we got towards the peak of Stilwell. This image was shot from an overlook near the top of Charlotte Pass' Koscuiszko Triple Chairlift, and provided magnificent views down the Perisher Valley. The gathering storm clouds provided atmosphere—both IRL and for the image!
Sitting atop the ridge overlooking the Thredbo Valley, Porcupine Rocks is a great hike from Perisher Valley.
We set out on a 6.5km hike from Perisher Valley on what was a very windy and overcast day, with intermittent rain. It would’ve been easy to call the hike before we even started but we decided to press on and see if the weather would improve. Reaching the peak at Porcupine Rocks, we were greeted not just with a welcome break in the weather and wonderful views of the Thredbo River Valley below, but also with a beautiful rainbow.
, Australia's highest peak.[^1]At 2,228m above sea level, Kosciuszko is quite a small mountain when compared to peaks of Europe, Japan, North America or even our neighbour, New Zealand[^2].We commenced our hike at Eagles Nest, which is at the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift at [Thredbo Alpine Village](https://www.thredbo.com.au). The walk is very easy to navigate, as you simply follow the mesh walkway to Rawsons Pass[^3], and then continue on the well kept (and well sign-posted) trail to the summit.Or you could just follow the dozens of other hikers if you're walking on a weekend.From Eagles Nest, the hike to the 'top of Australia' is about 13.5km return, through rugged alpine terrain.Kosciuszko itself is fairly underwhelming. Sitting on top of the Main Range, the peak is only just a little higher than other surrounding peaks, and being much older than the more impressive ranges of new lands. It has been weathered down through the ages, and is not an imposing peak like New Zealand's Aoraki, Japan's Fujisan, and the European Alps.Nonetheless, the views from the peak are absolutely worth the trek to get there. You get impressive vistas over The Australian Alps, the Main Range and into Victoria.The hike itself is fantastic—although rated as moderate, this is mostly about the length of the hike and the constant climb. This is an Alpine hike, so weather can change quickly. You need to ensure you have gear for warm or cold weather, regardless of the time of year, and be prepared for wind and rain. There is no access to drinking water or food, so you need to take your own.On the day of our hike we had winds of 50-70km/h, with gusts exceeding 100km/h. We got back to Eagles Nest just before a big storm. So be prepared.A hike well worth doing.](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/a3ae6991-6368-4e1b-99b7-07de33d266c3/085cd8a4-21d6-48a6-9d16-60b2b6873a3e_rw_1920.jpg?h=532cd28da192ac05369455be3ec8b95d)
