Day snow fun in the Brindabellas?

grunge_hippy said :

geez I’d hate to see you when trying to make an important decision

As I said before if it was just me I wouldn’t care, but I’m doing this for others too.

Well now it’s just my wife anyway so that’s ok – we can go up regardless. I guess I’m also excited too as I’ve grown up with stinking heat and hot bush and frankly, I’m sick of it.

I like the cold snow landscape as it’s so rare and exotic for us.

geez I’d hate to see you when trying to make an important decision…

but I have enjoyed the info. I want to take my girls up to see some snow and cant be arsed going all the way to selwyn etc…

Cheers. I’m still concerned about this snow down to 1500 metres thing and what that means but I think we’ll go up regardless anyway.

Demosthenes said :

KB1971 said :

Nice.. So when we get to the top we turn RIGHT not left at the firetrail and just walk.

Last time it took us about 2 hours to get to the top from Corin Dam, if there’s no snow at the top of at the firetrail then it would only take us half an hour to walk to Ginini.

The comments here suggest that this is the fastest and most accessible route, for the fit and able.

My only concern is getting back by twilight. If we left the car park at 8am, got up to the top by say 10:30 or 11am (ample time for burgers on the way or whatever) – walk up to Ginini, muck around, leave at say 2pm at the latest, that would be sufficient time to get back by dark to the car park?

There were people going up the trail when we were there too so I guess to be safe we’d stick to that trail and if anything happened we’d be found soon enough (and of course we let friends and the Namadgi centre know where we’re going).

Yes, turn right & head up the hill. If you turn left you will get to Priors.

When we did the walk from the gate at the base of Mt Ginini to Pryors it took us between 45 minutes to an hour from memory & that was lugging two 15kg kids in backpacks & wallking with a 7 year old. My brother in law swore it was 6km return but it was more like 10 as we can burn along at 5-6km/h at a regular pace.

I will look at my topos tonight & have a look to give you a better idea.

I forgot about Johnboys blog. One of the beuties of living south is that all of this is on my doorstep. Corin is about 25 minutes from home…….

molongloid said :

(And in case anyone reading this thread doesn’t know about it already: http://jevans.pcug.org.au/ )

That’s awesome!! Someone who may actually know something!

Cheers. We’d aim to be up and leaving by 2:30pm at the latest then. I think we’ll go up regardless because work has been *full on* and we desperately need some fresh air and exercise.

I have a 900 / 2100 Three phone (HTC Android) so I’ll take an external battery pack too. Maybe my wife’s old Nokia N900 900 / 2100 phone as a backup too.

So… get to Corin Dam latest 8:30 – means we leave home (Belconnen) at 7:30am and grab a burger on the way, be on the path by 9am, 2 – 3 hours to the fire trail, that’s mid-day – one hour easy walk to Ginini – that’s 1pm – turn around by 2pm. That’s got sufficient buffer in it for all sorts of things.

Current Ginini Forecast is “Partly cloudy. The chance of showers during the morning, falling as snow about the ranges above 1500 metres”

The firetrail is at 1550 metres I think, so we should be ok then.

Saturday is currently

“Australian Capital Territory area Mostly sunny. Areas of morning frost. Winds southerly averaging 15 to 30 km/h.”

With Ginini forecast to be -3 to 2 on Saturday.

Demosthenes said :

My only concern is getting back by twilight. If we left the car park at 8am, got up to the top by say 10:30 or 11am (ample time for burgers on the way or whatever) – walk up to Ginini, muck around, leave at say 2pm at the latest, that would be sufficient time to get back by dark to the car park?

There were people going up the trail when we were there too so I guess to be safe we’d stick to that trail and if anything happened we’d be found soon enough (and of course we let friends and the Namadgi centre know where we’re going).

2.5 hour return from Gingera is a good number to work with. I’d imagine Ginini would be about the same. So you’d want to be heading back by 3pm. There’s good NextG on the peaks. VHA’s new 850MHz and also Optus 2G & 3G in patches), so if you find you’re delayed or have a problem then make your calls before you climb down.

(And in case anyone reading this thread doesn’t know about it already: http://jevans.pcug.org.au/ )

KB1971 said :

Yup, Stockyard Spur. From the intersection, if you turn right it would take you about 1/2 an hour to walk to the base of Mt Ginini. There would definately be snow there. I have been there when there is nothing until about the last 2km on the Franklin road & then Ginini is covered in it.

As far as driving? Mt Franklin road is it. In all but deep snowy conditions, Mt Franklin road is passable by most vehicles most of the time. There are no steep rutted bits & there is enough rocky base for grip. I have been up there in all sorts of vehicles in the snow & have never been stuck but I dont do anything silly either.

If the road is closed, the last gate is at Mt Franklin chalet which is quite a few km from Mt Ginini. You would be better off going to Corin & hiking, it would be closer potentially. I dont have a topo handy & Google gets confused while trying to go from Corin to Mt Franklin road via Stockyard Spur.

Nice.. So when we get to the top we turn RIGHT not left at the firetrail and just walk.

Last time it took us about 2 hours to get to the top from Corin Dam, if there’s no snow at the top of at the firetrail then it would only take us half an hour to walk to Ginini.

The comments here suggest that this is the fastest and most accessible route, for the fit and able.

My only concern is getting back by twilight. If we left the car park at 8am, got up to the top by say 10:30 or 11am (ample time for burgers on the way or whatever) – walk up to Ginini, muck around, leave at say 2pm at the latest, that would be sufficient time to get back by dark to the car park?

There were people going up the trail when we were there too so I guess to be safe we’d stick to that trail and if anything happened we’d be found soon enough (and of course we let friends and the Namadgi centre know where we’re going).

EvanJames said :

Calling the Mt Franklin chalet a chalet was always a tad tongue-in-cheek. The Canberra Alpine Club built it out of whatever they could get in the late 50s, I think (or very early 60s)… it was more of a shed really. They had a rope tow going outside, driven by a car engine (a morris of some sort, I think), and used to maintain the ski slope there, they even held races. I spent many a weekend ski day up there.

Road and Franklin chalet constructed 1938.

Pryors Hut was built in the 1950s, as an annex to the Botanic Gardens called the “Alpine Botanic Gardens”.

http://www.australianalps.environment.gov.au/parks/bimberi.html

The late 50s and early 60s stuff was the Bendora Dam and Bendora Gravity Main, completed in 61 and 68 respectively.

creative_canberran said :

EvanJames said :

Might be worthwhile ringing ACT parks and gardens, their rangers look after that Brindabellas area, close the roads etc to save people from the menacing snow, they’d know where the snow is and how to get-at it.

Not just manage, one ranger lives up there at Bendora. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/27299663

Now I’m ruined for the day. I’ll be day dreaming about living in the Brindies instead. Where do I send my CV? 🙂

Keijidosha said :

The cloud has now cleared to show a decent cap on Ginini, but apart from that it looks pretty bare.

Ginini or Gingera? I though that long flat-topped mtn that often has snow on it was Gingera? Looks quite white today, must be fresh. Not that cold outside though. bit damp feeling, coastal air most likely.

EvanJames said :

Might be worthwhile ringing ACT parks and gardens, their rangers look after that Brindabellas area, close the roads etc to save people from the menacing snow, they’d know where the snow is and how to get-at it.

Not just manage, one ranger lives up there at Bendora. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/27299663

Demosthenes said :

Stockyard Spur is it? The one that is a beaten bush trail from the Corin Dam car park winding straight up the hill to the fire trail at the top, from where you can turn left or right. It took us about 2 hours to walk to the top a few weeks ago, when we turned around because I had non waterproof shoes and there was about an inch of snow.

The forecasts have been snow down to 1500 metres so it sounds like all that snow will have gone by now then. I’m not that keen on hiking through cold mud.

Is there any other way to get to Ginini with only a front wheel drive runabout? I don’t mind a good hike as you can see, all I care about is getting there. Stockyard Spur is the only track that I am currently aware of as they seem to close all the roads as soon as a patch of frost is seen anywhere in the Brindabella’s.

Yup, Stockyard Spur. From the intersection, if you turn right it would take you about 1/2 an hour to walk to the base of Mt Ginini. There would definately be snow there. I have been there when there is nothing until about the last 2km on the Franklin road & then Ginini is covered in it.

As far as driving? Mt Franklin road is it. In all but deep snowy conditions, Mt Franklin road is passable by most vehicles most of the time. There are no steep rutted bits & there is enough rocky base for grip. I have been up there in all sorts of vehicles in the snow & have never been stuck but I dont do anything silly either.

If the road is closed, the last gate is at Mt Franklin chalet which is quite a few km from Mt Ginini. You would be better off going to Corin & hiking, it would be closer potentially. I dont have a topo handy & Google gets confused while trying to go from Corin to Mt Franklin road via Stockyard Spur.

Demosthenes said :

molongloid said :

My method: check BOM website, check peaks with binoculars, call Namadgi Visitors Centre. If promising then do a best-effort drive+bike+walk up the Mt Franklin Rd.

Fair enough, but I live in Belconnen. All we need to know is if there is snow up the top of Stockman’s Spur going up from Corin Damn, or are there better treks?

Similar location. I don’t think where you are in Canberra changes much really. By that I mean getting to Bulls Head takes longer than getting to Corin.

Corin to Stockyard is a different style of walk which maybe you prefer. The main thing that puts me off Corin is that the road is always closed whenever I try it and I have to make do with Square Rock. I hit snow at Bulls Head more often than at Square Rock.

The cloud has now cleared to show a decent cap on Ginini, but apart from that it looks pretty bare.

Keijidosha said :

As I look out my window at the ranges there is no sign of the snow that has capped the peaks pretty much all week. Looks like a washout.

Yeah I couldn’t see any either, I think you’re right. Damn, we missed that peak snow :-(((((

Maybe next weekend.

Demosthenes said :

The firetrail is at around 1550 metres. What’s that look like to you guys? still worth a trip?

As I look out my window at the ranges there is no sign of the snow that has capped the peaks pretty much all week. Looks like a washout.

ACT forecast for Friday

“Partly cloudy. The chance of showers during the morning, falling as snow about the ranges above 1500 metres. Winds south to southeasterly averaging 25 to 35 km/h, reaching 45 km/h at times, becoming southerly up to 30 km/h during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to around 2 with daytime temperatures reaching between 6 and 12.”

The firetrail is at around 1550 metres. What’s that look like to you guys? still worth a trip?

Stockyard Spur is it? The one that is a beaten bush trail from the Corin Dam car park winding straight up the hill to the fire trail at the top, from where you can turn left or right. It took us about 2 hours to walk to the top a few weeks ago, when we turned around because I had non waterproof shoes and there was about an inch of snow.

The forecasts have been snow down to 1500 metres so it sounds like all that snow will have gone by now then. I’m not that keen on hiking through cold mud.

Is there any other way to get to Ginini with only a front wheel drive runabout? I don’t mind a good hike as you can see, all I care about is getting there. Stockyard Spur is the only track that I am currently aware of as they seem to close all the roads as soon as a patch of frost is seen anywhere in the Brindabella’s.

Demosthenes said :

KB1971 said :

Stop procrastinating…..just go for a drive & enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!

It’s not so much me, it’s more that I have got some friends coming along and that always makes you feel a bit nervous that they enjoy it.

If it’s just me and my wife I’m not too fussed, we both have waterproof boots now and the walk would be nice if anything, even if it’s cold and moist, it would still be beautiful after the weeks we’ve had at work. And boy did we sleep well after slogging it up Stockman’s Spur!

I’m just asking for an experienced opinion if it will all be soggy cr.p at the top or if there could be snow. If we get up early enough we’ll try turning left at the fire trail and walk toward the hut that I’ve heard about.

Stockyard Spur?

If thats the case then you should get a bit of snow around there although in my experience the best time for snow in the Brindies is within a couple of days of a 800-1000m dump. We have not had one of those for a couple of weeks so you might have to trudge all the way up to Ginini for that.

Having said that, if you are looking to head to Pryors Hut, make that your plan with snow as your bonus. It has been a bumper year this year so you should find some but how good it is you wont really know until you get there. to bypass to Gininni is not that far from the end of the Stockyard Spur track, having said that I have never been to Stockyard Spur from Corin so I dont know how far that is.

The walking tracks should not be too bad. I dont know if you saw my mountain bike pics from Orroral a couple of weeks ago but we were up there after a week of crap weather & the track had dried up enough to not cover us in mud while we were riding. The wind does an amazing job of drying the place out.

I am afraind you might have to suck it & see.

KB1971 said :

Stop procrastinating…..just go for a drive & enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!

It’s not so much me, it’s more that I have got some friends coming along and that always makes you feel a bit nervous that they enjoy it.

If it’s just me and my wife I’m not too fussed, we both have waterproof boots now and the walk would be nice if anything, even if it’s cold and moist, it would still be beautiful after the weeks we’ve had at work. And boy did we sleep well after slogging it up Stockman’s Spur!

I’m just asking for an experienced opinion if it will all be soggy cr.p at the top or if there could be snow. If we get up early enough we’ll try turning left at the fire trail and walk toward the hut that I’ve heard about.

Demosthenes said :

Well forecast is snow throughout the week down to 1500 metres.

Is it worth going up this weekend?

http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/mountginini.shtml

It’s below zero at Ginini again

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

Stop procrastinating…..just go for a drive & enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!

dvaey said :

KB1971 said :

Um no, they used to drive up there in all manner of vehicles. Apparently we are incapable of it now.

The problem is, they used to drive up there in all manner of vehicles and it didnt matter if it took them an hour for the last 10km. These days, drivers are in a rush and want to get up there at 80km/hr, because they know their vehicle can mostly handle it. When you get people driving in this situation, youre going to get accidents and cars off the road, which you didnt get from the cars 50 years ago that were travelling much slower.

Too true, everybody seems to count every nanosecond of their life.

Cars are much safer now than they were 50 years ago, you are less likely to die from an accident these days. When the Snowy Scheem was being built there was a large proportion of deaths in company vehicles attributed to winter & that was in 4WD’s. They dont know how many died on their own time.

I was yakking to the Ranger recently at an open day at the chalet aout it & he said Roads ACT are responsible for the roads up there, not Namadgi NP. Their policy is just to close it & it seems that that has been the policy since January 18 2003. Prior to that the only times there was problems with access was when the road was actually impassable due to the snow. I have spent many days up at Mt Gininni enjoying the snow but after 2003 that all ended.

One of the reasons I am on a tredly these days, they are a whole lot lighter to dift over the gate than a dirtbike……………

Well forecast is snow throughout the week down to 1500 metres.

Is it worth going up this weekend?

http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/mountginini.shtml

It’s below zero at Ginini again

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

Lets think big people. The best snow reasonably close to Canberra would have to be Mt Bimberi, the southern slopes there would make for a dynamite ski resort. Then lets engineer a train line following the valleys and going under the occasional mountain from Canberra to get us there and back. Build it and they will come in droves!! Gone would be the days of it being a pain in the ass to experience good snow in the Brindies even though we are so close. Sorry, no environmental, legal, engineering or financial considerations have gone into my suggestion. 😉

dvaey said :

KB1971 said :

Um no, they used to drive up there in all manner of vehicles. Apparently we are incapable of it now.

The problem is, they used to drive up there in all manner of vehicles and it didnt matter if it took them an hour for the last 10km. These days, drivers are in a rush and want to get up there at 80km/hr, because they know their vehicle can mostly handle it. When you get people driving in this situation, youre going to get accidents and cars off the road, which you didnt get from the cars 50 years ago that were travelling much slower.

Fixed speed cameras will solve that problem!

KB1971 said :

Um no, they used to drive up there in all manner of vehicles. Apparently we are incapable of it now.

The problem is, they used to drive up there in all manner of vehicles and it didnt matter if it took them an hour for the last 10km. These days, drivers are in a rush and want to get up there at 80km/hr, because they know their vehicle can mostly handle it. When you get people driving in this situation, youre going to get accidents and cars off the road, which you didnt get from the cars 50 years ago that were travelling much slower.

For anyone who heads up to Mt. Franklin you might consider checking out Canberra’s first arboretum, a square of about 200m remotely located at 35°25’23.45″S 148°47’49.55″E

cobberas63 said :

EvanJames said :

Kind of funny how the Alpine Club folk were able to get up there decades ago in much heavier snows, adn without four wheel drive vehicles. Most odd.

That’s cuz they knew how to do this really strange and nowadays uncommon activity called “walking” …

Um no, they used to drive up there in all manner of vehicles. Apparently we are incapable of it now.

molongloid said :

My method: check BOM website, check peaks with binoculars, call Namadgi Visitors Centre. If promising then do a best-effort drive+bike+walk up the Mt Franklin Rd.

Fair enough, but I live in Belconnen. All we need to know is if there is snow up the top of Stockman’s Spur going up from Corin Damn, or are there better treks?

Demosthenes said :

I just can never get any information about of our parks service if it’s worth going up or not.

My method: check BOM website, check peaks with binoculars, call Namadgi Visitors Centre. If promising then do a best-effort drive+bike+walk up the Mt Franklin Rd.

cobberas63 said :

That’s cuz they knew how to do this really strange and nowadays uncommon activity called “walking” …

Well that’s what I’m planning to and I’m happy to do, I just can never any &!*# information about of our parks service if it’s worth going up or not.

All I have is

http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/mountginini.shtml

And

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

Which seems to suggest it’s all c..p now.

EvanJames said :

Kind of funny how the Alpine Club folk were able to get up there decades ago in much heavier snows, adn without four wheel drive vehicles. Most odd.

That’s cuz they knew how to do this really strange and nowadays uncommon activity called “walking” …

Calling the Mt Franklin chalet a chalet was always a tad tongue-in-cheek. The Canberra Alpine Club built it out of whatever they could get in the late 50s, I think (or very early 60s)… it was more of a shed really. They had a rope tow going outside, driven by a car engine (a morris of some sort, I think), and used to maintain the ski slope there, they even held races. I spent many a weekend ski day up there.

Might be worthwhile ringing ACT parks and gardens, their rangers look after that Brindabellas area, close the roads etc to save people from the menacing snow, they’d know where the snow is and how to get-at it. Kind of funny how the Alpine Club folk were able to get up there decades ago in much heavier snows, adn without four wheel drive vehicles. Most odd.

Edit – the temperature at Ginini is *dropping* – go figure

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

May still be good to go this weekend..

Well weather forecast is a little better, snow down to 1500 metres and sunny on Saturday – would it still be worth going up?

http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/mountginini.shtml

Sure I know Perisher is probably better but there is just something mystical and rewarding about hiking up through bush to see the patches appear slowly and turn in to snow as we approach the top, and it’s damn good exercise.

However, it’s been consistently above zero at Ginini so that’s not too good I suppose.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml

What’s the vote – can the walk or do the walk? I wouldn’t want to take some friends on a 2 hour walk to find mush.

yellowsnow said :

Dvaey — I often hear tales from Canberra old timers about this mythical Mt Franklin Chalet. I’ve even seen it marked on some older maps, which also show a ‘ski run’ around there

Who ran it? What happened to it? Anyone seen the chalet with their own eyes?

The Challet did exist, it and the road to Mt Franklin were both built around the 30s by the Alpine Ski Club. It was destroyed by the fires and replaced by an “Interpretive” building which doubles as a fire fighting staging ground.

Snow can typically be seen as early as the start of the Gravel on the Rd to Brindabella. The real snow tends to begin at Bulls Head and beyond though. Even late afternoon on a sunny day, there was at least 4 inches of crisp cover four weeks ago.

The road until Picadilly Circus is rather bad, very rough thanks to both erosion and the addition of coarse gravel to the surface on corners to aid traction (where formerly there was very slipper fine gravel only). You can do it 2WD though, just be aware of it and drive accordingly.

Past Picadilly Circus to Bulls Head, the road is smooth and well drained so its easy to get to the picnic area at Bulls Head where tables and toilets are located. This is also a favourite spot for Wallabies so take care on the road, they often bound across to the grass at the picnic tables.

From the Mt Franklin gate onward, the road is smooth but usually very wet and even swampy in places as the snow melts. It’s a good quality road but traction will be reduced and without chains, bogging could be a risk.

Jivrashia said :

This walk could strain your friendship with them if they’re not physically and mentally prepared for the climb. Can I suggest Orroral Valley or Nursery Swamp (west of said valley) as a starter?

ah they’ll get over it, they are fully aware of what’s involved.

That being said the weather report looks c..p now – looks like it will all be mush by the time we get up the top from Corin Dam?

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml
http://www.bom.gov.au/act/forecasts/mountginini.shtml

I hate global warming.

2 years ago a friend and I drove up to around Ginini somewhere and it was great.

I think you drove up there via Mt Franklin Rd (Mt Stromlo -> Cotter Rd -> Brindabella Rd -> Mt Franklin Rd).

But unfortunately it is one of the FIRST roads that gets closed at the first sign of snow.
Check out the TAMS page regarding closure/reopening of roads. Here’s one for Brindabella and Mt Franklin Rd.

So I have a group of friends lined up for a day walk from Corin Dam

This walk could strain your friendship with them if they’re not physically and mentally prepared for the climb. Can I suggest Orroral Valley or Nursery Swamp (west of said valley) as a starter?

Thanks Keijidosha and cobberas63. What a pity both Mt Franklin and Corin have bit the dust. Hard to believe downhill skiing was once possible in the ACT — we’ve certainly gone backwards in the last ten years. Here’s hoping for a revival

yellowsnow said :

Dvaey — I often hear tales from Canberra old timers about this mythical Mt Franklin Chalet. I’ve even seen it marked on some older maps, which also show a ‘ski run’ around there

Who ran it? What happened to it? Anyone seen the chalet with their own eyes?

The Mt Franklin Chalet used to be run by the Canberra Alpine Club and later taken over by Namadgi National Park. It was burnt to the ground in the January 2003 bush fires. There’s still evidence of it at the base of Mt Franklin, and some of the old ski runs can still be seen as swathes cut through the bush. There’s even an old car whose engine was used to power the only “ski lift” up there.

Go have a look up there some day – the place has several highly informative info-boards. There’s also lots of info about it on the Internet. Google is your friend…

There are photos of the Mt Franklin chairlift area on Google Earth 35°29’27.72″S, 148°45’55.67″E
. The site is accessed via Brindabella Rd through Piccadill Circus.

Re: Comments about snow at Corin Forest – once upon a time they had artificial snowmaking and skiing facilities out there. On the topic of Corin Forest in general, i’m not sure what prevents that place from being a booming success. It always seems to be barely struggling to survive.

Dvaey — I often hear tales from Canberra old timers about this mythical Mt Franklin Chalet. I’ve even seen it marked on some older maps, which also show a ‘ski run’ around there

Who ran it? What happened to it? Anyone seen the chalet with their own eyes?

yellowsnow, sounds like youre talking about something like the old Mount Franklin Chalet

Ahead of time, ski.com.au gives a pretty good picture of any upcoming blizzard or front. However, while it may be really accurate at higher altitude ski resorts its much more unreliable when you are concerned with say, being 200 meters below the snowline or 200 meters above it. For this its best to take a ‘watch and wait’ approach.

The night before a prospective trip or better still on the morning of a prospective trip you can get good information from the Mt Ginini weather station http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60801/IDN60801.95925.shtml. Any precipitation below 0.3 degrees will usually be snow at Ginini’s 1760m but will often/usually close the Mt Franklin Road. From the Corin side. You can hike to Mt Ginini but square rock is often easier. At 1500m just add about 2 degrees to the Mt Ginini temperature to see if rain will have fallen as snow. To get good snow there you MUST be an opportunist! Any sun or rain will decimate the snow in hours/minutes.

My family has a standing arrangement that we try to take the kids to square rock if its more than 10mls of precipitation at or below -2C on Mt Ginini. This will give you a few snow-hikes per winter, but you must usually go on the morning after a night of snow. Only once or twice a year do we get a blizzard like two week ago where you get a whole week of chances.

I went up to Corin Forest and Tidbinbilla at the weekend. Heaps of snow down to 1200-1300m or so. There’s bound to have been more last night. Unfortunately for some reason unbeknownst to reasonable people anywhere, Corin Forest doesn’t actually let you go up the hill where the snow is. It’s all cordoned off. Maybe an insurance/liability issue, or the owner of the place is really into schaudenfraude and loves to see little kids cry in disappointment.

Similarly, the ‘restaurant’ doesn’t actually serve real food. It has a nice, roaring fire. But if you want to eat anything other than a stake cookie or tea in a styrofoam cup, it’s best avoided. Talk about wasted opportunities!

Forget the Majura Parkway, what we need in Canberra is better access to our local snow. There’s heaps about in the Brindies, but getting to it is all but impossible due to lame infrastructure and people weary of being sued. A properly engineered road, actually open when it snows, going up to a resort or at least a cafe at 1,600m or higher would do wonders for local tourism. Surely if it came to it the govt could always fund it by selling some land to developers (hey, it’s already selling everything else for dubious benefit to anyone, and a mountain road & resort would be way cooler than an owl statue or arboretum)