The Fainters: Back country skiing with a mountain bike and walking thrown in .

Nestled on the line between Mt Bogong and Mt Feathertop, Fainter North and South offer fantastic venue for back country skiing and snow camping.

Traditionally it's an odyssey to get there via Falls Creek through undulating terrain often going across creeks, dealing with bad weather and scrub. A few years ago upon a discussion with friends John and David we hit upon the idea of riding a mountain bike, hiking and skiing to the camp site.

It's been a yearly event since 2011 for us and we've refined it to a fine art. The trip is a good full weekend or even better weekend plus a mental health day ! Sometimes there are two of us, others with Melbourne Nordic Ski Club or YHA ski club will bring the party to 6.

The trip is not technically difficult, the skiing is a real pleasure on long open valleys with - we hope - nice smooth and firm snow. The aspects that require experienced persons are that it requires a bit of endurance to get there and dealing things can go wrong. A few years ago it snowed along the access road, requiring pushing bikes and gear for a good portion of 10 km and it rained making for a rather cold evening.

NOTES:
Only go if the weather forecast is for good clear weather. This area closes in very quickly with poor visibility in marginal weather it is exposed on top so it's easy to get disorientated.

When you enter the main slope be sure to identify precisely your entry point as it's easy to forget. It's not the end of the world if you do as more than likely you'll intersect the fire trail on the way up (so long as you don't go too low in the gully that is).

If it rains the snow turns to slush. Ideal time to go: late August and September.

Here's the brief for the two day:

Leave Melbourne after work to arrive at around 10pm depending where you live and leave. Drive up Falls Ck Rd to Crankie Charlie (the first hairpin) about 7km. Head off on the dirt road to (Big Hill Fire Trail). Park cars at gate which closes off Fainter Fire Trail.

Pitch an instant tent eg. Coleman, have everything so you do not need to unpack your backpack.

Morning rise 7:00 am aiming to leave 8:00 am

Assemble bikes, load bike trailer (between 3).

Breakfast and cuppa. Pack away tent and bedding in car.

Leave 8:00 am on bikes. Ride on the logging rd south. about 10 km. Good gravel, flat road contours around ridge. There is most likely going to be a bunch of fallen trees on the road so you will need a buddy or two to clear the way and assist with man-hauling the trailer over them.

Arrive around 9:00 am to fire trail gate - Spring Creek Firetrail link (ignore the first firetrail on the left - Woollybutt Spur track)

Unload bikes, go through the gate. Hide bikes, other unneeded stuff & the trailer in scrub. Forget about riding any further it's a steep rise soon and the trail is often covered in fallen trees or brambles.

Hike for a couple of hours - it's a short steep climb around on the east side initially and we would expect snow soon after. There could be some clambering over fallen trees. It's about 4km and 290m climb.

Somewhere along the track we'll don our skis and then end up at Bogong Jack Saddle @ 1540m. The bike and hike to camp is around 4 hours.

Pitch tents and have lunch before mid day if you've left promptly and there are no mishaps. This is a good sheltered campsite, we'll be able to have a fire. (good idea to collect some firewood now)

At about 12:30 pm we head up to the Fainters (takes about an hour) and ski until there is nothing left in the tank.

Leave the mountain at 3:30pm and return to camp for 4:00 pm.

Come back, light a fire, quaff wine and gourmet delicacies and tell all sorts of yarns until our eyes drop.

Wake up absolutely smashed - it's OK we don't head up till around 10:00 am.There is not much point in getting up to the mountain before 10:30 am as it is often icy first thing in the morning. Our judge will be on how wet the snow is on the evening prior.

Ski until there is nothing left.

Repeat if you've persuaded yourself that another day just cannot be avoided.

As tempting as it is to stay longer, we need to leave latest by 3pm to get back to our cars before the night sky envelopes the day. Don't worry too much it's down hill , you'll shave an hour off on the return trip.

Requirements:

Tell family members and club members of your intentions. Take EPIRB and or at least a mobile with Telstra account (others may work maybe...). Normally phone access is available as we overlook Mt Beauty and are in proximity to Falls Creek and Mount Hotham and will be if you ascend to Mount Fainter. Please don't drive everyone crazy with message notifications, nobody wants to know - the phone's only for emergency !
Transport. Good idea to have a vehicle with chains and a roof rack for all the bikes.
Tents. One to pitch quickly at night near the car - Coleman instant tent is really useful. Sleeping bag and mattress for the car camping (don't forget it can snow here too !
Tent: Snow tent with snow pegs. Cooking. Stoves.suitable for snow - share meals 1 between 2 or 3. Food! We like to dine in style up on the mountain, so dips and "horses dervers" are encouraged along with something to slosh it down.
All other gear and first aid required for snow camping - talk to party leader and companions.
Walking Boots, suitable to tramp in snow/sludge and carry pack weight. Ride and walk in them. Some gear can be left with the bikes/ helmets etc..
Day pack for trips up the the Fainters.
Bike. Does not need to be anything too special. It is a short distance. Wider mountain bike tyres will help. Make sure your tyres are inflated and in working order.
Tyre repair kit.Pump some spanners etc.
Trailer - two wheel types only. One for a party of 3. This will be used to carry boots poles and skis. Test at home before travelling all the way up to the mountain !
Skis: I suggest pattern based skis as it saves the effort of putting on/off skins. It is also a great trip for snow shoers.
Toilet - bring a shovel and bury your waste. Nothing worse than seeing crap paper all over the place when the snow melts.
Fire - the wood is hard to burn. You will need fire lighters and newspaper.
Bring a sense of adventure and humour.

Tips:

Experiment at home on ways to effectively carry your ski boots and skis when hiking. I personally put my boots in the day pack and tie it to the back pack. The skis and poles are in a ski bag and I hide the bag when at the snow line with a note to the rare person using this track that it belongs to me and our trip intentions.
Get fit. Do an hour of walking every other day with a loaded pack for 2 or months beforehand. I personally train on some stairs near the beach for an hour, and also cycle. The fitter you are, the more enjoyment there is to be had. (no need to go overboard though !)
Only go if the weather forecast is for good clear weather.